George Cumberlidge 1895-1977

Private 12097 9th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment & Private 125508 R Company Royal Army Medical Corps

George Cumberlidge was born 12 October 1895 in Pitts Hill, Chell, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of William Cumberlidge and his wife Harriet nee Lees. By 1911 he was working as a Kiln lad working in the pottery industry.

He was a kiln Fireman for William Adams & Co. of Tunstall, Staffordshire for 9 years when he enlisted in the army on 3 September 1914. He joined the 9th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment as Private 12097. On enlistment he was described as:

• Age: 19 years 11 months
• Height: 5 feet 3½ inches
• Weight: 119 lbs
• Chest Measurement, Girth when expanded: 35½ inches, expansion 2½ inches
• Complexion: Fresh
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Dark Brown
• Religious denomination: Salvation Army
• Distinctive Marks:
  • Left arm 1 Inf: [probably vaccination marks?]
  • 4 Defective Teeth
  • Left Eye V 6/6
  • Left Eye V 6/60
  • Small mole left side abdomen

However, he was discharged 43 days later under para 392 (III)c Kings Regulations as not being likely to become an efficient soldier, Private, 15 Oct 1914.

He was recalled to duty on 3 September 1917 after having deemed to have been enlisted on 9 March 1916. He was posted as Private 1225508 to R Company Sheffield TC, Royal Army Medical Corps on 5 September 1917. However, he was again discharged as being medically unfit due to a cataract in his left eye. He was discharged on Christmas Day 1917. He was discharged to pension as having been 80% incapacitated by this disability. On discharge he was described as:

• Age: 22 years 3 months
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches
• Chest measurement when fully expanded: 35 inches, range of expansion 3 inches
• Complexion: Dark
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Black
• Trade: Kiln Fireman
• Intended place of residence: 3 Morley Street, Tunstall, Staffordshire
• Descriptive marks: scar left eye. Mole left arm.
• Military character: Good
• Character awarded in accordance with King’s Regulations: Conduct satisfactory

By 1939 George Cumberlidge was living with Matilda Cottrell  nee Browe and with her four children by Harold Cottrell. George and Matilda were married in 1955 shortly after Harold Cottrell died. George died in 1977 and his wife died in 1990.

WW1 Service Record

SHORT SERVICE

(Three Years with the Colours)

ATTESTATION OF

No. 12097          Name: George Cumberlidge       Corps: North Stafford New Battalion

Name: George Cumberlidge

Place of Birth: Parish of Christ Church, Tunstall, Stafford

British Subject: Yes

Age: 19 Years 326 days 12/10/1894 [12 Oct 1894 but should be 12 Oct 1895]

Trade: Pottery Kiln Firer

At Tunstall, 3^rd day of September 1914

STATEMENT of the SERVICES of No. 12097 Name: George Cumberlidge

Service towards limited engagement reckons from 3 Sep 1914

Joined at Lichfield on 3 Sep 1914

North Staffordshire Regiment, D, Posted, Private, 3 Sep 1914

North Staffordshire Regiment, 9^th Battalion, Posted, Private 13, Sep 1914

North Staffordshire Regiment, 9^th Battalion, Discharged under para 392 (III)c Kings Regulations Not being likely to become an efficient soldier, Private, 15 Oct 1914

Character: Good

Total Service towards Engagement to 15 Oct 1914 (date of discharge) 43 days

Total Service towards Pension to 15 Oct 1914 (date of discharge) 43 days

MILITARY HISTORY SHEET

Home from 3 Sep 1914 to 15 Oct 1914, 43 days

Name and Address of next of kin: William Cumberlidge (father), 3 Morley St. Tunstall

Description of George Cumberlidge on Enlistment

Age: 19 years 11 months

Height: 5 feet 3½ inches

Weight: 119 lbs

Chest Measurement, Girth when expanded: 35½ inches, expansion 2½ inches

Complexion: Fresh

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Dark Brown

Religious denomination: Salvation Army

Distinctive Marks:

• Left arm 1 Inf: [probably vaccination marks?]
• 4 Defective Teeth
• Left Eye V 6/6
• Left Eye V 6/60
• Small mole left side abdomen

I consider him fit for the Army

3 Sept 1914

Place: Tunstall

RECORD OF SERVICE PAPER

For men deemed to be enlisted in H.M. Regular Forces for General Service with the Colours or in the Reserve for the period of the War, or Ex-Soldiers recalled for Service with the Colours, under the provisions of the Military Service Acts, 1916

No: 125508        Christian Names: George            Surname: Cumberlidge

Corps: RAMC

Name: George Cumberlidge

Address: 3 Morley Street, Hanley

British Subject: Yes

Age: 21 Years 11 Months

Trade: Kiln Fireman

Previous Service: 9^th North Staffordshire

Desirous of serving in the Royal Navy:     Navy

Date: 9 September 1917

Place: Burslem

DESCRIPTIVE REPORT ON JOINING

Christian Names: George

Surname: Cumberlidge

Age: 21 years 11 months

Height: 5 feet 3½ inches

Chest measurement when fully expanded: 35 inches range of expansion: 2½ inches

Name and Address of next-of-kin: Harriet Cumberlidge 3 Morley Street Hanley Tunstall Relationship: Mother

STATEMENT of the SERVICES of Name: George Cumberlidge

Deemed to have enlisted, Private, 3 Sep 1917 9 Mar 1916

Called up for service 3 Sep 1917

RAMC, Posted 3 Sep 1917

RAMC, Private, Posted R Company Sheffield TC 5 Sep 1917

Service: Home 2 Mar 1916 to 25 Dec 1917 – 1 year 299 days

Character: good

Disability: Cataract

Incapacity – 100%

Address: 3 Morley St, Tunstall, Staffs

Doctor Chelsea 6 Dec 1917

Discharge by ___

RAMC, Discharged no longer physically fit for War Service para 392 (XVI) K.R. 25 Dec 1917 Auth RMB Napsbury, St Albans 4 Dec 1917

Total Service towards Engagement to 25 Dec 1917 (date of discharge) 1 years 299 days

Total Service towards Pension to 25 Dec 1917 (date of discharge) – years 114 days

 

Week ending 12 Dec 1917 MINISTRY OR PENSIONS, The ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA SW3

Sir, I am directed by the Minister of Pensions to inform you of the undermentioned decision in the case of a man whose discharge document have been recently received with the view to having the claim to pension considered.

To the Officer Commanding

RAMC Regiment R Company T.C.

Rank and Regimental Number: Private 125508

Name: Cumberlidge George

Regiment: RAMC

Date of Discharge: 25 Dec 1917

Address of discharge: 3 Morley St, Tunstall, Staffs

Weekly Pension: Grab Arb 7.2. £40

Disability: Cataract

 

To the Officer i/c Records: RAMC, Woking

The Soldier named below has appeared before an Army Medical Board at this station, and his discharge from the Service as “no longer physically fit for War Service” has this day been approved. (The discharge will be confirmed for a date 20 days after the date on this notification, see A.C.I. 1912 of 1916)

Soldier’s surname: Cumberlidge, Christian names: George

Regt. No. and Rank; 125508 Private Regiment: RAMC

His address on discharge will be: 3 Morley St, Tunstall, Staffs

The Soldier states that No allowance is being issued in respect of him.

Station: Napsbury, St Albans

Date: 4 Dec 1917

 

Re. No. 125508 Cumberlidge G RAMC

The Regimental Paymaster, WOKING

Children of the above-named soldier:

Name of Child: Nil

Date of Birth: X

Woking 29 Nov 1917

Information to be obtained from a Soldier (Regular or Territorial) whom it is proposed to discharge or to transfer to the Reserve Section W or W(T) in substitution for a man fit for General Service.

No. 125508 Rank: Private

Name: Cumberlidge George

Regiment: RAMC

Special qualifications for civil life: Potter

Name and address of last employer, nature of employment and how long employed: William Adams & Co. Tunstall, Staffs, Potter for 9 years

Name of approved society: Shepherd Society

Date: 29 Nov 1917

Proceedings on Discharge

Chelsea Number: 193463

No. 125508 Army Rank: Private

Name: CUMBERLIDGE George

Corps: Royal Army Medical, No 9 Company

Date of discharge: 25^th December 1917

Place of Discharge: Woking

Description at the time of discharge

Age: 22 years 3 months

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Chest measurement when fully expanded: 35 inches, range of expansion 3 inches

Complexion: Dark

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Trade: Kiln Fireman

Intended place of residence: 3 Morley Street, Tunstall, Staffordshire

Descriptive marks: scar left eye. Mole left arm.

The above-named man is discharged in consequence of being found no longer physically fit for war service Para 392 (xvi)K.R. Auth: RMB Napsbury d/ 4 Dec 1917

Military character: Good

Character awarded in accordance with King’s Regulations: Conduct satisfactory

Statement of service.

Service towards engagement to 25 Dec 1917 (the date to which the record of service is completed) 1 years 299 days.

Confirmation of discharge

The discharge of the above-named man is hereby confirmed for 25 Dec 1917 (date)

(Place) Woking

(Date) 6^th December 1917

 

Chelsea Number: 193463

Adm. To Pension 12 Dec 1917

Rank: Private

Name: Cumberlidge George

Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps

Date of Discharge 25 Dec 1917

Age on commencement of Pension 22 [years] Oct 1895 [birth]

Trade: Kiln Fireman

Address: 3 Morley St Tunstall Staffs

Character: Good

Service: Colours 4/12

Date of Enlistment: 3 Sep 1917

Board’s Decision: Grab: Arb: 7(2) £40 80% over 3

Names of children: Single

Foreign Service: Nil

Cause of Discharge: Physically unfit

Report of Medical Board (dated 4 Dec 1917), Cataract

Origin unknown

Constitutional, Permanent, Prevents 80%

Requires Treatment

Medical Report on an Invalid

Station: Napsbury, St Albans

Date: 3 Dec 1917

Unit: RAMC

Regimental No: 125508

Rank; Private

Name: Cumberlidge George

Age last birthday: 21

Enlisted: 30 May 1917 at Hanley

Former Trade: Kiln fireman

Disability in respect of which invaliding is Proposed.

Cataract

Statement of Case

Date and place of origin: unknown

Essential facts: Has never been able to see with left eye. Vision with right eye good. Can read 6/60 only

Constitutional or hereditary: Constitutional

Present condition:

• Congenital cataract left eye in which he is quite blind
• Right eye early congenital cataract
• Cannot see to walk in the dark & is unable to do his work
• Operation performed: no
• Other disabilities: none

Do you recommend – (a) Discharge as permanently unfit: yes

Station: Napsbury, 3 Dec 1917

Opinion of the Medical Board

Whether constitutional or hereditary: constitutional

Is the disability permanent: yes

Degree of disablement at which he should be assessed for pension purposes: 80

Do the Board recommend (a) Discharge as permanently unfit: yes

Further medical treatment: outpatient

Station: Napsbury, St Albans

Date: 3 Dec 1917

STATEMENT of the SERVICES of No. 125508 Name: George Cumberlidge

Previously served in the 9^th North Staffords

Age on Enlistment: 21 years 11 months

Enlisted for Duration of War

Service towards limited engagement reckons from 2 Mar 1916

Joined at Blackpool 5 Sep 1917

General Service, Deemed to have been enlisted 2 Mar 1916

Called up for service 3 Sep 1917

RAMC, Posted, 3 Sep 1917

RAMC, TC R Company Sheffield TC, Posted, Private, 5 Sep 1917

RAMC, Discharged. No longer physically fit for War Service para 392 (xvi) K.R. Auth: PMB Napsbury St Albans d/ 4 Dec 1917

Total Service towards Engagement to 25 Dec 1917 (date of discharge) 1 years 299 days

Total Service towards Pension to 25 Dec 1917 (date of discharge) – years 114 days

MILITARY HISTORY SHEET

Home from 2 Mar 1916 to 25 Dec 1917 1 years 299 days

Name and Address of next of kin: Mother Harriet Cumberlidge 3 Morley St Tunstall

MEDICAL HISTORY OF

Surname: Comberlidge [sic] Christian Name: G

Vaccinated Blackpool 19 Oct 1917

Joined on enlistment: R Company RAMC 125508

Became non effective by Discharge under para 392(XVI) K Regulations on 25^th December 1917

Admissions to Hospital

Military Hospital Kirkham? From 5 Sep 1917 to 7 Sep 1917, Impetigo, 3 days in hospital