2667 Pte George Stephen Idle, 15th London Regiment

2667 Pte George Stephen Idle of the 15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles), died of wounds on 4th July 1916.

George was born in Battersea, south London in 1892. He was the son of George and Mary Idle and appears on the 1901 census living at 30 Eccles Road, Battersea. The household comprised George W Idle (head, aged 45, a linen goods manufacturer), his wife Mary M [sic] Idle (aged 46) and their seven offspring. In age order they were: Lilian Mary Idle (bookkeeper, aged 19), Ethel Muriel Idle (shirt seamstress, recorded as 19 but probably aged 16), Rose F Idle (aged 14), Arthur Wilberforce Idle (recorded as aged 6 but probably aged 11), George (aged 9), and Wilfred Bruce Idle (aged 6).

George's number indicates that he joined the 15th Londons on about the 1st September 1914 and he arrived in France on St Patrick's Day, 17th March 1915.

I'm not sure when George was wounded, but he was obviously returned to the UK and probably died of wounds at his home. He is buried in Croydon (Mitcham Road) Cemetery; grave reference C5 8936. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the additional information that he was the son of George Washington Idle and Mary Elizabeth Idle, of 43, Dagnall Park, South Norwood, London.

George's two brothers also served their King and Country during the First World War. Wilfred served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and Arthur with the 5th London Regiment. His number (9882) indicates that he joined up almost as soon as war was declared. After a short period of training he was sent to France, landing there on 4th November 1914. He was killed in action on 28th March 1918 and is commemorated on bay 9 of the Arras Memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1901 census, FreeBMD, Medal index card)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great war 1914-1919