| George Frederick IVE was born on 7 November 1886 at Clayton Road in Hook, Surrey. He was baptized on 9 January 1887 at St Paul in Hook, Surrey. He died on 15 September 1916 at the age of 29 in France. George had his estate probated in 1917 in London. The following is from the CWGC Debt of Honour Register GEORGE FREDERICK IVE Private 2465 "C" Coy. 15th Bn., London Regt (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles) who died on Friday 15 September 1916 . Age 30 . Additional Information: Son of George Frederick and Kate Ive, of 2, Fenten Vear Villas, Hook Rd., Surbiton, Surrey. A Clerk in the Service of the Port of London Authority. Enlisted Aug. 1914
Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Somme, France Grave or Reference Panel Number: 13c Location: The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July, the memorial bears the names of 198 men of the Civil Service Rifles. This is a brief summary of the action during which George was killed:- The final capture of High Wood was not achieved until the 15th September 1916 when the 47th London Division (men of the Post Office Rifles and Civil Service Rifles among them), finally captured the wood. Amazingly, it was felt to be a failure. "Lack of Push" was the verdict on the Division by High Command and the Divisional Commander was replaced. High Wood was never thoroughly cleared of bodies and debris after the war. A conservative estimate suggests that it holds the remains of some 8000 German and British soldiers who were killed in action there. Even today there are parts of the wood which contain live ammunition and it is there that it would be quite unsafe to walk. Extract from the War Diary of the 1/15th Battalion the London Regiment 15/9/16 Battalion took part in HIGH WOOD in general attack by IV Army. 17th London Battalion attacked on left in HIGH WOOD, 7th London Regiment on right outside wood. ZERO 5.50 a.m. A Company on right immediately successful and pushed through to Support Line. B, C and D Companies were cut up by Machine Gun fire and were unsuccessful. 7th Battalion on right entirely successful. 17th on left entirely unsuccessful on account of machine gun fire. 11.00 a.m. Enemy front line bombarded by Stokes Mortars. As a result of this and progress of Divisions on right and left, enemy surrendered and by 12 noon we were in possession of whole of HIGH WOOD and SWITCH LINE. Rest of day spent in consolidating new position in front of SWITCH LINE and in joining up with 17th Battalion on left and 7th Battalion on right. Meanwhile 6th London Regt. Pushed through 7th on right and occupied E half of STARFISH and COUGH DROP. 6.00 p.m. 21st London Regt. Attacked from HIGH WOOD on West half of STARFISH and COUGH DROP. Practically annihilated by Artillery and Machine Gun fire. Casualties:- Officers Killed Capt. Roberts, Capt. Gage, Capt. Davies, 2/Lt. Hoole. Missing 2/Lt. Fletcher. Wounded 2/Lt. Fallon, 2/Lt. Townsend, 2/Lt. Thomas, 2/Lt. Richardson, 2/Lt. Ray, 2/Lt. Roberts, 2/Lt. Houslop, 2/Lt. Barnes, 2/Lt. Burtt.
O.R.'s :- about 250 killed, wounded and missing. The following appeared in the Surrey Comet: Death of Pte G F Ive Shot by a sniper while on a mission of mercy. Genuine regret has been expressed in Hook at the death of Pte G F Ive, who fell a victim to a sniper's bullet near High Wood, France on September 15. Pte Ive was extremely popular in the village of Hook, which was his birthplace. He was the only son of Mr & Mrs G F Ive, of Hook Road, and was in his 30th year. He was well known locally as a good all-round cricketer. Prior to his enlistment he was engaged as a clerk in the office of the Port of London Authority. He joined the Civil Service Rifles as a stretcher-bearer shortly after the outbreak of the war, and went to France in March, 1915. A comrade has written to Mr Ive stating that his son was killed "while gallantly striving to save a fallen comrade," and speaks of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by the men of the stretcher-bearer squad to which he belonged. "Both on and off the field of action," says the writer, "he was brave and fearless, a sportsman and a gentleman." A Lieutenant has also written expressing sympathy with the bereaved family. In his letter he says: "Private Ive was one of the most popular men in the regiment, and all his officers knew he could be relied upon to do his duty in all circumstances." [source: "The Surrey Comet" Saturday September 30th, 1916] |