Desborough MM, DCM, George

BORN BEVERLEY 1881. ELDEST SON OF ROBERT DESBOROUGH (1853-1943) & ANNIE WEST (1860-1935), OF 7 WOODLAND VILLAS, RENSBURG STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS). ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN. HE ENLISTED IN BEVERLEY. WAS A REGULAR ARMY SOLDIER (1901 CENSUS). HE LIVED AT BEVERLEY, KIRK ELLA, WHITTINGDON, STAFFORDSHIRE AND LAMBETH, LONDON. HE MARRIED ALICE ELIZABETH KELLY, ON 01/02/1909 AT HEADLEY ALL SAINTS CHURCH, SURREY. HUSBAND OF ALICE ELIZABETH DESBOROUGH, OF 17, TENISON STREET, YORK ROAD, LAMBETH (CWGC ADDRESS). THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN – ALICE, EVA AND FREDERICK DESBOROUGH. HE WAS POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 8 SEPT 1914. SERVED AS LANCE CORPORAL, CORPORAL AND SERGEANT, 6425, 1ST EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. WAS AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL & DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL FOR BRAVERY. HIS DCM WAS AWARDED AS A CORPORAL ON 15 SEPT 1915. HIS CITATION READS, “FOR CONSPICIOUS GALLANTRY AND ABILITY ON THE 9TH AUGUST 1915, DURING THE ATTACK ON HOOGE, WHEN IN CHARGE OF SIGNALS. HE CONTINUALLY REPAIRED THE TELEPHONE WIRES UNDER VERY HEAVY SHELL FIRE, AND GAVE A FINE DISPLAY OF BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.”

HE WAS KILLED AT PASSCHENDAELE, ON 04/10/1917, AGED 36. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, ALICE.

HE IS BURIED AT BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION READS, “I THANK OUR GOD ON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF THEE TILL WE MEET ALLIE”.

http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/18469815/person/18023881076