Pte
George Fallon
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 20/08/1886 |
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Place of birth: Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Bakers Apprentice |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 14640 |
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Enlistment place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Scots, 13th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Frost House, Frezenberg, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 30 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: IX Row: E Grave: 10 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
George Fallon was born on 20 August 1886 in Leith, Midlothian, where he also continued to live. He was the son of John and Margaret Fallon. Before the war he worked as a baker's apprentice. In 1909 he married Christina. Together they had three children: Charles, Andrew and Alleson. He enlisted in the British Army and served with the 13th Battalion Royal Scots (45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division).
George was killed on 1 August 1917. The day before, on 31 July, the Battle of Passendale had begun. The objective of the 15th (Scottish) Division was to capture the Frezenberg ridge and subsequently Hill 35, a slope to the northeast of Frezenberg. During the attack, the 45th Brigade was to act as reserve for the 44th and 46th Brigade. The Germans did not remain idle and launched a counter-attack.
In response to the German counter-attack, the 13th Battalion was sent in the afternoon of 31 July towards Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35, with the intention of consolidating the captured ground. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not take place. The following day the Germans launched a counter-attack here, and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were severe. 368 men were killed, wounded or went missing. The 31-year-old George Fallon was one of them. After the war his body was recovered near Frost House. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
George was killed on 1 August 1917. The day before, on 31 July, the Battle of Passendale had begun. The objective of the 15th (Scottish) Division was to capture the Frezenberg ridge and subsequently Hill 35, a slope to the northeast of Frezenberg. During the attack, the 45th Brigade was to act as reserve for the 44th and 46th Brigade. The Germans did not remain idle and launched a counter-attack.
In response to the German counter-attack, the 13th Battalion was sent in the afternoon of 31 July towards Beck House, between Frezenberg and Hill 35, with the intention of consolidating the captured ground. They were to be relieved in the evening, but this did not take place. The following day the Germans launched a counter-attack here, and the battalion was almost completely surrounded around Beck House. The losses were severe. 368 men were killed, wounded or went missing. The 31-year-old George Fallon was one of them. After the war his body was recovered near Frost House. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of Scotland, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Electoral Registers (Edinburgh City Archives; Edinburgh, Register of Voters For the City of Edinburgh and the Burgh of Leith; Reference: Sl56/67). https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 28. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923, (Western Front Association: 068/0310/Fai-Far) http://ww.westernfrontassociation.com Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462713 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e81f70d7-f78f-4788-b42b-497e8fb5bf7f |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1191432 |
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A Street Near You https://astreetnearyou.org/person/462713/ |