Early years

George Ginnefer (or Ginnifer) was born in Welland, the son of George Ginnefer, a game food supplier and his wife Gertrude.  He was baptised at St James, Welland on 25th April 1897.  In 1901 the family were living at Drake Street, Welland.

Gertrude Ginnefer died in 1910, and George’s father married Emma Burton at Welland the following year.

Military service

George joined the Worcestershire Regiment in January 1913 – either as a boy soldier, or under-age – and was an original member of the British Expeditionary Force.  He landed in France on 12th August  1914 with the 3rd Battalion and fought at the Battle and Retreat from Mons, the Battle of Aisne and the Battle of the Marne.

By October 1914, the 3rd Worcesters were in the Neuve Chapelle sector.  On the morning of 13th October the battalion took were in support near Lacouture.  Patrols were sent up towards the front line trenches, prior to taking up these positions the following day.  Over night a number of entrenching parties were sent to the front line.  There were several casualties – five men wounded and one killed; two were posted missing.

News conveyed

A comrade, 13272 L/Cpl Alfred Winham Kinnard of 41 Redland Road, Malvern Link related the news of George Ginnefer’s death, by letter from the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester after he himself was wounded.  Alfred was discharged from the army in November 1915 as a result of these wounds.

Commemoration

George Ginnefer was buried at on the eastern edge of the village of Richebourg St Vaast and a cross erected over his grave.  In March 1920, he was exhumed and his body re-interred in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, along with around 2,700 other men from the battlefields of Neuve-Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert.

George Ginnefer’s grave at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy.

Take note!

This George Ginnefer should not be confused with an older George Ginnefer from Welland who was born in 1881; the son of John and Ann Ginnefer of Marlbank.  This George Ginnefer appears to have served as a Sergeant with the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment prior to the Great War (1901 Census refers), although no wartime service for this man has been traced.

Malvern News 7/11/14
Welland Parish Website 2006
Pension Records - confirming father, George.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission