This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Maggs, George Edward Hindley
(1861-1945)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Major

Service Army

Battalion 4th Battalion

Regiment King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Solicitor
Marital status: Married


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named on printed lists of villagers in The Wetherby News or Collingham Parish Magazine
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

George Edward Hindley Maggs was born on the 1st September 1861 in Bourton, Dorset, the son of Oliver Maggs and his wife, Louisa Honor Maggs. Oliver was a flax spinner and manufacturer who, in 1871, was employing 54 men, 50 women, 39 boys and 11 girls. In 1871, George and his parents were living at Bullpits House, Bourton, Dorset. By 1891, George had been through his education and had become a solicitor, being admitted as a solicitor in May 1885, and joining Scholefield, Taylor and Maggs of Batley. Not long after that, George married Lavinia Cooke on the 23rd August 1887 at Birstal, Leeds.

In 1891, George was living with his wife of four years at Thorneycroft, Gomersal, Leeds with a servant also living in the house. George's business prospered, and by 1901, George and Lavinia were living at Oakwell Hall, Birstall with two servants, and they remained at this property until past 1911, although the number of servants had increased to three by 1911.

By 1915, we find George on the electoral roll for Collingham, so the family must have moved in the four years between 1911 and 1915. Later in 1918 and 1919, George remains on the Collingham electoral roll, but is marked as absent due to Naval or Military Service. His address is given as Hill Top, Collingham.

Service record

George was mobilised into the Army in August 1914 and issues of the Collingham Parish Magazine from the start of the war identify George as one of the early recruits from Collingham to serve. George was called up to be a Captain in the 4th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. George was promoted to the rank of Major in July 1915 and was Brigade Major of 187th Infantry Brigade, 62nd Division, from February to September 1915. George served at home and in Ireland during the war and according to some sources was once Mentioned in Dispatches.

After the war

At some time after the war, George moved to Dorset and at the time of the 1939 Registration Act was living at 'Kites Nest', Shaftesbury, Dorset, and it was in Dorset that we find the next mention of George, in The Western Gazette:

The Western Gazette March 28th 1941

BOURTON

LEFT THE LIGHT ON


At Gillingham Sessions on Tuesday, Major George Edward Hindley Maggs, of Bourton, was fined £2 and 6s costs, for allowing a light to be visible.
Special Constable H. Williams gave evidence that an unobscured electric light was visible from a ground floor.
Major Maggs wrote that he went into the room to fetch something, and left the light on by mistake.

 

George Edward Hindley Maggs died at 'Kites Nest', Bourton on the 1st April 1945.

Biography last updated 19 January 2020 19:07:38.

Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 27254
The Collingham Parish Magazine Dec 1914, Jan 1915, & Feb 1915
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info