George Beeston Private 203210 - 2nd Battalion. South Staffordshire Regiment Killed in action Sunday 29 th  September 1918 Buried Noyelles-sur-L’Escaut Communal Cemetery, Nord, France The database for “soldiers who died in the great war” indicates George Beeston was born in Knightley and was living there when he enlisted. However, no birth record can be found for a George Beeston in Knightley. The most likely family background is as follows: William Beeston from Hinstock (wheelwright and carpenter) married Mary Ann Robbins from Doley, Cheswardine in 1891 in St Mary’s Church at High Offley. George Beeston was born to William and Mary Beeston in 1897 Doley, Cheswardine. He was

christened George Harry Beeston on 5th Sept 1897 at Adbaston, Staffs. Mary came from Doley, Cheswardine. The 1901 census indicates they were 3 children born at Hinstock and Weston Jones before George. The same census shows that George was born at Doley. So, either the family moved about or, which is probably more likely, that Mary went to stay with a relative or friend for the births. The 1911 census shows the family living at Knightley. George was 13 and he had a younger brother Jack and two sisters cable and Tabatha. (Tabatha later married Albert Simmell and settled in Moreton.). It was from here that George most likely enlisted. George was killed in action Sunday 29 th   September 1918 and is buried at Noyelles-sur- L’Escaut Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

Noyelles-sur-L’Escaut Communal Cemetery Historical Information Noyelles-sur-L'Escaut was captured by the 6th Division on the 20th-21st November 1917, evacuated at the beginning of December, and reoccupied on the 19th October 1918, by the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Communal Cemetery Extension was made by the 2nd Division Burial Officer and it contains the graves of officers and men of the 2nd, 62nd (West Riding) and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, who fell in September-October 1918. There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified.