Description
An Emotive family group, 1916 Wirral Battalion Cheshire Regiment Casualty, and his brother a 1918 London Regiment Casualty
1914-15 Star, 11923 Pte G. Peers. Ches.R.; British War and Victory medals, 11923 Pte G. Peers. Ches. R.; Memorial Plaque, George Peers.
Brother’s group:
British War and Victory medals, 6233 Pte W. Peers. 20. Lond. R.; Memorial Plaque William Peers.
George Peers was born in Liverpool in 1894, the son of Benjamin and Charlotte.
In 1914 he enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment; initially serving in the 2nd Battalion he landed in France on the 6th April 1915 and went on to serve with them at Hill 60, but was wounded in action and invalided home. Once he had recovered he was posted to the 1st (Garrison) Bn in Gibraltar, where he remained for nine months. He volunteered for front line service and was posted to the 13th (Wirral) Battalion Cheshire Regiment. It appears he joined them around the 9th June 1913 as part of a draft of 83 N.C.O.’s and men.
He would probably have therefore taken part in the attack on the village of Ovillers on the 7th July 1916, when the battalion took 261 casualties. On the 21st October 1916 the battalion was at Hessian trench and their objective was the German position known as Regina Trench .
The attack was timed for 12.06 pm following bombardment, the whole battalion went into the attack and the Germans were pushed back, 250 prisoners and a machine gun were captured. It was during this attack that Pte Peers was Killed in Action
His body was recovered and he is buried in Stump Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.
His Brother:
William Peers was born in Liverpool in 1898. Following the outbreak of the war he tried to enlist 4 times before being accepted into the 22nd (Reserve) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment (Reg No 32752) He subsequently transferred to the 20th London Regiment, and changed no to 6233., and at some point then into the 2/4th (City of London) Bn Royal Fusiliers. The battalion were sent to France in January 1917 landing at Havre, he was seriously wounded in action and was evacuated to Rouen where he died of his wounds on the 18th September 1918. He is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.
Condition – both NEF
