Person

Born on 16 May 1893 in Shildon, George Henry was the youngest of the five children of railway clerk John Jameson and his wife of fourteen years, Agnes. George Henry was baptised in November of the following year. George’s father died just before his seventh birthday, when William his oldest brother was then 21 years old. Agnes, his mother, died in November 1911 and eighteen months later, on 9 May 1913, George, together with siblings William, Mary and Annie emigrated to Canada, sailing from Liverpool to Quebec on board the SS Empress of Britain. They made their way west to Winnipeg, Manitoba and settled there, all finding work, and were joined by their brother, John, the following year.

On 29 February 1916 George enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Winnipeg. He named William and Annie as his next of kin and becoming Private 234108 of the 203rd Battalion. After being hospitalised with influenza, he sailed with the battalion on board the SS Grampian at the end of October, arriving in Liverpool and travelling on to camp at Seaford on the south coast. A Medical Board found that he had varicose veins, but they did not hamper him and he was classified as A2 and posted to the 18th Reserve Battalion based at Bramshott, Hampshire. Two months later, on 5 May 1917, he was posted to the 44th Battalion, 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and joined them on 21 March at Vimy Ridge.

After just over three weeks of action, George was wounded during the fighting at Hill 145, Vimy Ridge when he was blown out of a trench, fracturing his right arm on hitting the ground. He sustained multiple wounds to his head and both arms. Evacuated to a casualty clearing station at Bruay, he was then transferred to hospital in Etaples before being invalided to England on the hospital ship St. Denis a week later. Admitted to Edinburgh War Hospital, after two months he was transferred to Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital at Epsom and then returned to Canada on board the HS Araguaya, arriving in Quebec on 25 September 1917.

A Medical Board on his arrival found him to be suffering from shell shock, complaining of headaches and dizziness and weakness in both of his arms, although his wounds appeared to be completely healed. The Board found that he would be incapacitated for at least another two months. Back home in Winnipeg a Medical Board at the end of October found that he was partially disabled as a result of wounds, he was still nervous and suffering from headaches and dizziness, but suggested that he would improve in about six months without any further treatment. The Board recommended that he be discharged as medically unfit and not be re-enlisted, and this took place on 19 November 1917.

In April 1921 George returned to England giving an address in Trimdon Colliery, but returned to Canada two and a half years later and settled in British Columbia where he found work as a customs officer. On 14 November 1925 George married Vera Jane Catherine Watson, an Australian by birth, at Christ Church, Vancouver and they remained living in British Columbia with their son Jack.
Vera died in 1972, and George, a lifelong member of Royal Canadian Legion and the Ancient Light Lodge died from a massive stroke in Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver on 30 April 1987. He is buried in Boundary Bay Cemetery, Delta, British Columbia.

Civil Parish: Shildon

Birth date: 16-May-1893

Death date: 30-Apr-1987

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 48 Albert Street, Shildon (1901 census)
24 Alexandra Street, Shildon (1911 census)
403 Cumberland Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba (enlistment papers)
3 Office Buildings, Trimdon Colliery (ships manifest)
Whiterock, British Columbia (marriage certificate)
5958 Kirkfield Road, Delta, British Columbia (death certificate)

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Grocery clerk (enlistment papers)
Customs officer (marriage certificate)

Family: Parents: John Jameson, Agnes Jameson nee Musgrave
Siblings: William Jameson, Mary Ellen Jameson, Agnes Annie Jameson, John Jameson
Wife: Vera Jane Catherine Jameson nee Watson
Children: Jack Jameson

Military service:

Private 234108
203rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
18th Reserve Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
44th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force

Medal(s): British War Medal, Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham | Jim Busby, Canada