George William Cumberlidge 1885-1964

Sapper 216638 Royal Engineers

George William Cumberlidge was born on 3 April 1885 in Rudyard, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of William Cumberlidge and his wife Sarah nee Dobson. In 1901 he was wheelwright's apprentice and by 1911 he had completed his apprenticeship and became a wheelwright. He enlisted in the Army on 6 December 1916. He joined a force commensurate with his skilled employment and became Sapper 216638 in the Royal Engineers. On enlistment he was described as:

• Age: 31 years 7 months
• Height: 5 feet 8½ inches
• Weight 168 lbs
• Chest measurement, Girth when full expanded 40½ inches, Range of expansion: 3½ inches
• Complexion: Fresh
• Eyes: Hazel
• Hair: Brown
• Physical development: Good

On 4 April 1918 he travelled to France and was later discharged to the Army Reserve on 14 March 1919.

George married Zilpha Plant in 1921 In Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England. Together they had four children:

• Winston Cumberlidge born 18 June 1923
• Joan Cumberlidge born 1924
• Sheila Cumberlidge born 1930
• Marcus Cumberlidge born 23 March 1932

George William Cumberlidge died in 1964 and his wife, Zilpha, died in 1969.

WW1 Service Record

WW1 Service Record George William CUMBERLIDGE Sapper 216638

 

RECORD OF SERVICE PAPER

For men deemed t 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. 216638 Christian Names: George William Surname: Cumberlidge

Corps: Royal Engineers Trade Test

Questions to be put to the Reservist on Joining

What is your name?       Christian Names: George William Surname: Cumberlidge

Address: Pool End, Near Leek, Staffs

British Subject? Yes

Age: 31 Years 7 Months

Trade: Wheelwright & Joiner Carpenter

Married: No

Service in Forces Before: No

Preference for any branch of the service: Follow Trade

14 December 1916, Chatham

DESCRIPTIVE REPORT ON JOINING

Christian Names: George Wm Surname: Cumberlidge

Age: 31 years 7 months

Height: 5 feet 8½ inches

Chester measurement, Girth when full expanded 40½ inches, Range of expansion: 3½ inches

Complexion: Fresh

Eyes: Hazel

Hair: Brown

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY RECRUIT

Name and Address of next-of-kin: Wm [Cumberlidge], Pool End Near Leek, Staffs

Relationship: Father

Casualty Form – Active Service

Regimental Number: 216638

Regiment or Corps; Royal Engineers

Rank: Sapper

Surname: Cumberlidge

Christian Name: George William

Age on Enlistment: 31 years 7 months

Enlisted (a) 6 Dec 1916

Terms of Service (a) Duration of War

Service reckons from (a) 6 Dec 1916

Occupation: Wheelwright

Trade and Rate: Skilled

Kent Fortress, Royal Engineers Gillingham

Embarked UK 4 Apr 1918

Disembarked France

[Form damaged]

Conduct Sheet

No. 216638

Name: Cumberlidge G W

Corps: 579 (Kent) Works Co Royal Engineers

Date of enlistment: 6 Dec 1916

CC 579^th (KENT) Works Coy Royal Engineers

PLEASE WRITE DISTINCTLY

Name: Cumberlidge Christian Name in Full: George William

Enlisted at Leek in the County of Stafford on the 6^th December 1916 at the age of 31 years 8 months for the Royal Engineers for the Duration of the War. Born in the Parish of Rudyard in, or near, the town of Leek, Staffs

Complexion: Fair colour of eyes: Brown colour of hair Brown Height 5 feet 8¾  inches.

Distinctive marks [blank]

Religion: Church of England

If inoculated: No

When last Vaccinated: Dec 1916

Next of Kin Mother

Name of Next of Kin Sarah Address of Next of Kin Pool End Nr Leek, Staffs

Regimental Number: 216638

Name of the Insurance Society Oddfellows Manchester Unity

Signature G W Cumberlidge

MEDICAL HISTORY OF

Surname: Cumberlidge Christian Name: George Wm

Birthplace; Parish: Pool End County: Staffs

Examined on 6 day of Dec 1916 at STOKE ON TRENT

Declared age: 31 years 7 days

Trade: Wheelwright & Joiner Carpenter

Height: 5 feet 8½ inches

Weight 168 lbs

Chest measurement, Girth when fully expanded: 40 ½ inches, Range of expansion: 3½ inches

Physical development: Good

Vaccination marks: 2 right arm

Vision R.E.-V=6/6 L.E. -V=6/8

Fit for CT(one)

Hospital Admissions

20 Sep 1917 to 27 Oct 1917, 37 days [I cannot read the Disease or Remarks]

TRADE AND SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

No. 216638

Name: Cumberlidge G W

Wheelwright, Skilled from 6 Dec 1916 Rating ¼ Authority of Assessment G SME, 13 Dec 1916, Captain R.E.

STATEMENT AS TO DISABILITY

Unit: 248 Field Company

Regiment or Corps: Royal Engineers

Regtl No. 216638

Surname: CUMBERLIDGE

Christian Names: George William

Permanent address: Pool End, Near Leek, Staffordshire

Age last birthday: 33

First joined for duty: 6 Dec 1916 at Chatham

Medical Category or Grade: C.a. passed to A! later

I do not claim to be suffering from a disability due to my military service

Place of Examination: In the Field (France) G W Cumberlidge 18 Jan 1919

OC 248 Field Company Royal Engineers

PROTECTION CERTIFICATE and CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY

 

Surname: CUMBERLIDGE

Christian Names: George William

Regtl No. 216638

Rank: Sapper

Unit 248 Field Company

Regiment of Corps Royal Engineers

Record Office RE Base

Pay Office: RE Paymaster Chatham

I have received an advance of£2

Address for pay: Pool End, Near Leek, Staffs

Theatre of War: France

Born in the Year: 1885

Medical Category: A1

The above-named soldier is granted 28 days’ furlough from the date stamped hereon pending*___ (as far as can be ascertained) which will date from the last day of furlough after which date uniform will not be worn except upon occasions authorized by Army Orders.

28 Jan 1919

STATEMENT of the SERVICE of No. 216638 Name: G W Cumberlidge

General Service, Deemed to have enlisted, Private, 6 Dec 1916

Royal Engineers Trade Test, Called up for Service, 6 Dec 1916

Royal Engineers, Depot, Wheelwright Skilled, Sapper, 6 Dec 1916

Kent Fortress Royal Engineers Gillingham, Transferred 16 Mar 1917

Transferred to Class “Z” Army Reserve on Demobilization 14 Mar 1919

Medal Roll

ROYAL ENGINEERS REGIMENT OR CORPS

ROLL of INDIVIDUALS entitled to the Victory Medal and British War Medal granted under Army Orders 266 and 301 of 1919.             25973

Regtl. No.	Rank	Name	Unit	Remarks
216638	Sapper	CUMBERLIDGE, George W.	Royal Engineers 216638 Sapper

Chatham

Medal Index Card