Biography of Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn (241750) MM
5th 
Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Formerly 5332 1st/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Died 11th December 1917

Soldier

  • Name: George Robert Lunn
  • Date of birth: 1882
  • Place of Birth: Dyke, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: July – September 1882
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne District

Father

  • Name: John Lunn
  • DOB: 1855
  • Place of Birth: Dyke, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Traction engine driver

Mother

  • Name: Elizabeth Allen
  • DOB: 1854
  • Place Of Birth: Dyke, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 4th July 1876 Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Arthur J Lunn, 1878, Dyke
  • John Tom Lunn, 1879, Dyke
  • George Robert Lunn, 1882, Dyke
  • Maud Lunn, 1885, Dyke
  • Mariel May Lunn, 1888, Bourne
  • Hilda Mary Lunn, 1889, Thurlby

Census

  • 1891: George is living with his parents in Church Street, Thurlby, Lincolnshire
  • 1901: George is living with his parents in Stanley Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire
  • 1911: Charlie is living with his parents at 6 Gladstone Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 28 and he is listed as a mineral water packer.

Relatives in services

  • None found

Marriage

  • No marriage for George has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Lincolnshire Echo Friday 14th December 1917
    Fatal Rifle Accident – Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn of the Lincolnshire whose home is at 108 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, Nottingham has been fatally shot at a camp on the Lincolnshire Coast. Whilst Lunn was standing in the hut talking with the another soldier, Private Bartram Sissons picked up a rifle from the rack and was examining it, when the weapon went off. The bullet struck Lunn who died on the way to hospital. Lunn and Sissons have served together for more than a year in France, and were on good terms.

 

  • Hull Daily Mail Friday 14th December 1917
  • SINGULAR AFFAIR AT A LINCOLNSHIRE CAMP.
    SOLDIER SHOT BY COMRADE
    A singular shooting mishap has occurred, Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn a Territorial belonging to a Lincolnshire battalion being killed, presumably accidentally, by a comrade, Pte. Bertram Charles Sissons.

 

  • Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Saturday 15th December 1917
    THE SHOOTING MISHAP AT A LINCOLNSHIRE CAMP.
    At  Grimsby yesterday, an inquest was held on Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn (35), of the Lincolnshire Regiment, whose home was at 108 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, Nottingham and who was accidentally shot at a camp in Lincolnshire on Tuesday last.
    Pte. Bertram Charles Sissons stated that he and Lunn has served together in France. On Tuesday last Lunn arrived at the camp and they renewed acquaintance in one of the huts. They talked over old times at the Front and witness told Lunn that he was a musketry instructor. He picked up a rifle to demonstrate what he could do with it. There was a clip of what witness thought were “dummies” on the floor. It was half dark and he slipped them into the magazine of the rifle. As he did so, he noticed they were not “dummies” but “live” cartridges and he commenced at once to work the bolt to empty the magazine. He thought all were ejected and then he pressed the trigger to ease the spring before applying the safety catch. The rifle went off and Lunn fell shot through the chest.
    Several witnesses who were present in the hut declared that Sissons did not point the rifle at Lunn and testified that the two were good friends.
    The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and exonerated Sissons and the regimental authorities from blame.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 15th December 1917
    BOURNE
    Memorial Service – On Sunday evening, the Reverend J. Carvath conducted a memorial service for the late Lance Corporal George Lunn at Bourne Congregational Church at which the deceased was a regular worshiper before he left Bourne to join the army. The Rev. Gentleman took for his text of words “I am the resurrection and the light” and pointed out that when Christ spoke these words. He did so to comfort Martha and Mary and they had been a comfort to the bereaved ever since, as he trusted they would be to those who mourned for their departed friend that night.

 

  • Military Funeral – On Saturday afternoon a military funeral at Bourne Cemetery attracted a large assembly. The burial was that of Lance Corporal George Lunn, who met his death under sudden circumstances on the previous Tuesday. Deceased had only just returned to camp, after having spent 5 months in hospital in Manchester. Corporal Lunn was with a number of others of the Regiment in the Non Comm hut when a discussion arose on musketry. A rifle was used to demonstrate an argument and on the trigger being pulled, to the dismay of all present, the rifle was found to have contained a live cartridge. Deceased was shot and succumbed to his injuries before arriving at hospital. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned. The funeral was attended by Lieut C. F. E. Dean (representing the T.F. Reserve Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment). Sergeant-Major Garfoot, Sergeant Dolman (who had the funeral arrangements in hand, including the firing party), and Sergeant Drummer Leaning, conducting the bugle band. The cortege was met at Bourne station by the members of the family, including Mr John Lunn (Father), Miss Sergeant (Fiancee), Mr Tom Lunn (Brother), Miss Maude Lunn, Miss Hilda Lunn, Miss Muriel Lunn (Sisters), Mr and Mrs D. Drakard (Uncle and Aunt), Miss Allen (Aunt), Mrs T. Lunn (Sister in Law), Mrs J. Lunn (Step Mother). The service was conducted by the Rev J. Comyn Jones and the Rev J. Carvath. The firing party fired the three volleys. The bearers were six Lance-Corporals, five of whom were personal friends of the deceased. The last post was sounded by the bugle band. There were a number of floral tributes including those from his father; His Sister’s, Maud, Hilda and Muriel; Tom and Gertie; Mrs S. Pick; Mr and Mrs Fell and family; The officers of the Reserve Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment; The Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess of the Lincolns. Deceased was well known at Bourne, having lived for many years in the town and was employed up to the time of his enlistment in Messrs R. N. Mills and Co’s Mineral water factory and was a packer, the employees of whom were represented at the funeral by Messrs H. Robinson, T. Teat, H. and A. Gilbert. Amongst others present were Messrs George Brown and W. H. Carter (Representing the Bourne Brotherhood) of which body deceased was a member and regular attendant). The Liberal Club (of which deceased was a member since its inception) was represented by Messrs W. Kelby, T. Mee and W. Nichols.

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • None found

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn, 241750, 5th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment was killed in action on 11th December 1917 in the Western European Theatre.

Pension Records

  • None found

Effects Left To

  • Father John

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal
  • Military Medal

Memorials

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Lance Corporal George Robert Lunn, MM, 421750, 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 11th December 1917 age 35.
  • Son of John and Elizabeth Lunn.
  • Remembered with honour, Bourne Cemetery
  • Grave 151. 11.

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline:

  • Enlisted in Nottingham

 

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office