Pte 268610 George Acton

• Age: 24
• From: Walton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 8th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Dourlers Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.C9

George Acton was born in 1894 in Walton, Liverpool, the son of Thomas Parsons Acton and his wife Martha Jane (nee Stone) who married in 1885. Both were natives of Liverpool. He had a twin sister Mabel, his other siblings were Elizabeth,  Louisa, and Alfred (who served in the Royal Navy during the war). Another brother, Thomas died in infancy.

 
The 1901 Census shows the family living at 3 Luton Grove. George is aged 7,  his father, Thomas P., is a 39 year old  Estate Agent, whilst his motherr Mary(sic) J. is 40 years of age. His siblings are shown as;  Elizabeth Stone 13, Alfred P. 11, Louisa 9, Mabel P. 7 (all born Liverpool). 

His mother died in April 1910.

The family are still living at  3 Luton Grove in the 1911 Census. George is now 17 and employed as a shipping clerk. His widowed father, Thomas is now 49 and a general labourer. George's siblings are shown as; Elizabeth  a 23 year old housekeeper born Wirral, Alfred a 21 year old shipwright, and George's twin Mabel 17.

His father remarried at St Johns RC Church on 20th May 1916. 

George enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 268610. Prior to the war George worked for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company.

He married Sarah Ethel McCormack in 1916. They had a son, George Alfred, born in 1917. They were living at 14 Selina Road, Walton during the war. 

At the time of his death on 08th November 1918, warfare had become mobile, with the British Army harrying the Germans, who would retreat to a position, fight, then retreat once more. The day before he was killed the Battalion had just marched from Mariollers to Marbaix in France, when it was ordered to take a position in the line near Marbaix, from the 1/5th Gloucestershire Regiment. On the following day, 8th November an attack was commenced at 07.30am supported by the 100th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and artillery fire. Despite their support, the advancing troops encountered fierce Rifle Fire and machine gun fire from the German position’s.

Although the attack was eventually successful, two more officers and thirty six other ranks were to be wounded, and fourteen other ranks Killed, only three days before the Armistice.

George was one of those other ranks killed.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 02nd December 1918

KILLED IN ACTION

ACTON - November 8, killed in action, GEORGE ACTON K.L.R., the dearly loved husband of S. E. Acton, and second son of Thomas P. and the late M. J. Acton. Deeply mourned by Wife and Baby, 14 Selina Road, Walton, and all at 3 Luton Grove. 

He now rests at Dourlers Communal Cemetery Extension Cemetery, France.