Dawlish World War One Project

George Henry Cole enlisted in Wokingham, Berkshire. He may have taken work as a groom there.

The Warwickshire Regiment moved to Italy 24 November 1917 to strengthen the Italian Resistance and was involved in various actions including the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.

The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought from 24 October-3 November 1918, near Vittorio Veneto, a part the Italian Front of World War I. The Italian victory marked the end of the war on the Italian Front, secured the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was chiefly instrumental in ending the First World War less than two weeks later. (Wikipedia)

The grave registration document (CWGC) shows that George Henry Cole died of influenza, a victim of the epidemic that swept Europe at that time. He was with 1034 Labour Company of the Labour Corps at the time of death, and is buried in a grave with the inscription:

“ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST, ONE OF THE BEST,

GOD GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST

FROM LOVING PARENTS”

George Henry Cole was descended from the Cole family of Hennock.His father, George Herbert Cole married Ellen Elizabeth Dist in 1895.  They lived at Cockington and then moved to St Marychurch, Torquay.

Census returns show George Henry as being born in St Marychurch which was then within the Newton Abbot registration district and so his birth is registered in Dec 1896, N.A., vol 5b, p 135.

The 1911 census shows the family together at Great Wotton, Bow, where George Herbert Cole was a coachman and his son, George Henry was a groom. Ellen’s father, Henry Dist, 74, was living with them.