Private George Henry Attwood
3rd Battalion, the Canadian Pioneers
Died of Wounds
Date of Birth: 1879
Place of Birth: Shaldon, Devon
Date of Death: 23 May 1915 in France, aged 38.
Buried: Buried in Noeux-Les Mines Communal Cemetery. Remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon. Also on Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Private George Henry Attwood age 38. Born 1879 and baptised 18 March 1879 at St. Nicholas Church, Shaldon, son of George, a Marine, and Elizabeth Attwood. The 1881 census showed him living with his parents and sister at Providence Road, Shaldon; in 1891 the family were living at Ringwood Road, his father was now working as a labourer and he now had four siblings. In 1901 George was serving with the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman and was shown at Devonport. By 1911 he was shown with his widowed mother at the house of his sister and her family in Coombe Vale, Teignmouth; he was working as a labourer. On 15 May 1911 he was shown as a passenger on board SS Hesperian leaving Liverpool for Quebec.
He married Florence and she was listed as his widow living in Duncan, British Columbia.
George enlisted 14 April 1916 with the Canadian Pioneers and was serving with 3rd Battalion, Canadian Pioneers, service number 490524 when he died of shrapnel wounds on 23 May 1917. Buried in Noeux-Les Mines Communal Cemetery. Remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth. Also on Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
“First reported wounded, Pte. George Henry Attwood has now to be numbered among the gallant host who have died for their country. He hailed from Devon, England, was about 35 years of age and had been in this district some five years. He had served in the Royal Navy. He leaves a wife in Duncan. He enlisted with the Pioneers.”
(source: Cowichan Leader, 31 May 1915, from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)
