READMAN George

Appears on the memorial under Soldiers 1918 with the information: Sergt. Aug. 8

George Readman was born in Blockley in 1893 and baptised in the village church on 21st May 1893. His Yorkshire-born father, John, was a stonemason. George was at home in Blockley until at least 1911, when he was working as a haulier’s carter. In 1913 he emigrated to Canada. This move was probably influenced by his step-brother Ernest Ledbetter, who had emigrated in 1908 but had come back, perhaps on a visit, in 1912. In March 1913, these two, together with another man from Blockley, Harold Payne, travelled to Canada, he and Ernest to Brandon, Manitoba, Harold Payne to Calgary, Alberta. All three intended to remain and to work, at least initially, as farm labourers.

Following the outbreak of World War 1 George enlisted with the 78th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Winnipeg Grenadiers), presumably when it was authorised in mid-1915. He was living at Mayfield, Manitoba, working as a labourer and was unmarried. He enlisted at Winnipeg. He will have deployed with his unit to Great Britain in May 1916 and thence to France in August of that year. In September 1916 he received a shrapnel wound to the back, but continued in service after recovering from his wounds. He had reached the rank of Sergeant when he died in action in August 1918.

George had previous military experience, presumably as a Territorial, though the extent is unknown, nor is it known whether this was in England or Canada. His half-brother Ernest Ledbetter, with whom he had emigrated to Manitoba in 1913, also served in the Canadian Armed Forces in Europe, but in a different battalion. He also lost his life in World War 1.

The following information is taken from Wikipedia:
The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), Canadian Expeditionary Force was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The Battalion was authorized on 10th July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 20th May 1916. The unit disembarked in France on 13th August 1916, where it fought as part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the armistice. The battalion was disbanded on 15th September 1920. The 78th Battalion recruited in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the surrounding area and was mobilized at Winnipeg.

Emigration to Canada, taken from ship’s passenger list and Canadian customs document:
Left Liverpool on 26th March 1913 on SS Hesperian, bound for Halifax, St John, destination Brandon, Manitoba
Unmarried, age 19, first visit, intended permanent residence Canada
Born England, nationality English, religion Baptist
Previous and intended occupation farm labourer
[Note: travelling with half-brother Ernest Ledbetter (qv), also bound for Brandon, and Harold Payne, bound for Calgary, both from Blockley. Passages apparently booked together, ticket numbers 2559-2561]

From various Canadian sources including the First World War Book of Remembrance and the Canadian Great War Project.
George Readman
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Sergeant, 148484
born 5/4/1883 at Blockley, Worcestershire, England
height 5ft 9in, chest 37, Church of England, enlisted [as opposed to conscripted]
enlisted Winnipeg, Manitoba, age 22
address at enlistment, Hayfield, Manitoba
occupation labourer. unmarried
prior military experience Yes
shrapnel wound in back, 20 Sep 1916
died in war 8 August 1918, age 25
next of kin John Readman, father, Blockley, Worcestershire, England
buried Caix British Cemetery, France, plot 11 F 13

The following information has been researched and transcribed by Sandra Taylor:
George Readman enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 22nd November 1915 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. On his attestation paper he gave his present address as Hayfield, Manitoba, his place of birth as Blockley, Worcestershire, England, his date of birth as 5th April 1898, his occupation as a labourer and his next of kin as his father, John Readman of Blockley, England. Ernest was 5 feet 9 inches tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8126 – 18

The following information has been researched by Jim Busby:
The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Sergeant George Readman:
€œKilled in Action.€
Sergeant Readman was following up the general advance on the morning of August 8th 1918, with his Battalion Headquarters Section. On reaching the vicinity of Hangard the enemy dropped a barrage of heavy shells amongst the section, instantly killing him and six others.
Exhumed from vicinity of DOMART, South West of VILLERS BRETONNEUX, East of HANGARD. Buried in Caix British Cemetery, 7¾ miles East North east of MOREUIL, France.

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers records the following information on Sergeant George Readman:
Killed in action
[Details of exhumation and burial as above]
Three photographs of the Grave sent to Mr L. Readman, Blockley, Worcester, England on 27th April 1920 direct by Imp. War Graves Comm.