George Henry was born on 29 Mar, 1903 at Barracks in Preston, Brighton, Sussex, England^a1,b1, the eldest son of George Henry Chambers (1867–1923)★, a Sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery, and Louisa Hemmings (1876–1913)★, a general servant. He is Ian's great uncle.

George Henry was recorded in the 1911 census at 8 Joseph Street in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England^c1 with his father George Henry, now a caretaker of laboratory, mother Louisa and six siblings William Joseph★, Rebecca, Eileen, Hilda, Louisa Alexandra and Helen Mary.

By the time of the 1921 census he was living at 26 Cato Street in Gateshead, County Durham, England^d1 with his father George Henry, now an unemployed caretaker and six siblings William Joseph, a pawnbroker's porter, Eileen, Hilda, a grocer's assistant, Louisa Alexandra, Helen Mary and Francis Patrick.

On 21 Sep, 1921, George enlisted in the 19th Regiment of Foot, the Green Howards, at Newcastle. George, by then an 18-year-old man, stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 123 pounds. His chest measured 34 inches, with a 2-inch range. He had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. One distinguishing feature was a small mole located on his left shoulder. The regiment had seen many overseas deployments, including to northern Russia in 1919 to combat the revolution. This continued after George joined. In 1925 they were posted to the West Indies and then to Egypt before travelling to Shanghai in 1927 to form part of the Shanghai Defence Force combatting the rise of nationalists in China. In 1931 the regiment were in Poona in India before moving to Meerut in 1934.^e1,f1,g1

He married Maud Lumsden (1905–?), a nurse, on 24 Nov, 1934 in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, British India^b2,h1.

As war seemed imminent in 1939 George returned to Caterham in England to train recruits and later began training the Home Guard in Kent. Maud did not accompany him to England and they may never have met again. She died some time before 1978 in Pune in India.^k1,h2

He married Dorothy Gwendolen Youngs (1911–2003) on 18 Jul, 1969 at the age of sixty-six in the registration district of Camberwell in London, England^a2 . They had one child.

George and Dorothy had met much earlier and had a child in 1944, despite both being married to other people at the time. After Dorothy's husband died in 1952, she changed her name to Chambers, likely to avoid questions about their marital status. They eventually married in 1969, probably after George's first wife had passed away.

George Henry died at the age of eighty-two on 11 Jul, 1985 in the registration district of Lambeth in London, England^m1,a1 He was survived by his wife Dorothy Gwendolen Youngs.

Timeline

1903

29 Mar

Born at Barracks, Preston, Brighton, Sussex, England.^a1,b1

1911

2 Apr

Recorded in the 1911 census at 8 Joseph Street, Elswick, Northumberland.^c1

1913

3 Nov

Mother, Louisa Hemmings (1876–1913)★, died at 8 Joseph Street, Elswick.^b3

1921

19 Jun

Recorded in the 1921 census residing at 26 Cato Street, Gateshead, County Durham.^d1
Occupation recorded as wagon man at Tyrell Terrace, Gateshead, County Durham.

12 Sep

Enlisted in the Green Howards in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.^f1,e1

1923

9 Dec

Father, George Henry Chambers (1867–1923)★, died at 26 Cato Street, Gateshead.^b4

1934

24 Nov

Married Maud Lumsden in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, British India.^b2,h1
Occupation recorded as sergeant, green howards.^b2,h1
Recorded as residing in Green Howards Lines, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, British India.^b2,h1

1969

18 Jul

Married Dorothy Gwendolen Youngs in Camberwell, London.^a2

before 1978

Wife, Maud Lumsden (1905–?), died in Pune, Maharashtra, British India.

1985

11 Jul

Died at the age of eighty-two in Lambeth, London, England.^m1,a1
Recorded as residing at 65 Athenlay Road, London.^m1

4 Sep

Probate granted at the London Probate Registry, London, England probate office.^m1

Facts