George Graver
The Soldier:
George Graver enlisted in to the army in Norwich, Norfolk well before the outbreak of war. Although his army record is lost, the UK’s census of 1911 shows him as registered by the army as ‘out of the country’ serving in the 2nd Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment in Ceylon and India. His occupation being listed by the military as both ‘Soldier’ and ‘Musician’.
He was ‘killed in action’ on the 27th July 1916, aged 32, whilst serving as a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. His regimental number being 7243.
His name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France – Pier and Face 1 C and 1D. It also appears on Snettisham’s ‘Roll of Honour’ and both of its memorials, alongside those of his brothers Harry and Bertie, who also died serving their country in the war.
The man:
George Graver was born on the 7th April 1884 in North Creake, Norfolk to John and Charlotte (nee Beales) Graver.
He had three older siblings; Orpha (15th December 1874), Selina (9th Dec. 1876), Ruth (25th Nov. 1878).
George soon had two younger brothers Arthur John (7th Apr. 1886) and Ernest (16th June 1888).
His mother Charlotte also gave birth to sisters Maud and May and a brother Frederick who sadly did not survive past infancy.
At some point before 1890 the entire family moved to Snettisham as tragically his sister Ruth died at the age of 12 and was buried in St. Mary’s Church cemetery on the 6th February 1890.
By the 1891 census, the family were established in Snettisham. John’s occupation was listed as ‘farm labourer’. Selina (now 13), George (7), John (Arthur John (5), Ernest (3) and Bertie (8 months) were living with him along with their mother Charlotte. Orpha had moved out and was a live in ‘servant’ in Fring, Norfolk.
A further younger brother Harry (Henry) Graver was born on the 2nd September 1894 followed by Walter (21st April 1898) and Sydney (14th February 1900). A younger sister Ellen Sarah was born on the 21st April 1897 but died later the same year.
By the 1901 census the entire family except for Orpha and Selina (parents and the seven boys) were living in Station Road (The Row), Snettisham. George is the eldest (now 17) and this address clearly links him to his two brothers Bertie and Harry who were also lost to the war. John’s (George’s father) job was described as ‘horseman on farm’. Orpha had married Thomas Down in 1898 and was later to settle with him in Putney, London and raise a family there. Selina had married Ernest Grief, also of Snettisham, on the 9th August 1896 and they were living elsewhere in the village with their son (they went on to have several more children).
George enrolled in Snettisham school on the 21st June 1892 (This is still the village’s primary school). He went there for his entire schooling with all his siblings.
In the 1911 census, George’s parents John (now 60) and Charlotte (now 48), were still living in Station Road with George’s brothers Arthur John (25), Ernest (23), Harry (17), Walter (14) and Sidney (11). However, George and Bertie had left home by now.
The 1911 census return for ‘Commissioned officers, Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned officers, Trumpeters, Drummers and Rank and file soldiers’ serving overseas registered by the military shows a ‘single’ George Graver born North Creake, Norfolk as being in Ceylon and India in the 2nd Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment as both an enlisted soldier and army ‘musician’.
Following his death, Lance Corporal 7243 George Graver’s personal belongings were forwarded to his father John (further linking him to the Snettisham Graver’s and his brothers Harry and Bertie).
Tragically, during his time in the army George would have almost certainly become aware of the deaths of his younger brother Harry in April 1915 (killed in action) and his mother Charlotte in March 1916 – both occurring prior to his death in July 1916.
pictures; please find pictures of George’s parents (John and Charlotte) and his sister Selina, her husband and some of their children attached to his brother Harry’s life story.
