George William Wade

A Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the 3rd Battalion, George died on 5th of June 1916 at the age of 62.

George was born at Morley, Wymondham, Norfolk, in 1854. He is believed to have been a son of John and Mary Wade, but he has not been found in any birth or census records. 

George was working as a groom when he enlisted in the Army at Ipswich on 27 December 1876. He joined the Royal Artillery, service number 1518. George stated that he was nineteen years old. He served until 1 March 1879, when he was honourably discharged being unfit for further service.   

George was working as a groom when he enlisted in 1/4th Foot, at Fleetwood, on 27 February 1880, service number 3149, later 2939. George stated that he was eighteen years of age and did not claim his previous service. In 1881 his regiment became The King’s (Royal Lancaster Regiment). He served in India, with the 2nd Battalion, from 16 March 1881 to 25 February 1896.

George was promoted Lance Corporal on 9 August 1882, and Corporal on 23 October 1883, and Sergeant on 1 December 1884. On 12 February 1890 he re-engaged to complete 12 years. George was promoted to Canteen Sergeant on 21 November 1890 and Colour Sergeant on 11 November 1897.

George was posted to the Depot on 19 August 1898, the 1st Battalion on 1 April 1900, to the Depot on 20 April 1900, and to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion on 15 December 1900. From 21 November 1901 George was permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years and he became a permanent staff instructor with the 5th Battalion. 

George was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

He was discharged, on termination of engagement, at Lancaster, on 26 February 1909, and his intended place of residence was 9 Alexandra Road, Carnforth, Lancashire. 

George married Mary Isabel Palfreyman at Karachi, India, 26 February 1889. In 1911 they lived at Sunny Bank, Lindale-in-Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire. By 1914 they were living at The Haven, Sands Lane, Oulton, Lowestoft.  

George was working as a market gardener and groom when he enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 18 September 1914. George stated that he was 53 years and nine months old. He was allowed to rejoin his old regiment as a Colour Sergeant, service number 4548. He was posted to the, newly formed, 8th Battalion. George was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 21 September 1914. On 16 March 1915 George was posted to the 3rd Battalion. He suffered from chronic bronchitis and was transferred to the Command Depot Convalescence Camp, at Sutton Coldfield, on 29 October 1915. He was posted back to the 3rd Battalion, at Plymouth, on 5 February 1916. A medical board, held at Plymouth in May 1916, found that he had chronic bronchitis and general debility. 

In fact, George had carcinoma of the larynx and he died on 5 June 1916, six days before he was to be discharged from the Army being no longer physically fit for war service. 

An account of George’s funeral was published in the Evening Star (Ipswich) on 12 June 1916, page 3:

MILITARY FUNERAL AT OULTON

On Saturday afternoon a military funeral – a very rare occurrence in the parish – took place at Oulton, when an impressive service attracted a considerable concourse. The deceased was Company Sergeant Major George William Wade, aged 62, of the King’s Own Royal Lancasters. He enlisted in 1880, and was discharged in 1909 having seen 15 or 16 year’s foreign service. He, however, rejoined on the outbreak of war, and had since been acting as instructor. The mourners were: The widow, Mr. and Mrs, Polfreyman (sister and brother-in-law), Mrs. Page (sister), Miss Polfreyman (sister-in-law). The military element was supplied by B Company of The Queen’s West Surrey Regiment from Lowestoft, who attended with band (which played the “Dead March” and other music from the deceased’s residence to Oulton church), and supplied the firing party and buglers, who sounded the “Last Post”. Eight of the regiment acted as bearers, the coffin being covered with the Union Jack and bearing the deceased’s accoutrements. It was of polished elm, with plate inscribed: “George Wm. Wade, died 6th June, 1916, aged 62 years”. The Rev. H. Martin, the new Rector of Oulton officiated. Among the floral tributes (in addition to those from the family) were a couple from Mr. and Mrs. W. Hartell and Mr. and Mrs. Barber and family. Mr. C.B. Darby, Oulton Broad, was undertaker.      

Note: The only conclusive evidence of George’s age comes from the details on his coffin plate.