George William Mantripp

A Lance Corporal with 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, George died on 19th of July 1916 at the age of 22.

George was born at Kirkley on 6 February 1894, the only Son of George and Anna Mantripp.  In 1901 his family lived at 1 Ben Lomond Terrace, Wilson Road, Lowestoft. From 15 September 1908 George attended the Lowestoft School of Science and the school register gives his family's address as 64 Wilson Road. The 1911 Census shows George's family living at 64 Wilson Road and George's occupation is shown as draper's assistant. Note that this census gives his middle name as Jeremiah. 

George volunteered to join the Army and he enlisted at Walthamstow, Essex, and presumably he was working there at the time. He served initially with the Suffolk Regiment, number 1868; possibly with the 2/6th Battalion. Later he was transferred to the 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, number 5376.

The 2/1st battalion landed in France on 24 May 1916 as part of the 184th Brigade in the 61st Division. The battalion had their first experience in the trenches at Faquissart on 11 June 1916 and the battalion suffered its first casualties almost immediately. 

By mid-July 1916 the Germans had withdrawn personnel from the Faquissart sector in order to reinforce their divisions on the Somme and it was decided that this gave a good prospect for a successful attack. The attack had been scheduled for 16 July but had to be pushed back. On 18 July shells from the British bombardment fell short and 78 men of the 2/1st Battalion were gassed. 

On 19 July 1916 the 2/1st Battalion were tasked with attacking the trenches from the Faquissart-Trivelet Road to Cordonerie Farm. The bombardment was very intense and within the first few minutes the battalion lost 100 men due to shell-fire: thus only 20 officers and 622 men were available for the attack. The attack met with heavy resistance and few men reached the German lines. The battalion suffered 75% casualties amongst the officers and 49% among the men, including 62 men killed.

George was among those killed in action on 19 July 1916. 

See http://www.lightbobs.com/1916-21st-bucks-fromelles.html for further information about the 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion on 19 July 1916 (link courtesy of Tanya Marshall). 

After the war George's parents lived at 458 London Road, Lowestoft.