GEORGE WILLIAM FULFORD (17 DECEMBER 1894 – 11 SEPTEMBER 1916)

The eldest son of Frederick and Georgina Fulford, George was born at Eastwood Park Gardens, Giffnock, Eastwood on the 17th December 1894. His father, Frederick, was a gardener who was born and worked in England until sometime between 1891 and 1894 when he moved north of the border to meet and marry Georgina in Shawlands in March 1894. The couple also had a daughter, Jeannie, born in Eastwood like her brother George c1897. However, the baby of the family, Frederick James, was born in1899 in Mount Charles Lodge, Ayr.

On the 1st March 1901, George was enrolled in Alloway Public School where he remained until the 4th March 1903. As he was only 8yrs old by then it is likely that this was when the family moved from Mount Charles to Tarbolton where George continued his education.

Certainly the 1911 census recorded the family living at Middlemuir, Tarbolton where Frederick continues to work as a gardener. Unfortunately the census also notes that young Frederick had died as Georgina stated that she had been married for 17 years, borne 3 children but only 2 were still living. George, by then 16yrs old, was an apprentice engineer while Jeannie, his young sister, was still at school.

George joined the Argyll and Southern Highlanders and was assigned to ‘D’ Company, 14th Bn, Service Number 9921.

He was killed in action on the 11th September 1916 when he was just 21yrs old.

His parents received the following from the Captain of his Regiment, ‘ – Your son was quiet and efficient, and an honour to the Battalion of which he was so proud. The other day I received a letter of thanks from an officer who was carried down wounded, and your son had to carry him on his back a good part of the way. The many letters received from his comrades at the front all deplore the loss of a good and true companion.’

His family requested that ‘Ever Fondly Remembered’. be inscribed on his grave marker at Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, France, (Grave ref 1.H.22).

George is also remembered on the internal scroll in Alloway Village Hall, the memorial plaque in Alloway School and on the war memorial at Tarbolton.