Person

George Henry’s parents, George Christian and Lena Zissler, came to England from Kunzelau, Baden-Wurrtemberg. The family first established themselves in Bingley, near Bradford, where George Henry was born. They then moved to Darlington and set up shop at 104 Bondgate. In 1879 George Christian was granted British Naturalisation.

George Christian seems to have taken a back seat in the business by 1901 as George Henry is recorded as living at the Bondgate shop on the census of that year. George senior died in 1912 and is buried at Darlington East cemetery.

During the First World War Zissler’s shop on Bondgate was vandalised on two occasions. The first was in December 1914 and then again in May 1915. It seems likely that the second incident was linked to the sinking of the Lusitania although this is not mentioned in the newspaper report (see below “Supporting Materials” for transcripts of the newspaper articles.) There is little doubt that alcohol had a major role to play on both occasions.

By the time Henry’s windows were smashed at least one of his sons had joined the British Army. George Barnard Zissler joined the Royal Field Artillery as a driver on 7 September 1914 and first served in France on 9 September 1915. His brother, Albert Frederick, also joined the Royal Field Artillery as a driver but was later transferred to the Royal Engineers. Albert first served in France on 22 July 1915.

George Henry died in 1939 and is buried at Darlington West Cemetery with his wife, Elizabeth Jane (died 1933), and daughter Nellie Wilhemina (died 1974).

Civil Parish: Darlington

Birth date: 04-Jul-1871

Death date: 06-Apr-1939

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: 104 Bondgate, Darlington (1901 census)
30 Northgate, Darlington (1911 census)
Dalmahoy, Cleveland Terrace, Darlington (Probate Calendar)

Family: Parents: George Christian Zissler, Regina Madalene Barbara Zissler
Wife: Elizabeth Jane Zissler nee Calvert, married 1893
Children: George Barnard Zissler, Albert Frederick Zissler, Madalena J Zissler, Elizabeth Evelyn Zissler, Nellie W Zissler, Lawrence Zissler, Reginald Zissler (1911 census)

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham at War Team