Private G/959 George Burchell, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment...

...was born 1894 at Aldrington, Hove, Sussex, the son of Henry and Annie Burchell. George was baptised at St Barnabas Church, Hove on the 28th of January 1894. The family resided at 19, Wordsworth Road, Hove; George was a labourer and the service was conducted by F Stokes.

The 1901 census finds the family at 113 Wordsworth Street, Aldrington, Hove. Henry aged 41 is a builders Labourer born Hove; Annie aged 37 was born at Hove. Children recorded, all born at Hove, are Henry aged 11, Alice aged 9, George aged 7, David aged 6, Annie aged 4, Arthur aged 3 and Elsie aged 1

The 1911 census finds the family at 45, Wordsworth Street, Hove Henry aged 51 is a jobbing gardener born at Pulborough. Annie aged 47 was was born at Brighton. The couple have been married for twenty two years and have produced ten children, two of which have died in infancy. Children recorded, all born at Aldrington, are George, aged 17, a butchers assistant; David aged 16, an errand boy; Annie aged 14; Elsie age 11; John aged 9 and Charles aged 7. [Note: some differences in place of birth between 1901 and 1911 census.]

George was a butcher's assistant aged 20 years and 9 months when he enlisted at Hove on the 3rd of September 1914 and was posted the following day to the 7th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

On the 30th of May 1915 he went to the BEF in France.

On the 1st of October he suffered a “gun shot wound and lacerations to the brain” and was evacuated back to the UK the following day. He was posted to the Regimental Depot on the 12th of November 1915 and discharged on the 5th of August 1916 as no longer physically fit for war service.

Upon discharge, his disability was stated to be “GSW to the head In action Loos 1-10-15, fracture of the skull forehead, Triphaning large piece of skull, brain palpitations felt through the scalp. No headache. Divergent squint R Eye. Diplopia permanent…” He was assessed as having a permanent 50% disability. [Triphaning - alternate spelling of trepanning; Diplopia- double vision.]

The injuries sustained by George, led to epileptic seizures from which he died following such a episode on the 10th November 1916 aged 22. He is buried in Hove Old Cemetery