Pte 86268 George John Fasham

• Age: 30
• From: Southampton
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 20th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Haringhe Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: III.E.6

George John Fasham was born on 25th January 1888 in the Freemantle district of Southampton, the son of James Ford Fasham and his wife Julia Augusta (nee Whitlock). His father was born in York, Western Australia (60 miles east of Perth), and his mother in Salisbury, Wiltshire. They married in 1884 in Southampton and had three children. George was their eldest child. An unnamed male was born in 1891 but died soon after birth.  George had a younger sister Emma Julia Sarah born in 1892.

He was baptised on 01st April 1888 in the parish of Freemantle, his parents' residence given as Shirley, and his father's occupation C.A. Ordnance Survey.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living at 103 Shirley Road, Millbrook, a suburb of Southampton. His father is a clerk with the Ordnance Survey, George is 3 years old.

He attended Freemantle National School from 1893. School records show his address in 1895 as 206 Millbrook Road.

By 1901 they have moved to London, and are found at 28 Meadow Row Buildings, Newington. His father is 48 years old and a retired civil servant, his mother is 42. George is 13, and Emma 8.

When he was 22, on 11th December 1910, George married Lilian Mary Mace in St. Giles' Church, Camberwell. They both give their address as 135 Grove Lane, which was Lilian's family home. George gives his occupation as commercial clerk. He states his father James Ford is a journalist (newspapers confirm that he had articles published in magazines and gave talks to local libraries, etc., for example "Bush Life in Australia").  

In 1911 George and Lilian are found at 28 Meadow Row. They are both 23 years old, and George works as a coal merchant's clerk. His parents live at number 27 with Emma aged 18, with no occupation listed.

Their daughter Elsie Gladys was born on 27th April 1913.

He enlisted in London and originally served as Private 17694 of the Army Cyclist Corps. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted, or was conscripted, in about March 1917.

He was posted to the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 86268 before shipping to France.

George died of wounds on the 20^th April 1918, aged 30, during the German Spring Offensive. 

He now rests at Haringhe Military Cemetery, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“JORDAN PASSED, FROM PAIN SET FREE ANGELS NOW HAVE WELCOMED THEE”

Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, 7 miles northwest of Poperinghe, Belgium. Bandaghem, like Dozinghem and Mendinghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War.  The cemetery site was chosen in July 1917 for the 62nd and 63rd Casualty Clearing Stations, and burials from these and other hospitals (notably the 36th Casualty Clearing Station in 1918) continued until October 1918. 

The CWGC Graves Registration form gives his battalion as 1st King's, and his rank as L/C.

His daughter was five years old when George died.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3-10s went to his widow Lilian, who was awarded a pension of 20s/5d a week, later increased (her address at the time 133 Grove Lane).

Lilian remarried in 1925 to William Lemon.

His mother died in 1933 aged 76, and his father in 1938 at the age of 85.

In 1939 Lilian, then 52, was still at 133 Grove Lane with her husband and daughter Elsie, 26, a bank note examiner. Elsie married in 1964 and they later moved to Bournemouth, where Lilian died in 1985, and Elsie in 2000.

In 2014 his military memorabilia went up for auction: Memorial Plaque with Memorial Scroll in original postage tube; two service medals with ribbons; and two brass Army Cyclist Corps badges, as well as family photographs.

We currently have no further information on George John Fasham, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.