2nd Battalion, King’s Shropshire Regiment
George Charles Payne was born in 1903, son of George James Sindery Payne (1869-1952) who was a general labourer and Helen (née Colwell: 182-1945) of Longhope.
The couple had three children by the time of the 1911 Census, only two surviving – George and sister Helen (born 1906).
George was schooled at Longhope Church of England School and had been a member of the local church choir.
He enlisted, underage, at Hereford on 4 May 1920 to serve with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was posted to 2nd Battalion in Ireland.
George Charles Payne died on 13 January 1921, at Hunston House, Belmont, King’s County, now known as Co Offaly, Ireland of gunshot wounds, aged 17 years. It was reported, locally, that he was mortally wounded as a result of a tragic accident.
There appears to be no official record of the exact circumstances.
His body was returned to his home for interment in Longhope (All Saints) Churchyard where a
standard CWGC headstone now marks his grave.
A report of his funeral appeared in the Gloucester Journal of 22 January 1921.
Researched by Eric Nicholls 28 December 2019