208446 Cpl. George Henry Quincey British Army 101st Machine Gun Company Machine Gun Corps from:Scunthorpe My great grandfather, George Henry Quincey, was a British conscript from 1916 until 1920 and was a corporal in 101st Machine Gun Corps which joined 34th Division upon embarkation to France on 3rd January 1916. I don't know the complete details but I do know that he went AWOL during his time on the front line after hearing that his younger brother, Cyril Quincey, had arrived only a couple of miles away. The pair used contacts on and behind the front line to meet up at a French ale house and spent the night getting tanked up and enjoying each others company, for all they knew, this could have been the last time they ever saw each other (Fortunately this wasn't the case as they both lived well past the 2nd World War). Upon arrival back at his post, my great grandfather was temporarily demoted as punishment but due to the lack of experienced and compitent soldiers left in the company, this demotion wasn't to last long. George H Quincey remained in 101st MGC until the end of the war but unfortunately saw close friends killed before him. One of these friends was a close companion from back home in Scunthorpe. My great grandfather took it upon himself to bring back his friend's belongings to the soldier's parents personally. This I am told, earned him a place in the family's heart until the day he died as they knew that their son had spent his last few moments with a man that he trusted and in a way, loved.
|