George

[mb0521]

Can somebody help me with a few questions about George? What was the exact location of his death? Did he die instantly? Did he die in battle or on manoeuvres? Also, I went to find his gravestone last month whilst on a WW1 battlefield tour. I’m intrigued about his battalion. Why the King’s Royal Rifle Corp? He was a Second Lieutenant. Isn’t this an American rank? Also, family members of the deceased could pay for extra engraving on the gravestone if they wished or could afford this. Why wasn’t extra engraving included on George’s grave? Also, did Barrie (like a few wealthy and influential families) ever consider having his body repatriated to the UK? George and Nico seem to be the most grounded of all the brothers.
One other question, totally unrelated - did all the brothers smoke? Just thinking about how emphysema runs in the family.

[andrew]

Most answers to your questions can be found either in my book J M Barrie & the Lost Boys or else Mackail's 1941 biography, The Story of JMB. George had expressed a wish to be buried where he fell, and although this couldn't be precisely granted, I'm sure his brothers would have objected to his body being repatriated, even supposing Barrie ever proposed such a thing (which I sincerely doubt). I also don't think anyone would have wanted to guild the lily of his simple grave, more or less identical to those of his comrades. Second Lieutenant (pronounced "lef-tenant" by English speakers) is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many other countries besides Britain and the USA ...
... and yes, all the brothers smoked. Daphne du M put their emphysema down to their glass-blowing French ancestors.

[GoScoutUK]

I have examined George's military papers and can confirm that among his possessions when he died were:

A cigarette case
4 pipes
A tobacco pouch
A cigar case
Princess Mary's gift box with tobacco
3 pipe lighters

I would take this as pretty certain confirmation that he smoked when on service.

Guy

[mb0521]

Thank you for all your information. Did he die outright? I hope so, a lingering death would have been awful. Did he die in action or on manoeuvres?

[GoScoutUK]

All I can get from the papers I have seen is the telegram notifying Barrie of his death from the war office. It says that he was "Killed in action" and no further information is available.

[mb0521]

I’d read somewhere I’m sure that he was shot in the head by a sniper. I may be incorrect.

[Brutus]

Andrew Birkin's book quotes a letter from Lord Tennyson's son to Peter Davies giving as many details as he could about George's death (page 243). He was shot through the head, and died almost immediately.

[mb0521]

Like millions of others, such a waste of beautiful, talented young lives!

[mb0521]

Where would these artefacts be now?

[andrew]

What artefacts specifically?

[mb0521]

I was thinking about George’s cigarette or cigar case.

[andrew]

No idea what happened to his cigarette case - did he have one? Probably, but where did you come across a mention of it? I have his little fishing diary for 1914 with its entry for August 4th 1914 (the day we declared war on Germany): "A vilely wet and windy day. ... caught nothing. The burn was too big."  I also have Jack's silver cigarette/cigar case, inscribed: "H M S Harpy. 11-9-15". I bought it years ago from an antique/junk shop, and must have been the only preson in the world who recognised the ship's name and the date: Jack's 21st birthday ... I imagine it was a 21st present from JMB?  Other artefacts will probably be found in the Beinecke at Yale ...

[mb0521]

GoScoutUk mentioned George’s possessions in an earlier post. How on earth did you manage to find Jack’s cigarette case? How amazing! Where did you find it?