NASH George

Martley Parish Register:
Baptism 15/10/1890 George son of Richard and Edith Nash

1911 Census
The Noak
Richard S. Nash, Gent, age 53, Solicitor and Farmer
Edith Nash, age 46
George Nash, age 20, undergraduate Magdalen College, Cambridge
Dorothy Alice Nash, age 18
James Nash, age 17 Boarding at Kings School
Edith Margaret Nash, age 12
Francis Barbara Nash, age 10
Slade Nash, age 9

Born September 6th, 1890. Died of wounds
George Nash, eldest son of Mr. Slade Nash, of Martley, and grandson of a former Headmaster, Reverend Maurice Day, entered the School in the First Form as a member of the School House in January, 1900, at the age of 9. He rose steadily to the Fourth Form, and after his Conformation he left in July, 1904, for Stubbington to coach for the Navy. In this he failed, his gifts being for literature rather than for mathematics. He subsequently entered the Hall at Repton, and after 3 years went on to Magdalen College, Cambridge, with a History Scholarship in 1908. He took History Honours, and then, after a short term of teaching entered Cuddesdon Theological College to prepare for Holy Orders. When the war broke out he felt the old call to serve as imperative, and after persistent efforts obtained a commission in the Worcester Regiment. He was wounded in the trenches in June last, and died in the Hospital at Boulogne a fortnight later. He was buried at Martley on July 3rd, when a detachment of the School O.T.C., under Lieutenant Beach-Hicks, attended the funeral and lined the churchyard path. As a small boy he was singularly bright and an attractive personality, and always kept in touch with his first school and earliest masters. He gave promise of being an effective clergyman had it been so ordered.
W. H. C.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, November 1915, No.84, Vol.VIII

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 1915 (no date recorded):
Lieut. G Nash Dangerously Wounded.
Mr R Slade Nash, The Noak, Martley, has received a telegram from the Secretary of the War Office, saying : “Regret 2nd Lieutenant George Nash, Worcestershire Regiment, wounded dangerously, 10th June.” Also a letter from the sister-in-charge 2nd Clearing Station, British Expeditionary Force, saying : “Very severely wounded in the head. Everything possible is being done for him. An operation was performed this morning, 10/6/15.”
On Thursday it was reported that there was a slight improvement. The patient was then conscious, but his condition was very serious.
Lieut Nash was educated at Repton, under the Rev Lionel Ford, now Headmaster of Harrow, taking an open scholarship from there in history to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree Honours in History, 1912.
Much sympathy will be expressed for Mr and Mrs Slade Nash, whose second son was killed in action on April 3rd last.
Mr Slade Nash has received a letter from the sister-in-charge of the 2nd Clearing Station, dated Wednesday, saying: “The Surgeon thinks your son is slightly better to-day, but is still very ill. Everything possible is being done for him. He wishes me to tell you that he does not know how he was hit. He only remembers being suddenly put on to a stretcher. It is still of the very greatest importance that your son is kept absolutely quiet, and free from any excitement. So the surgeons do not advise visitors. We hope to be able to move him down to the base in a day or two. He has everything he could possibly require.”

Death of Lieut. G. Nash
The death from wounds received in action took place on Tuesday, at Boulogne Stationary Hospital, of Lieutenant George Nash, of the Worcestershire Regiment, the eldest son of Mr & Mrs Slade Nash, of the Noak, Martley. The gallant young officer was mortally wounded on June 10th. The War Office telegram stated that he was wounded dangerously, and a letter from the sister in charge of the 2nd Clearing Station said that he was very severely wounded in the head, and that an operation was being performed on him. The operation appeared to be so successful that, in spite of the dangerous character of the injury, strong hopes were entertained of his recovery. During the last few days, however, the news was not so favourable, and Mrs Nash went to see him on Sunday. Later information indicated that his condition was extremely grave; his weakness increased, and he passed away about 1.30 on Tuesday.
Lieut. Nash was educated at the King’s School, Worcester, and subsequently at Repton, under the Rev Lionel Ford, now Headmaster of Harrow, taking an open scholarship from there in history to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree Honours in History, 1912. He was studying for the Church at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford, prior to joining the 3rd Worcesters.
Much sympathy will be expressed for Mr and Mrs Slade Nash, whose second son, Lieut. James Nash, was killed in action on April 3rd last.
It is intended that the burial shall take place at Martley, on Saturday, at 3 p.m. – – – – is expected to arrive in London with the body to-day (Thursday).

THE LATE LIEUT. GEORGE NASH – Impressive Military Funeral at Martley.
The parish of Martley was in mourning on Saturday for two of its gallant soldiers, Lieutenants James and George Nash the eldest sons of Mr and Mrs Slade Nash of the Noak. The occasion was the burial of the one, Lieut. George Nash, of the Worcestershire Regiment, but the terrible double loss which the parents and friends have sustained was in the thoughts of all present, and most of the wreaths were in memory of both brothers. The younger one, Lieut. James Nash of the East Surrey Regiment, was killed on Good Friday and he lies in a soldier’s grave “somewhere in France.” His brother lingered at the base hospital at Boulogne for three weeks after being mortally wounded. His mother was with him at the end (only one parent being permitted to make the journey across), and on Thursday his body was brought back to the home which he left, in full vigour of early manhood only a few weeks before. The Church Roll of Honour at Martley contains the names of all the young fellows who answered their countries call. Three have given their lives, these two brothers and James Hill, of the grenadier Guards. This is the first case locally in which two officer brothers have fallen, though unhappily, there are many similar cases in other parts of the country. The funeral service on Saturday was one which will long linger in the memories of all present. It was perhaps the most largely attended which has been held in the Parish Church since that for the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Slade Nash some years ago, when widespread grief was manifested at the closing of a young promising life. The Regiment with which Lieutenant Nash was associated paid the tribute by sending a firing party and the Officers’ Training Corps of the Worcester Cathedral School (which both Lieutenants attended, and of which their grandfather, the Rev Maurice Day, was for 20 years Headmaster) showed their desire to honour their dead comrades by sending a detachment to form a Guard of Honour. Sympathy for the bereaved family was manifested by the attendance not only of the residents of Martley (where blinds were drawn at practically every house), but of friends of the family from various parts of West Worcestershire. Any service in which the military play an important part hardly conveys all that this service means. The stately old church, placed amid as fair a pastoral scene as is to be found in any county, the quiet, dignified service, beautiful in its simplicity; the national colours predominated, typifying not only the victory of the soul, but the triumph of our cause, and finally, the short sharp volleys and the “Last Post” over the graveside – all this left an impression of hope and rest and peace. It was intensely sad but beautiful in the extreme. Perhaps the most affecting part of the service was that when the congregation, kneeling in the church sang very quietly, and as an act of prayer the three verses of the National anthem. It was a ** feature at funeral services, and one realised a note of quiet but firm determination to make the sacrifice, however bitter, till the foe be vanquished.
The coffin, draped with the Union Jack, and covered with the family wreaths, was borne from the house on a hand bier, six of the state workmen acting as bearers. The mourners were : . . . . .
A muffled peal was rung on the church bells after the funeral.

United Parish Magazine, St Peter’s Church, Martley, July 1915:
We regret very much that Lieutenant George Nash has been seriously wounded. Coming so soon after his brother being killed in action the news was a great blow to Mr & Mrs Nash and they have our deepest sympathy and hopes and prayers for his recovery. Lieutenant Nash was wounded on June 10th and could not be moved to the base hospital (owing to the grave nature of his wound – by a bullet in the head) for some days. His condition is still critical (June 21st).

Later: Lieutenant G Nash passed away peacefully at a base hospital in Boulogne, at 1.30 p.m. on June 29th, St Peters Day.

United Parish Magazine, St Peter’s Church, Martley, August 1915:
THE LATE LIEUTENANT G NASH – It is very few places in England where the war has taken two young officers from one family, and the grievous losses Mr & Mrs Nash have suffered have indeed made us in Martley realise the terrible gaps in the young manhood of our Country that this terrible visitation have caused. George Nash like his brother, James, was well known and loved by all; we had seen them grow up in our midst, we had been proud of their successes at school and college, we knew their high promise and their strong sense of duty. Like so many more they offered themselves for commissions when the War began, and both took to soldiering keenly and seriously. James Nash lies in a soldiers grave abroad but we have the satisfaction of George Nash being laid to rest under the shadow of his own parish church, amongst his own people, and with all the honour and feelings of respect and regret that the large gathering on July 3rd witnessed to so sincerely. It is very hard to realise that we shall see him no more on earth. We pray that time will soften the heavy blow to his parents; for us all, the lesson of these young lives taken from us is a serious call from God, to do our duty simply and cheerfully, whatever earthly loss it brings. They laid down their lives for us; let it make us less selfish, less complaining, less impatient with trials that God in his Wisdom sends us for our good, to fit us for the perfect service to God in the resurrection life of the world to come.

Buried in the churchyard on 3rd July 1915.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 1916
NASH MEMORIAL – Dedication at Martley Church
On Thursday evening the Rev, H Maynard Smith dedicated in Martley Church a window erected to the memory of Lieuts. George and James Nash, the gallant sons of Mr and Mrs Slade Nash, who fell last year while on active service. There were a large number of relatives and friends of the family present at the service, as well as representatives of the Cathedral King’s School (Lieut. J Nash was an O.V.) and a number of parishioners, who gathered to express their sympathy and sense of the exceptional loss suffered by a family which has many honourable associations with the district. . . . .

A photograph of Lieutenant George Nash can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 10th July 1915, available at Worcestershire Archives.