Person

From his son:

George Edward Backhouse, known as Ted, attended Bede College for teacher training from 1907-1909, and while there he joined the Volunteers (this would be the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI)) and after the army reforms of 1908 this became the 8th (TF) Battalion. The second photo on the page appears on this to have been taken at Bede, and my father is in the front row, extreme left [see supporting materials at the bottom of the page for the full photograph]. I thought it might be of interest, perhaps others can recognise their relatives. Dad took up his first teaching post at Stanhope Barrington School in 1909, and after the war was headmaster there 1919-1925. I understand he joined up as a result of a letter which the Commanding Officer of the 8th Durhams sent to all former members urging them to enlist.

He joined 8th DLI as a private in September 1914 (he had just been married in July), and went to France with them in April 1915. He was rapidly promoted and by June 1916 was Company Sergeant Major. Soon after he was commissioned as a second lieutenant but was not allowed to stay with the battalion but was posted to the training battalion in the UK. He then volunteered to join the Machine Gun Corps and served with them in France from February 1917 until March 1918 when he was posted as instructor at the MGC depot at Grantham. He was awarded the Military Cross after the battle of Cambrai (Nov 1917).

Civil Parish: Stanhope Urban

Birth date: 14-Feb-1889

Death date: 28-Aug-1976

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Jockey Lane, Knaresborough, Yorkshire (1901 census)
Queen’s Arms Hotel, Knaresborough (1907, Bede College records, E/HB 2/235)
Bridge House, Stanhope (1911 census)
School House, Stanhope (Medal index card)
Bondisle Terrace, Stanhope (AVL)
West Black Dene, (1939 register)
Newhouse, Ireshope Burn, Wearhead (1976, probate calendar)

Education: Knaresborough National School
Knaresborough Grammar School
Harrogate Technical School, PT Centre (Bede College records, E/HB 2/235)
Bede College

Organisation membership: Freemason, Stanhope Lodge (1919)

Employment: Elementary school teacher (1911 census)
Clerk, food office (1939 register)

Family: Parents: John Backhouse, Emily Backhouse
Siblings: Joseph B Backhouse, Alice B Backhouse, Edith Backhouse, Gerald Backhouse
Wife: Mary B Mason, married 1914
Children: Dorothy M Backhouse (1917), Barbara Backhouse (1920), John E Backhouse (1931)

Military service:

Enlisted as Private in 8th DLI, 18th Sept 1914
Northern Division Army Cyclist Company
Promoted CSM (WO 2nd Class), 5 June 1916
Granted Commission as second lieutenant 3/8 DLI, 29 July 1916 (Medal index card, commission gazetted 21 November 1916)
Transferred to 99th Company Machine Gun Corps

Captain & Adjutant 18th Battalion Durham Home Guard Dec 1941
Attached Royal Engineers, Movement Control Officer Calais Dec 1944

Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Military Cross (London Gazette, 3 June 1918)

Defence Medal 1939-45
France & Germany Star
Victory medal 1945

Electoral Register:

Register No: 2281
Forename: George Edward
Surname: Backhouse
Parliamentary Division: Barnard Castle
Polling District: Y - Stanhope
Parish: Stanhope Urban
Date: October-1918
Reference: October-1918

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office | John B