BRIAN TALMER Posted 10 August , 2003 Posted 10 August , 2003 A former employee of the Oxford University Press, Pte Claude George enlisted in the 3rd training battalion of the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry 28 August 1914. He was transferred to the 2nd battalion 26 Jan 1915 and he remained on active service until his death on 17th December 1918. He died of the Spanish Flu and is buried in the war cemetery section of the Olsanske cemetery on the outskirts of Prague in the Czech Republic. The question is - how did a member of the Oxford & Bucks end up in the Czech Republic? When he transferred to the second battalion Claude first served in France. He then travelled on secret service for two years during which time he was reported missing. He reappeared in Prague in 1918 still a soldier, but not a POW. Attached is a copy of a letter sent to his widow from a priest in Prague. Any suggestions as to how I could trace Caude's lost years gratefully recieved.
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 10 August , 2003 Posted 10 August , 2003 Brian, Interesting stuff - Have you checked for his service record in WO 363/364? Did he ever transfer to the Intelligence Corps? I wonder if JB (Jock Bruce) has turned him up in his researches? It would be interesting to get the full story on this one. Ian
BRIAN TALMER Posted 10 August , 2003 Author Posted 10 August , 2003 Ian, I did try for the service record, but had no luck. Next time I'm at the PRO I'm going to try looking under Claude as the surname. note the letter is addressed to Mrs Claude.
Sue Light Posted 10 August , 2003 Posted 10 August , 2003 He definitely started off with the surname George, as the 1901 census only shows up one [very] likely candidate - Claude George, a 14 year old Printer Machine minder, born in London. Regards - Sue
BRIAN TALMER Posted 10 August , 2003 Author Posted 10 August , 2003 Sue, thanks for that. CWGC list him as being born in London and the age fits (he was 32 when he died) so that must be him. Brian
Kate Wills Posted 10 August , 2003 Posted 10 August , 2003 Brian, Is the letter an original copy? If so are there any clues on the envelope, and did the author state his own address for a reply? Have you considered writing to the British ambassador in Prague to ask if he has any ideas? Have you tried following his widow's trail? You could trace the family by consulting a pre-war Directory, such as Kelly's or Lea's and the local register of electors. Did an obit for Pte George or his widow appear in the local press? Oxford University Press (OUP) produced a Roll of Honour (recently re-printed) - does Claude have an entry in that? How about Mrs George's pension? He died on active service, so maybe some light can be shed on that via the PRO. Also, why did he have such a grand funeral at a time when people were falling like flies? The letter-writer makes it sound like a hero's farewell. If so, why? How about consulting The Times to see if they carried something, and putting a call out on the Forum for anyone with Czech contacts who could perhaps consult church /newspaper / official archives there? It would be wonderful if Pal-power could solve this one.
Kate Wills Posted 10 August , 2003 Posted 10 August , 2003 He doesn't seem to appear in SDGW, but to save everyone looking, here is the CWGC entry: C GEORGE Private 8904 2nd Bn., Oxford. and Bucks Light Infantry who died on Tuesday 17 December 1918 . Age 32 . Additional Information: Son of the late Henry and Jane George; husband of Harriett George, of "Kelvistow," 6, Garsington Rd., Cowley, Oxford. Born in London. Alternative Commemoration - buried in Olsanske Cemetery. Cemetery: PRAGUE WAR CEMETERYCzech Republic Grave or Reference Panel Number: Spec. Memorial. Location: Prague War Cemetery is, in fact, a British plot adjoining a boundary wall on the north side of the Civil Cemetery of Olsany. Olsany is on the eastern outskirts of Prague about 3 kilometres from the centre of the city on the main road from Prague to Strasnice, which runs due east from Wenceslas Square. The approach to the War Cemetery is the first turning left from the main road past the entrance gates of the Civil Cemetery. Historical Information: Graves were brought into this cemetery from 73 small cemeteries scattered all over the Czech Republic. Many of those buried here died as Prisoners of War. The construction of this cemetery was carried out by the Czechoslovak Government, to plans provided by the Imperial War Graves Commission, under the terms of the War Graves Agreement of 3rd March, 1949.
Neil Burns Posted 11 August , 2003 Posted 11 August , 2003 Hi All, Entente troops were in the Czech Republic and acted as security for the Silesian area then in dispute between Germany, Czechoslovakia and the newly resurrected Poland. The Czechoslovaks would naturally accord him all due respect in reagards to Funerals, honors etc. as they would like to associate themselves as much as possible with the victorious entente and portray themselves as kindred spirits occupied by the Austo-Hungarians. I'm not sure if the Oxs & Bucks provided troops for this but I suspect someone else on this forum does.... Take care, Neil
BRIAN TALMER Posted 12 August , 2003 Author Posted 12 August , 2003 Hi All Thanks for the info will take a look at some of them next time at P.R.O. Cheers Brian
Jock Bruce Posted 12 August , 2003 Posted 12 August , 2003 Brian, Afraid I haven't come across this guy in the little I've done on 'Int Corps' NCOs - but since I'm essentially working off the medal rolls for the 10th Royal Fusiliers (Int Corps) I would have missed him. What's the source for his being with the 'secret service' ?? Jock
Guest lesley Posted 14 September , 2003 Posted 14 September , 2003 Jock, the secret service reference comes from the roll of honour of his employer The Oxford University Press which states "In France from 26 Jan 1915 in 2nd Bn, and later for two years travelling on secrest service" The book gives no indication of where they got the information from
Jock Bruce Posted 14 September , 2003 Posted 14 September , 2003 I'll offer two explainations One is the '007' one, that he possessed some skill that the 'secret service' needed. He was a printer - forged documents ? propaganda material ? The other is more mundane - 'secret services', like everybody else need people to do all the unglamourous stuff. Having just read the file on the establishment of the Int Corps in the BEF one of the biggest discussion points was the number of batmen. So batman, courier, etc is possible - these were often jobs for soldiers in lower medical catgories. Jock
Guest lesley Posted 14 September , 2003 Posted 14 September , 2003 Thanks Jock any ideas on how I could confirm or refute these ideas? Lesley
Jock Bruce Posted 14 September , 2003 Posted 14 September , 2003 Lesley, if his service docs don't survive I'm at a loss - there is little enough on the Int Corps in the various operational theatres and, on a quick search, there doesn't seem to be any WO files about Prague or Czecho that would help. Jock
Guest andrewsmith130658 Posted 25 September , 2014 Posted 25 September , 2014 I've recently stumbled across your conversation via Google when researching my grandfather Claude George. I wondered if anyone found any further information regarding the mystery of his 007 involvement in Prague. My father (his son in law) informs me that a copy of the letter sent to his widow Harriet George (my grandmother) was apparently given to The War Museum in Oxford. This is yet to be confirmed. Unfortunately I am unable to open the attachment posted by Brian Talmer, although this conversation etc was some considerable time ago. I have only one picture of my grandfather which shows him in his uniform. Yet I am unable to establishing who he is as it was taken along with another army soldier. If any more information is available it would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Andy
TomasJakl Posted 14 March , 2020 Posted 14 March , 2020 On 25/09/2014 at 17:11, Guest andrewsmith130658 said: I've recently stumbled across your conversation via Google when researching my grandfather Claude George. I wondered if anyone found any further information regarding the mystery of his 007 involvement in Prague. My father (his son in law) informs me that a copy of the letter sent to his widow Harriet George (my grandmother) was apparently given to The War Museum in Oxford. This is yet to be confirmed. Unfortunately I am unable to open the attachment posted by Brian Talmer, although this conversation etc was some considerable time ago. I have only one picture of my grandfather which shows him in his uniform. Yet I am unable to establishing who he is as it was taken along with another army soldier. If any more information is available it would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Andy Andy, Is there any possibility to contact you? Regards Tomas
Admin Michelle Young Posted 14 March , 2020 Admin Posted 14 March , 2020 Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, Andy is marked as guest which means that he is no longer a forum member, and also that we will hold no contact details for him. Michelle
TomasJakl Posted 14 March , 2020 Posted 14 March , 2020 2 minutes ago, Michelle Young said: Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, Andy is marked as guest which means that he is no longer a forum member, and also that we will hold no contact details for him. Michelle Many thanks!
Marilyne Posted 15 October , 2022 Posted 15 October , 2022 Hi all, I am in Prague for the moment and incidentally, we are in the hotel just accross the Olsany cemetery. So this afternoon Boyfriend and I went on to pay our respects on the war cemetery. And we found the grave of this mysterious Pvt Claude George. Whatever his role, I'm sure there are reasons enough to thank him for his service. Rest in peace!
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