George Page was born in Tivetshall, Norfolk on 27th October 1884. His parents were William, a labourer from Swainsthorpe, and Maryann from Moulton. The 1911 Census records his parents living in a farmhouse on Ash Lane in the village. They had 9 children, 6 of whom were still alive; Laura, Anna Elizabeth, Edith, Walter Cecil and a step-sister, Lily. Another sister, Jessica Ellen died in 1906. His sister, Laura had an illegitimate child in 1908 when she was 19. The child was called Doris May and was born in the Wicklewood Union (workhouse).
George was originally a labourer but joined the Norfolk Regiment as a regular soldier on the 24th February 1902. His attestation papers state that he had brown eyes and brown hair, had a tattoo on the back of his left hand and was 5’ 7” tall. He served in India and South Africa but did have health issues including rheumatism, bronchitis and heart disease, for which he was in a military hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town. He was discharged from the army in February 1914 with a good conduct badge and a crucifix tattooed on his left forearm. By now he had grown to 5’ 9”! He promptly emigrated to Canada.
When war broke out, a new regiment of the Canadian Army was created made up of ex-servicemen only. This was called the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). The deadline for joining was the 23rd August but George was allowed to join one day later. The regiment were known as the ‘Originals’.
The Princess Patricia’s were the first Canadians to participate in the First World War, arriving in France on the 21st December 1914. Their first action took place at Voormezeele, just outside Ypres. George was killed. There are accounts of this specific incident, the 28th February 1915, in the war diaries and in the accounts of survivors.
George is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No 3. He was the first Carleton Rode soldier to die in the conflict. His brother Walter signed up for the Norfolks in 1915 but was discharged after two months on health grounds.