George Lahmers
Epithet: First World War soldier
Record type: First World War Biographies
Town / Village residence: Douglas
Biography: First World War Soldier. 'No. 1736. Rifleman. 7 Co. 1 Rifle Brigade. First heard of Mar. 20 from letter in I.O.Times (sic) Reported Mar. 30. Address 4 Division British Expeditionary Force Reported wounded. May 1. Removed to Castle Mona Av.' (Extract from handwritten notes by The Reverend Robert Daniel Kermode, Vicar of St George's Church, Douglas, about men from his parish serving in the First World War. MS 10003/10)
George Henry was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1896. In 1914 he joined the Rifle Brigade, Special Reservists, and landed in France on 27 December. In 1918 George Henry was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, including his part in the retreat from Vrely.
In early 1918 the Russians had withdrawn from the War and Germany transferred fifty divisions from the Eastern to the Western Front. This Spring Offensive was an attempt to split the British and French armies and force negotiations before the Americans become fully engaged in the War.
The British army were forced into a fighting retreat and on 28th March George Henry, part of the 3rd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, was in a position West of the small town of Vrely in Northern France following a night of heavy shelling. At midday, the whole of the 8th Division to their left retired and the 3rd Battalion was ordered forward to defend the retreat. The Battalion fought against heavy machine gun fire at short range before they were also able to retreat.
The War Diary said that the retirement of the 8th Division ‘placed us in a situation so critical that it was only by fighting with both our flanks turned and with the utmost determination and courage that the Brigade was extricated from a critical and impossible situation’.
The War Diary also said, ‘The position at Vrely was an impossible one and it is a marvel that anyone ever got away from it’. Rifleman Lahmers was named, stating, ‘The following officers, N.C.O.s and men were among those who did excellent work’.
After the War George Henry lived in Barrow-in-Furness and joined the Merchant Navy, sailing between Barrow and New York. He later worked in the shipyard and died in 1969, aged 72.
George Henry’s Military Medal is held by the Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness, together with his 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory medal.
Information supplied by Gordon Lahmers (2018).
Lived at [37] Allan Street; Castle Mona Avenue
This was my grandad I would like to know if any ancestors are still living on the Island - Joan McEntee Report this
there has been a lot of things done and not spoken about all i know is that both my father also having the same name as well as my grandfather would have tried to explain to me things better if they had the chance too i particulary did not have any roll in procedures that had happen to try and continue the Lahmers traditions which i am very proud to be apart of.. - George Henry lahmers Report this