Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps, 48th Squadron

Secondary Regiment: and 14th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment

Died: 20th November 1917

Age: 24 years old.

Born in Brierfield, Lancashire on the 25th October 1893 and baptised in St Mary's Church, Nelson, Lancashire on the 15th December that year, George was the youngest son of Titus Horsfall and Annie Horsfall (née Carr). They had married on the 1st February 1883 at St. Mary's Church in Gisburn. George had five older siblings, Cuthbert, Mary, John, Tom, and Frances. Their father was a Brewer in Horsfall Brewery, the family business started by George's grandfather Thomas Horsfall. In 1891 the family lived in Bank Street, Great Marsden, Lancashire. Their father died on the 22nd November 1896 aged just thirty one. Their mother by 1911 had moved to 'Sommerbrook', 278, Manchester Road, Nelson, Lancaster and by 1917 to 18, Carr Hall Road, Nelson. Prior to WW1, George worked as a clerk for a Cotton Manufacturer. This was Hollin Bank Mill in Brierfield. A group of gentleman from the local area including George's grandfather Thomas Horsfall built the mill and started manufacturing.

In January 1915, George enlisted as a Private in the 19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (University & Public Schools) and served with them in France in November 1915 for which he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star.

On the 5th February 1916 he was wounded in the hand by shrapnel and was sent to Bradford Hospital to recover.

George was granted a commission as a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the Yorks & Lancaster Regiment on the 19th December 1916. He volunteered to serve in the Royal Flying Corps and was trained as an Observer.

On the 5th September 1917 he was flying as an Observer in a Bristol BF A7221 fighter with his pilot, Lt Owen John Frederick Scholte when they were credited with shooting down an enemy fighter, a German Albatros D.V near Mariakerke. The following month on the 3rd October 1917, George was slightly wounded.

George was killed in combat on the 20th November 1917. He was flying as Observer in Bristol BF A7277 with Captain Archibald William Field as the pilot. Captain Field appears to have been unhurt. The Bristol aircraft was not badly damaged as it continued in service with the unit until March 1918.

George was laid to rest in Zuydcoote Military cemetery.

His older brother Cuthbert would also lose his life in WW1. Cuthbert was a Second Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment. Sent to France on the 6th January 1918, he was wounded by a bomb thrown from an aeroplane. He died of those wounds on the 17th February 1918. He is buried in Foreste Communal Cemetery. 

 (Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, IWM, London Gazette, Great War Forum)

(Bio: Woose)