GEORGE PETWORTH
One of the first generation of Portmuthians who went to war, George Petworth (b. 1878) was living in Chelsea before he moved to Portsmouth around 1908.
Whilst living in London George Petworth was working as a Brewer's Draughtsman which makes his decision to move to Portsmouth to become a Messenger at the Gas Light Company difficult to interpret. Once in Portsmouth he and his family settled at 43 Jervis Road, Stamshaw. Apart from George the family consisted of his wife Henrietta (b. 1876) and children George, Beatrice, Tomas and John.
George Petworth probably did not enlist at the outbreak of the Great War as when he did he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. The 2nd Battalion were sent to the Western Front but nothing is known of George's time there apart from the fact he was killed on 20th October 1917.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Private George Petworth (25603), 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, died on 20/10/1917. Buried in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery.
George Petworth is remembered on the Portsea Island Gas Light Company WW1 Memorial, in Guildhall Square and the Cenotaph. He is not listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War'.
Tim Backhouse
February 2014