Private 325922 George Learoyd, Royal Scots

George Learoyd was the cousin of my 2xgreat grandfather. George's service records have survived and they paint quite a sorry picture.

George lived with his parents, Jewison and Clara Learoyd, and siblings at 34 Mill St, Morley in Yorkshire, and his occupation was a labourer or rag packer.

It appears that George volunteered early on the war and was a private in the King's Own Scottish Borderers with the regimental number 23459 but was discharged on 9/11/1915 as being unfit for service and unlikely to make an efficient soldier. This may have been due to the fact that he was only 5 feet 2 inches tall and had a poor physique with a "badly shaped chest." He was 19 years old.

On 26 October 1916, George was conscripted for service; by this point, his deficiencies had either improved or the army was so desperate for men they accepted him. He was posted to the 2/8th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers on 27/10/1916 with the regimental number 271016.

From 14th until the 17th July 1917 George was treated for scabies in a military hospital in Dublin, Ireland. It is unclear whether he had served abroad before this.

On 24/2/1918 George was transferred to the 4th (Reserve) battalion the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Two months later, on 24/4/1918 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers with the regimental number 325922 and joined them in the field (this may be the first time he served overseas).

George died of wounds on 26th July 1918 in No 32 Stationary Hospital, France. A message in his file says that he died from gassing and shell wounds. I believe that he was injured early in the day, and died later the same day as the battalion war diary shows they were out of the line for the previous week and had no casualties the week before that. On the 26th the diary records "S.O.S. 1.35 am (front Bn raided) Forward companies gas shelled, some casualties."

George is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.