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Rank : Private

Army Number : 3096 / 240962

Unit : 2/5th & 1/5th Bn

Biography :

Home address given as Ellistown. Enlisted at Coalville, Leicestershire. Served with the 1/5th Bn during World War One. Killed in action France and Flanders campaign 24.9.1918, aged 22. He is buried at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Somme, France.

Regimental Medal Entitlement List: 240962 Pte Bacon George Louis - 3095 2/5 Leic R - 240962 1/5 Leic R - Victory and British War medals.

Further info: George Louis Bacon was born in Ellistown in 1896, the son of Fanny (nee Haywood) and Louis Bacon. Louis was originally from Swannington and worked at Ellistown colliery as an Assistant Enginewright, where George also worked as a fitter. The family lived on the same street in Ellistown as the colliery on Victoria Road and George was the middle of seven children, his siblings were William, Mabel, John Haywood, Percy, Eveline Myrtle and Leslie Hugh. Military Service George's service papers have not survived and his medal index card shows no dates but his original army number was 3096,
which suggests he was an early recruit to the 5th Leicesters, around November 1914, when he was barely 18 years old. His brother John Haywood was also with the Leicesters and his service papers survived. One explanation for no date appearing on George's medal index card is he that had been in the 2/5th Leicesters who had remained in England before moving to Ireland in April 1916, and finally France on the 24th February 1917. The 1/5th Leicesters had received a large draft of 2/5th men in February 1918. By this time George would have been one of the long serving survivors of the battalion. On 24th September 1918, the 1/5th Leicester was chosen as the sole battalion to attack Pontruet village, beginning at 5am. The campaign was known as the Battle of the Hundred Days, this fi nally broke the
Hindenburg Line and it was on this day that George was killed in action.

CWGC:

BACON, GEORGE LOUIS
Rank: Private
Service No: 240962
Date of Death: 24/09/1918
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment 1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. G. 1.
Cemetery: CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Louis Bacon, of Victoria Rd., Ellistown, Leicestershire.

Date of Birth : 1896

Place of Birth : Ellistown, Leicestershire

Date of Death : 24.9.1918

Place of Death : France

Civil Occupation : Colliery Worker

Period of Service : November 1914 to 24.9.1918

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : France