Private George Frederick Giles Army Service Corps
The Man George Frederick Giles was born on Wednesday 28th January 1892 in St Saviour, London, son of George. No further detail is known about his early years except that he moved to Cardiff and the 1911 census shows him working at the Central Hotel in Cardiff as an ‘Under Boots’, responsible for cleaning shoes and running errands. He later became a Chauffeur and moved in with his aunt, Jessie Julia Seaman at 7 Moy Road Roath Park.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 he attested into the Army Service Corps on 2nd September 1915 at Grove Park, Cardiff with service number M2/1210310. He was detailed as ‘specially enlisted ASC Mech Transport Chauffeur. Pay 6/- a day’. He was described as 5’.4½”, with a 36½” girth and gave his address as his Aunt’s Jessie Seaman of 7 Moy Road.
He was attached to the 1/1st Mounted Field Brigade Field Ambulance and on 27th October 1915 posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force embarking on the ‘Victoria’ and landing at Alexandria on 9th November.
On 12th March 1916 he was admitted to hospital in Cairo with Venereal Disease, stricture of the urethra. He was admitted again in August with a fever and twice in October 1916 with diarrhea. He served with various units in Egypt and hopsitalised a number of further times with various ailments.
He drove a variety of vehicles and became a lorry driver, serving in 22nd Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance and Workshop Unit, 1039 and 906 Motor Transport Companies and Base MT Depot at Mustapha
According to his medical report, he developed a ‘weakness in his eyes’ due to his service in Egypt and Palestine. On 27th May 1919 George embarked on board ‘Katoomba’ at Port Said and returned to the UK. On 25th June 1919 in the Parish Church, Roath, Cardiff he married Hilda Annie Carter and was now living at 72 Kimberley Road, Cardiff. They had two daughters Hilda Irene born in 1920 Ralda E 1921. On 7th July 1919 he was discharged from the Army into the Z Class Reserve and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sadly, Hilda passed away aged just 35 during the third quarter of 1926 and George re-married in the third quarter of 1928 to Elsie May Bunn and they had two children Hazel I born in 1931 and another unknown child.
The 1939 Register shows the family living at 84 New Zealand Road, Cardiff and George aged 47 working as a Private Chauffeur. He passed away during the third quarter of 1962 aged 70.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 he attested into the Army Service Corps on 2nd September 1915 at Grove Park, Cardiff with service number M2/1210310. He was detailed as ‘specially enlisted ASC Mech Transport Chauffeur. Pay 6/- a day’. He was described as 5’.4½”, with a 36½” girth and gave his address as his Aunt’s Jessie Seaman of 7 Moy Road.
He was attached to the 1/1st Mounted Field Brigade Field Ambulance and on 27th October 1915 posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force embarking on the ‘Victoria’ and landing at Alexandria on 9th November.
On 12th March 1916 he was admitted to hospital in Cairo with Venereal Disease, stricture of the urethra. He was admitted again in August with a fever and twice in October 1916 with diarrhea. He served with various units in Egypt and hopsitalised a number of further times with various ailments.
He drove a variety of vehicles and became a lorry driver, serving in 22nd Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance and Workshop Unit, 1039 and 906 Motor Transport Companies and Base MT Depot at Mustapha
According to his medical report, he developed a ‘weakness in his eyes’ due to his service in Egypt and Palestine. On 27th May 1919 George embarked on board ‘Katoomba’ at Port Said and returned to the UK. On 25th June 1919 in the Parish Church, Roath, Cardiff he married Hilda Annie Carter and was now living at 72 Kimberley Road, Cardiff. They had two daughters Hilda Irene born in 1920 Ralda E 1921. On 7th July 1919 he was discharged from the Army into the Z Class Reserve and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sadly, Hilda passed away aged just 35 during the third quarter of 1926 and George re-married in the third quarter of 1928 to Elsie May Bunn and they had two children Hazel I born in 1931 and another unknown child.
The 1939 Register shows the family living at 84 New Zealand Road, Cardiff and George aged 47 working as a Private Chauffeur. He passed away during the third quarter of 1962 aged 70.
The Story The Victory Medal awarded to George Frederick Giles was acquired early on a damp dismal morning in October 2023 at Malvern Flea Fair, from a table of numerous medallions and other items. The medals were separated on the table and in filthy condition.
George’s single Victory Medal and two other WWI medals awarded to Harry Taylor were gathered together and an offer made, which after brief haggling was accepted.
The acquisition was made simply because it is such a pity to see a man’s hard-earned awards literally ‘kicking’ around uncared for waiting to be lost forever.
George’s WWI service records had survived on Ancestry.UK which together with other details enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
There are, however, a number of unanswered questions in his biography and it might be they are not totally accurate. This is due to George appearing as George Frederick N Giles on the birth register, no trace of the 1901 census, no detail on his parents’ details apart from his father’s name – also George and the early death of his first wife and second marriage.
Nevertheless, a medal ‘rescued’ from obscurity and a man remembered.
George’s single Victory Medal and two other WWI medals awarded to Harry Taylor were gathered together and an offer made, which after brief haggling was accepted.
The acquisition was made simply because it is such a pity to see a man’s hard-earned awards literally ‘kicking’ around uncared for waiting to be lost forever.
George’s WWI service records had survived on Ancestry.UK which together with other details enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
There are, however, a number of unanswered questions in his biography and it might be they are not totally accurate. This is due to George appearing as George Frederick N Giles on the birth register, no trace of the 1901 census, no detail on his parents’ details apart from his father’s name – also George and the early death of his first wife and second marriage.
Nevertheless, a medal ‘rescued’ from obscurity and a man remembered.
Medal Details:
- 1915-15 Star: Missing.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: Missing.
- Victory Medal: M2 120310. PTE.G.F.GILES. A.S.C.
This page last updated 6 Dec 23
10