George Harold's Story.
EARLY LIFE
George Harold Potts was born in Bollington, near Macclesfield, in 1892, the son of Mary Ann (née Garner) and John Thomas Potts, a stone merchant's carter. In 1901, eight-year-old George was living at Water Street with his parents and siblings Sarah (12), William (10), Wilfred (6) and Hilda (3). By 1911 the family had moved to 55 High Street, Bollington and included another three children: Clifford (9), Marion (6) and Lilian (3); George was then eighteen years old and working as a piecer in a cotton mill.
On 4 December 1915 George married Emily Oliver at St George's Church, Sutton, south Macclesfield. Prior to enlistment in November 1916, George was employed as a spinner at the Adelphi Mill, Bollington.
At the time of George's death, his wife Emily was living at 42 Lord Street, Macclesfield.
MILITARY SERVICE
George enlisted in Macclesfield in November 1916, joining the 4th Cheshire Regiment with service number 202544. He was drafted to Egypt in February 1917.
George's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 5 April 1918:
Pte George Harold Potts, Ches Regt, whose wife resides at 42 Lord St, Macclesfield, was killed in Egypt on March 9th. He was twenty-five years of age, a native of Bollington and received his education at Water Street School. Pte Potts was formerly employed as a spinner at the Adelphi Mill and enlisted in November 1916, being drafted to Egypt in February of the following year. Whilst at Bollington he was a member of the junior football club and attended Kerridge Wesleyan Sunday School. Pte William Potts, Ches Regt, his brother, was taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat from Mons and is now in Holland. Another brother, Pte Wilfred Potts, Ches Regt, is guarding German prisoners at Handforth.
COMMEMORATION
Private George Potts is buried in Grave Ref. M. 92. in Jerusalem War Cemetery. His widow asked for the inscription “FOR EVER WITH THE LORD” to be added to his headstone. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private George Potts, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
Locally, Private George Potts is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and St George's Church war memorials, and on the Bollington Palmerston Street war memorial and Adelphi Mill roll of honour.
NOTES
Brother of William Potts, who served with the Cheshire Regt and was taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat from Mons; and of Wilfred Potts, who also served with the Cheshire Regt, guarding German prisoners at Handforth.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
FamilySearch Cheshire, England Parish Registers: Film 2197743 – St George, Sutton (near Macclesfield), Cheshire
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 5 April 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.