George Patilla (1881–1942)

Sapper

Royal Engineers    
South Wales Borderers 44334  
Army Service Corps M/395897  

Biography
George was born in 1881, the son of George Patilla and Maria (née Brown). At the time of the war he was living with his parents at Wheatcroft, Crich, working as a stonemason for A. Sims stone yard at Whatstandwell. While he was serving in France he was severely wounded in the leg and admitted to Rouen General Hospital before being transferred to the Auxiliary Military Hospital at Ashton under Lyne. His married sister, Frances Radford, received notification of his injuries.
After the war, in 1920, he married Ethel May Keeton and they continued to live in Wheatcroft. Ethel was very active with the Methodist Chapel in Wheatcroft, especially with the Rechabite movement. George died in 1942 aged sixty.

Newpaper Items

Derbyshire Courier, 1 December 1917
CRICH CASUALTIES
Mrs Philip Radford, of Plaistow Green Crich, received news last week that her brother, Private George Patilla, South Wales Borderers, had been wounded in action. Further details came to hand on Wednesday, the official intimation from the Shrewsbury Record office stating that Private Patilla had been admitted to the 6th General Hospital, Rouen on 14 November suffering from severe gunshot wounds in the left thigh. He was wounded on 10 November. A letter was also received from Private Patilla on Wednesday, stating that he was at the Auxiliary Military Hospital, Ashton under Lyne, and that he was making satisfactory progress. Private Patilla, who was a stone mason at Messrs. A. Sims’ stone yard, Whatstandwell was in the RE as a sapper, but on being drafted to France last December he was transferred to the South Wales Borderers.

Derbyshire Courier, 4 December 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR
This Week's Derbyshire Casualties
WOUNDED
Pte. G Patilla, Crich

Derbyshire Courier, 22 November 1919
Wheatcroft people gave a welcome home to two more of its returning soldiers on Saturday at the United Methodist Chapel. the Rev R E Clark presiding. The guests were Messrs George Patilla and Ben Gretton, both of whom have seem much service in France. Nearly 50 sat down to tea which was followed by a social evening

Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

George Patilla's first cousin Frederick Patilla is also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Wheatcroft

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Patilla Head 58 Framework Knitter Brackenfield
Maria Patilla wife 58   Higham
John Patilla son 25 Coal miner Wessington
George Patilla son 19 Stonemason Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 35 page 15

1911: Wheatcroft

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Patilla Head 68 Framework Knitter Brackenfield
Maria Patilla wife 68   Higham
John Patilla son 35 Coal miner, hewer Wessington
George Patilla son 27 Stonemason Moorwood Moor

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1918 Voters List
George Patilla, Wheatcroft, absent on military service.

1939 Register: Wheatcroft
George Patilla b.9 August 1881; stone mason
Ethel May Gregory (Patilla) b.4 February 1896