Year of birth: 1892

Place of birth: Southport, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Last known residence: 25 Beacham Road, Southport, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Profession: Mechanic

Religion: Church of England

Country: England, United Kingdom

Force: British Expeditionary Force

Rank: Private

Service number: 18701

Enlistment date: 04/09/1914

Enlistment place: Southport, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Units:  —  King's (Liverpool Regiment) 4th Bn.  (Last known unit)  —  King's (Liverpool Regiment), 12th Bn.

Date of death: 23/11/1917

Place of death: Seine, Zonnebeke, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 25

1914-15 Star Medal

British War Medal Medal

Victory Medal Medal

George Barton, a former mechanic, was born in 1892 in Southport, Lancashire, United Kingdom. He was the son of John Henry and Mary Ellen Barton and had two older brothers and two sisters. On September 4th, 1917, he enlisted in Southport, Lancashire. George served as a private in the 4th Battalion, part of the 98th Brigade of the 33rd Division.

By November 23rd, 1917, the 98th Brigade was positioned between Abraham Heights and Seine. The 4th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment had been stationed in Seine since November 18th, serving in support of the 1st Middlesex Regiment, which they relieved on November 22nd. During this period, artillery fire was exchanged between British and enemy positions, with especially heavy retaliation from the enemy on November 20th. In the following days, shelling continued, although less intensely. On November 23rd, the enemy targeted the support company of the 4th Battalion with renewed shellfire, causing several casualties.

George, aged 25, was killed in action that day. Private George Barton is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot I, Row H, Grave 6.

4 Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2427/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

98 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2425/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

Ancestry. https://www.ancestry.com Sources used

British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission database (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Maidenhead (CWGC)). http://www.cwgc.org Sources used

Soldiers’ Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk Sources used

War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

War Office: Soldiers’ Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461858

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=5c7c170e-354c-4c0c-820c-3ff15fecffa1

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/227154