George Edward Myall

George Edward Myall was born in Felsted in 1881, and was baptised at Holy Cross Church on 25^th September 1881. He was the eldest son of John Elijah Myall and Ellen Jarvis who had been married in the early part of 1881.

John Elijah Myall was the son of William Myall from Felsted.

By 1891, around 1890, John and Ellen had taken their family to live at Village Street, White Notley, and the family had certainly grown. (note the census enumerator spelt the family name as “Miall” This has not been maintained here)
John Myall, aged 35, Engine Driver, born Little Dunmow
Ellen Myall, aged 34, born Felsted
George Myall, aged 9, born Felsted
Elizabeth Myall, aged 8, born Felsted
Elsie Myall, aged 7, born Felsted
Frank Myall, aged 5, born Felsted
May Myall, aged 2, born Felsted
Lilly Myall, aged 2, born Felsted
Ernest Myall, aged 8 months, born White Notley.

The family stayed in White Notley until 1900 when they moved to Little Leighs. The 1901 census records the family as living in Goodmans Road, Little Leighs.
John Myall, aged 45, Engine Driver, born Little Dunmow
Ellen Myall, aged 42, born Felsted
Frank Myall, aged 16, born Felsted
May Myall, aged 12, born Felsted
Lilly Myall, aged 12, born Felsted
Ernest Myall, aged 10, born White Notley.
Mary Myall, aged 8, born White Notley
Esther Myall, aged 6, born White Notley
Joshua Myall, aged 4, born White Notley
Edith Myall, aged 7 months, born White Notely

The three oldest children are no longer resident with the family and it is likely that George had already joined the army and was serving overseas, as he does not appear on the census.

We know that John moved the family again and died whilst living in the Maldon area in 1907 aged 51.

In 1911 George Myall appears on the census as a Private Soldier with ‘C’ Company the 1^st Battalion, The Essex Regiment, in Quetta India. His age is given as 27 although he would have actually been 30.

His occupation is listed as “Cook” and the Essex Regiment Museum has kindly provided a copy of a photograph of all the Battalion cooks from that period. Private Soldier 8117 George Myall is in the centre of the back row.

By the outbreak of World War One George had transferred to the Second Battalion and was with the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium. He was killed in action on 23^rd October 1914. Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

He is not commemorated at Felsted, but is commemorated on the Heybridge War Memorial, and tree number 161 of the Maldon Avenue of Remembrance is dedicated to his memory.

His younger brother Ernest John Myall was also killed in the War on 16^th September 1916, whilst serving as Private Soldier 5775 with the 23^rd Battalion of the London Regiment, having previously been Private Soldier 22621 with the 12^th Battalion, the Essex Regiment. Having no known grave he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

Ernest was born in White Notley in 1890. He was baptised at White Notley Church on 31^st August 1890 and the clerk kindly recorded his date of birth as 11^th July 1890.