George Edward Ayres

A Private with the 4th Battalion, George died on 23rd of March 1918 at the age of 37. 

George was born at Lowestoft on 2 March 1881, a son of David Charles and Maria Harriett Ayres. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 1 May 1881. By 1891 his family were living at 8 Walton Road, Lowestoft, and this was George's home for the rest of his life. In 1901 he worked as a blacksmith's apprentice, and by 1911 he was an auxiliary postman.  

George enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Grenadier Guards and was posted to the 4th Battalion in France. In July 1917 the 4th Battalion were near Ypres. George was wounded at some point between noon 25 July 1917 and noon 26 July 1917 and he remained at duty. His his name appears in the War Office Daily List of 28 August 1917. 

On 21 March 1918 the 4th Battalion were in billets in the vicinity of Bethencourt when the German bombardment began. Early on the 22nd they were take by bus to Blairville. They debussed and moved through Hamelincourt to the east of the Ervillers-Boyelles Road: arriving on the morning of 23 March. 

During the morning of the 23rd their trenches were shelled by their own guns causing several casualties. They were ordered to move about 1,000 yards towards Mory, thus closing the gap with the expected German advance. All attempts to stop the British shells falling short were fruitless. 

Three men were killed in the trenches on 23 March, with one officer and four other ranks, including George, wounded. It seems that all of the casualties were caused by artillery fire. George died of his wounds the same day. 

George's name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes