George Padfield

Story:
George Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1871 and baptised on 7th January 1872 at St. James' Church, the son of William Padfield and Martha Ann Padfield (née Cross).  His father had died in 1886. George lived in the St. James, Shaftesbury, area throughout his early years.  He married Elizabeth Howard in Wandsworth, London, during 1899 and they went on to have five children.   He had enlisted on 9th January 1899 and served with the 1st (Service No. 2993) and 3rd Battalions (Service No. 3/8458) of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private.   He had postings to Egypt, India and South Africa, being awarded various campaign medals.  He was discharged after serving 13 years.  He re-enlisted on 4th October 1914 and joined the 443rd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 528319).  He served in France from 23 October 1914 until 7th August 1917, thereafter in the UK.  He was demobilized on 6th March 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  The 1921 census shows him living at 26 Quill Lane, Putney, Surrey, working as a Bricklayer's Labourer, and later moving to 1 Gladwyn Road, Putney, London, S.W. until his death during 1932 in the Battersea, London, Registration District.