GEORGE HOME RICKETTS
George Home Ricketts was born in St Luke's Parish, Cheltenham, the younger son of William Dillon Ricketts, a groom, and his wife Ellen, nee Marshall. He was baptised in Cheltenham Parish Church on 14 February 1886. The family's address was given as 21 Imperial Square. It appears that he attended Cheltenham Grammar School as his name appears on their War Memorial.
By 1901, the family were at 29 Imperial Square and William was Manager of the Queen's Hotel Yard. George was a 15 year old pupil teacher probably at St Paul's Practising Schools. He went on to St Paul's Teacher Training College from 1905 to 1907, before becoming assistant master at Naunton Park Council School, Cheltenham. He was a good cricketer and Rugby footballer, and played for the Training College and also for Cheltenham Town.
On 27 March 1911, George took over from his brother, William Dillon Ricketts junior, as Headmaster of Woodchester School.
On 31 August 1914, he made his will leaving everything to his parents.
On 1 September 1914, it is recorded in the school log book that 'Mr Geo H Ricketts (Headmaster) was called up for active service with the 5th Gloucester Regiment'.
He served as a Corporal in the 1st/5th Battalion and was sent to France on 29 March 1915.
George was reported missing, later considered killed in action, at Pozieres, during the Battle of the Somme, on 21 July 1916, aged 30. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Medals Military Medal awarded posthumously but for an act not associated with his death
1914-15 Star, Victory and British War
Much later, the school log book records 'This week a photograph of Mr G H Ricketts, Headmaster of this school 1911 to 1916, was placed in the schoolroom to his memory. He gave his life for King and Country at the Battle of the Somme July 21 1916. It is with deep regret we have to record his death for he was an earnest and devoted Master of this School.'
Background
At the beginning of March 1915, the battalion was in its base at Chelmsford. On 13 March, orders were received to prepare for foreign service. On 29 March they left by train to go to Folkestone. They embarked at 9pm in SS Invicta arriving at Boulogne at 11pm before marching 2.5 miles to their rest camp.
The battalion's strength was 28 Officers and 916 Other Ranks.
The next day, they moved by train - in cattle trucks (42 to a truck) - to Cassel, before marching to Steenvorde. They continued by stages to Ploegsteert (south of Ypres) and by 8 April they were occupying trenches. Up to this point, their main casualties had been horses, either 'dropping dead' or going sick, but from 9 April a relatively small number of men were being killed or wounded. For the next couple of months, the battalion stayed around Ploegsteert Wood, taking their turns in the front line trenches. Towards the end of June, they moved on to Allouagne and in mid July they continued to Hebuterne (Somme). Here they remained, apart from some rest periods.
25 January 1916 Hebuterne
2 Lt K G Durrant with 2 NCOs and 8 Men left Tr 19 at 10pm proceeded to Lone Tree (K17 A 2-3) and on to a point nearer enemy lines. No 2562 Cpl G Ricketts and No 3127 Pte W J Timms (C Coy) proceeded to sap at K17 a 9-3 and reconnoitred enemy wire on each side. Patrol returned at 1:15 am.
The Battalion's War Diary for 21 July 1916, reports 3 officers missing, believed killed and 45 other ranks missing plus 5 killed.
By 1901, the family were at 29 Imperial Square and William was Manager of the Queen's Hotel Yard. George was a 15 year old pupil teacher probably at St Paul's Practising Schools. He went on to St Paul's Teacher Training College from 1905 to 1907, before becoming assistant master at Naunton Park Council School, Cheltenham. He was a good cricketer and Rugby footballer, and played for the Training College and also for Cheltenham Town.
On 27 March 1911, George took over from his brother, William Dillon Ricketts junior, as Headmaster of Woodchester School.
On 31 August 1914, he made his will leaving everything to his parents.
On 1 September 1914, it is recorded in the school log book that 'Mr Geo H Ricketts (Headmaster) was called up for active service with the 5th Gloucester Regiment'.
He served as a Corporal in the 1st/5th Battalion and was sent to France on 29 March 1915.
George was reported missing, later considered killed in action, at Pozieres, during the Battle of the Somme, on 21 July 1916, aged 30. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Medals Military Medal awarded posthumously but for an act not associated with his death
1914-15 Star, Victory and British War
Much later, the school log book records 'This week a photograph of Mr G H Ricketts, Headmaster of this school 1911 to 1916, was placed in the schoolroom to his memory. He gave his life for King and Country at the Battle of the Somme July 21 1916. It is with deep regret we have to record his death for he was an earnest and devoted Master of this School.'
Background
At the beginning of March 1915, the battalion was in its base at Chelmsford. On 13 March, orders were received to prepare for foreign service. On 29 March they left by train to go to Folkestone. They embarked at 9pm in SS Invicta arriving at Boulogne at 11pm before marching 2.5 miles to their rest camp.
The battalion's strength was 28 Officers and 916 Other Ranks.
The next day, they moved by train - in cattle trucks (42 to a truck) - to Cassel, before marching to Steenvorde. They continued by stages to Ploegsteert (south of Ypres) and by 8 April they were occupying trenches. Up to this point, their main casualties had been horses, either 'dropping dead' or going sick, but from 9 April a relatively small number of men were being killed or wounded. For the next couple of months, the battalion stayed around Ploegsteert Wood, taking their turns in the front line trenches. Towards the end of June, they moved on to Allouagne and in mid July they continued to Hebuterne (Somme). Here they remained, apart from some rest periods.
25 January 1916 Hebuterne
2 Lt K G Durrant with 2 NCOs and 8 Men left Tr 19 at 10pm proceeded to Lone Tree (K17 A 2-3) and on to a point nearer enemy lines. No 2562 Cpl G Ricketts and No 3127 Pte W J Timms (C Coy) proceeded to sap at K17 a 9-3 and reconnoitred enemy wire on each side. Patrol returned at 1:15 am.
The Battalion's War Diary for 21 July 1916, reports 3 officers missing, believed killed and 45 other ranks missing plus 5 killed.