EARL George 2/Lt

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Surname: EARL;

Forename(s): George;

Initials: G;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Born in: Ferns, Co Wexford;

Previous Number: 777;

Previous Regiment: S Ir Horse;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 4 Bn;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 4 Bn;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 61 Bn;

Date abroad: 17-Aug-1914;

Theatre of War: 1;

Other Data: POW Germany - POW: Missing 21/3/1918 repat 6/12/1918
ICRC Ref: PA 21377/23556

George EARL b 28/2/1893 at Ferns, Co Wexford
father John Allen Earl, mother Annie Earl both of Bellefield Terr, Enniscorthy
Sisters: Cecilia Elizabeth, Ethel Alice & Analiza Blanche
attested Depot, Royal Irish Regt 10/4/1911 age 19 yrs 2m
Pte 10204 - discharged by purchase £10 paid by uncle - Robert Earl, Ballyhanoun, Wells, Gorey, Co.Wexford on 8/6/1911

10/4/1913 South Irish Horse
George Earl, b Ferns, Wexford.
Served: Home 10/4/1913 - 16/8/1914
BEF 17/8/1914 - 10/3/1917 (1914 Star)
Home 11/3/1917
12/2/1917 T/2Lt MGC recommended by Major ML Lakin 1 Corps Cav Regt BEF "I consider him a suitable candidate for a commission in MGC - is up to standard, but no previous experience in MG work"
Casualty Form: Embarked 27/11/17 1/12/17 Camiers from UK
8/12/17 Hospital - tonsilitis
14/12/17 to convalesce at Menton
29/12/17 to base, Marseilles in conn with AGCM
12/1/18 Base Depot, joined from hospital
19/1/18 to join 184 Coy
31/3/1918 missing in action
25/6/1918 accepted as POW (Germany)
13/12/1918 landed at Dover - exonerated Officer statement" On 21 March the Germans attacked in superior forces in a very dense fog. At the time, I was in the battle zone at Old Mill Hill (NW St Quentin). Performing the duties of sub-section officer I/c two guns (No 1 sect, C Coy, 61 Bn) The two forward guns in front of me were surrounded by the enemy in the fog and apparently the gun teams were either killed or obliged to surrender. This occurred about 10am 21.3.1918 at this time I was I/c of 1 reaward gun which continued to fire throughout the remainder of the day, the succeeding night and up to 4.30pm of the following day, when it received a direct hit from a shell. By this time, the enemy, who was under cover about 100 yards away, charged the position and bombed the three surviving gunners and myself out of the post. Prior to this I had been completely surrounded for 4 1/2 hours and escape was impossible."

17/11/1917 case of 2 Lt George Earl 19 Depot Coy, 4 Bn MGC
GOC in C N.Cmd forwards proceedings of G Court Martial at Clipstone Camp on 30/10/1917 ; Charge - Absenting himself without leave in that he, at Clipstone, absented himself without leave from 4 Bn MGC TC from 9.00am 19/9/17 to 11.30am 21/9/17.
Plea: Guilty - to be severley reprimanded

9/7/1919 Proceedings of G Court Martial at Grantham
Charge: when on active service absented himself without leave at Folkestone 22/5/1919 failed to report to Embarkation Cdt as it was his duty to do and remained absent without leave until surrender to the Military Authorities at Dublin 31/5/1919 dressed in plain clothes.
Found Guilty and sentenced to be dismissed
Submitted to HM the King herewith 23/7/1919
signed 24/7/1919
L Gazette 16/8/1919

1/12/1919 letter from Earl to Sec, War Office applying for war gratuity - POW 8 months plus 3 yrs active service. Told not entitled under circumstances in which Commission was relinquished.

Medal Index Card: S.Irish Hse Pte 777
T/Lt MGC
brought to charge 31/1/20
authority w/s/1/10727
dismissed the service 1/8/1919

WO339/92175
1914 Star roll (South Irish Horse) Star restored and issued 10/03/1927
see GS archives for exonerated officer statement;

END OF RECORD.

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