George Kellett - Introduction

Early Life

George was born in 1894 and was baptised on the 8th March. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 4 Bowman Street, Sandal. He apprenticed as a joiner in 1909 at the age of 15. He had an older sister called Ada.

George as a boy (on the left) with his mother, sister Ada and father (Moses)

During World War 1

At the time of the war, George was a joiner, living in Agbrigg Road, Sandal. He joined the Duke of Cornwall regiment. At the beginning of 1918, he received a Christmas parcel which contained a Christmas cake, parkin, a few apples and a diary. In this diary he recorded his year as a World War 1 soldier. His family later donated his diary to Wakefield Museums, and it is this diary we explore in this resource. 

During 1918 he served in both France and Belgium. He started the year recovering from injury in a ward before rejoining his regiment. He writes of daily activities such as inspections and parades, writing letters and receiving news from home. When he’s not busy with tasks such as digging communication trenches and laying cabling, he enjoys games of cards, draughts and billiards, and training with a tug of war team. His matter-of-fact account of such a historic occasion is typical of his stoic, often mundane diary entries that document a year at war.

Front of an embroidered postcard sent from George to Emma

Back of the postcard, which reads: Just to wish you a Happy Easter from your loving sweetheart, George xxxxxx

His rank was Private, and his service number was 36751. 

After the War

George survived the war and was demobilised (taken out of active service) on January 21st 1919. 

A postcard from George to Emma, which reads: 21st January 1919 - Demobilised today. Don't write until you hear from me. Best love, George xxx

He came home to marry his sweetheart, Emma Horner, on the 14th October 1919. 

Emma Horner, George's wife, as a young woman. Note - she's wearing rollerskates!

Marriage Certificate of George and Emma in 1919. Full transcription is available in the image's alt text. Image courtesy of West Yorkshire Marriage and Banns 1813-1935

George returned to work as a carpenter and joiner after the war. At some point he started working for Drake and Warters Ltd, a joinery and shopfitters in Wakefield, which built the landing craft assaults for the D-Day operation in 1943. It is very likely George was involved in this very important work or similar work, meaning he did not get conscripted again into World War 2.

He was a trusted and longstanding employee, and is mentioned in a Wakefield Express newspaper article dating from April 1950, celebrating the firm's Silver Jubilee:

"Most of the people working there are local and many have been there since its formation.  “They are the people that made the business” says Mr Drake.  Six of them, Fred Mundy, George Kellett, Joseph Trantor, Ernest Blakey, John Beck and Edwin Thresh were presented with silver tankards…The firm’s employees are proud of their efforts in the Second World War… These included the building of 72 invasion craft in as many weeks"

George died in June 1967, aged 73.

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