Soldier Record
George Eric Prior
Contributed by: Adrian Prior-Sankey, on 2008-11-18
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | George Eric |
| Surname | Prior |
| Year of Birth | Unknown |
| Year of Death | 1918 |
| Regiment | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) |
| Place of Wartime Residence | London, Other |
George Eric's Story
Family tradition relates that my great uncle George lied about his age in order to join up at the start of the War and as he died in France at the age of 20 he would have seen many of the major campaigns. His youngest brother Reg was about aged about 3 when the telegram arrived to announce George's death on 4 November 1918. Reg lived to be over 80 but could still recall the wail of his mother as she read the news so near to the end of the conflict.
None of the family were ever told of the existence of his grave which I discovered in the 1990's simply by telephoning the War Graves Commission. Ironically Reg served within a mile of the grave during his own service with The Royal Air Force in France at the end of World War Two. Regrettably he did not live long enough to make a pilgrimage with me to see his brother's final resting place.
George's medals were passed down to me as I took the name Prior in 1977 when it was clear that none of his siblings would have children bearing his surname.
No additional memories have been submitted