George Greenland was born on 10 June 1896 in Stepney, London, the second of six children of George Greenland (1871-1923) and Charlotte Harriet Greenland née Sayers née Ockleford (1867-1946). His birth was registered as George James Greenland in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Mile End Registration District, London, however he was baptised as George Greenland on 28 June 1896 in St Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney High Street, London, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his family were living at 103 Skidmore Street, Stepney and that his father was a carman.
His mother, who had been born as Charlotte Harriet Ockleford had married a Richard Sayers (1845-1889) and they had a son, Richard Sayers (1887-1906), but upon the death of her husband she had married George Greenland in 1894.
His five siblings were: Charlotte Jane Greenland (1894-1924); Bert Greenland (1900-1902); Beatrice Maud Greenland (1902-1993); Lilian Greenland (1907-1990) and Henry Charles Greenland (1910-1983).
In the 1901 census he was shown as George Greenland, aged 4 years and living in three rooms in 149 Canal Road, Mile End, London, with his parents, his two siblings: Charlotte Jane Greenland and Bert Greenland, his step brother Richard Sayers, together with a male boarder. His father was described as a carman.
He died, aged 22 years, on 19 August 1918 whilst serving as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in the Royal Air Force, service number 194997, at Number 14 Aircraft Acceptance Park, Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire. He was flying in Handley Page 0/400, a biplane bomber aeroplane, serial number D4593, as a passenger in charge of petrol pumps on a test flight from Castle Bromwich when it lost fabric from a wing and crashed at Maxstoke, Warwickshire, attempting a forced landing but the undercarriage failed. All seven RAF personnel were killed. His death was registered as George Greenland in the 3rd quarter of 1918 in the Meriden Registration District, Warwickshire.
His body was buried on 26 August 1918 in Plot R, Grave 1482 in the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery (now known as Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park), Southern Grove, London, E3 4PX and he is commemorated there as '2ND AIR MECH. G. GREENLAND' on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Screen Wall.
On 12 May 1919 his military effects totalling £4-11s-3d were sent to his father, but he was not admissible for the payment of a war gratuity.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, on the Royal British Legion's Everyone Remembered website and on the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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