George Chesters was born on the 3rd November 1880 at Pitts Hill, Chell in Staffordshire to parents James Chesters born c.1852 at Audley, Staffordshire and Elizabeth née Raybould born 28th January 1859 at Rowley, Staffordshire. His birth certificate shows his father James as a Potter and his grandmother Ann Raybould registered the birth. 

James and Elizabeth were married on the 9th July 1876 at Goldenhill, Staffordshire. They went on to have 10 children. 

Josiah James Chesters born 1877 at Tunstall, died 1890 aged 13, James Chesters born 1878 at Tunstall, died in 1907 aged 28, George Chesters born 1880 at Pitts Hill, John William Chesters  born 1882 at Pitts Hill, Sarah Ann Chesters born 1885 at Pitts Hill, Rosetta Chesters born 1886 at Tunstall, died in the year of birth. Lilian Chesters born 1890 at Hanley, Gladys Elizabeth Chesters born 1892 at Hanley, Elsie Chesters born 1895 at Shelton died in year of birth, Ernestine Chesters born 1896 at Hanley.

It’s clear from his earliest working age that James senior was working within the potteries firstly as a Printer and then as a Potter. At the age of 13 Elizabeth was employed as a Potter but on becoming married was involved in home duties and raising a large family.

The 1881 Census shows James (28) and Elizabeth (24) living at 141 Pitts Hill, Chell, Staffordshire with Elizabeth's family headed by Josiah Raybould, James employed as a Potter. Elizabeth with no occupation and children Josiah (4), James (3) and George (1).  

The 1891 Census shows James (38) Potter and Elizabeth (32) living at 50 Trafalgar Street, Hanley, Staffordshire. Son James is 12 and a Scholar, George is 10 a Scholar, John William is 8 a Scholar, Sarah A is 6 a Scholar, Lillian is aged 1.

James Chesters senior died in 1896.

The 1901 Census now shows the family at 34 Rutland Street, Hanley. Elizabeth (42) widow and family head. Son James (22) is single, and a Hollowware Presser. George (20) is single, and a Bricklayers Labourer. John William (18) is single, and a Colliery Waggoner Below Ground. Sarah Ann (16) is single, with no occupation. Lillian (10), Gladys (9), Ernestine (4) and there is a boarder called Thomas Booth single, aged 17 a Potters Jigger.

Elizabeth died in 1902.

George Chesters married Ada Pointon in 1903, they had three sons James born 27.12.1903 and William Henry born 22.08.1905 and Thomas born 09.07.1907. 

The 1911 Census shows George Chesters now aged 31 a Biscuit Placer living at 22 Scotia Road, Burslem with his 7 year old son James Chesters. Curiously he is shown as married but a boarder and there are no other persons present. 

There are no records found to date of Ada Chesters or William Henry Chesters or Thomas Chesters in this census, interestingly there are no further records of Thomas Chesters and Thomas does not appear on George Chesters pension index card. An extensive search cross referencing death records both locally and nationwide as well as local cemetery records has not shown his death as an infant nor as an adult. Probable reasons for a child to be removed from family at this time was if Thomas was born with special needs, he would most likely be taken to the local Workhouse Infirmary or infant nursery, he may have been adopted and trace has been lost , this is however conjecture as there are no records to support this being the case. 

George Chesters was killed in action the 30th April 1916 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He had earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal only so we know he did not enter a theatre of war until at least the 1st January 1916. On the day of his death his battalion were in front line positions at Wulverghem near Ypres. The Germans had been building up for an attack and on the 30th April unleashed gas in great quantities on British Positions. Some men had not heard alarms and gas sat in trenches rather than dispersing. A lot of men had not fitted gas masks properly and so amongst the confusion of battle the North Staffs lost 86 men to gas and 32 men wounded. He is buried in the Dranoutre Military Cemetery in Belgium, grave ref 1.D.19 and he is remembered on the Hanley WW1 Memorial and the Royal Doulton Kilngate memorial.

His death is reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated on the 15th May 1916 where it also states that he has 1 brother and 4 brother in laws also serving as well as telling us that he had been an employee of Royal Doulton Burslem.

PTE. G. CHESTERS, HANLEY.

Mrs. G. Chesters, of 15, Durham-Street, Hanley, has received official news that her husband, Pte. G. Chesters, North Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 30th. He enlisted in July, 1915, prior to which he was employed by Messrs. Doulton and Co., Burslem. His brother and four brothers-in-law are serving with the colours. 

The 1921 shows census Ada Chesters (35) remarried to Joseph James Ball (27) Glost Placer in July 1916 and they can be found living at 16 Douglas Street, Burslem. Living with them were Ada’s two sons William Henry (15) recorded as no work paralysed and James (17) Glost Placer apprentice, border Harold Glass (20) Glost Placer and a visitor William Heath (13) Mould Runner Pottery. 

BROTHERS AND BROTHER IN LAWS SERVING.

42692 PTE JOHN WILLIAM CHESTERS 2/5TH Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Enlisted 3rd November 1915 with an address of 36 Sydney Street, Hanley. Discharged due to deafness 18th September 1919 to an address of 47 Park Street, Bakersfield, Bradford. He was awarded the BWM, VM and SWB (B106917).

Husband of Ernestine Chesters - 92634 PTE JAMES WILLIAM FINCH 467th Company Royal Defence Corps. James had enlisted as a 16 year old so was placed in reserve until 29th March 1918 when he was mobilised. Initially he had been given service number 51768 of the Yorkshire Regiment but never served with them. The 467th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (RDC), was a home-service unit formed in 1916. Its personnel consisted of older men or those medically unfit for frontline duty. They were tasked with guarding vital infrastructure in the UK and managing Prisoner of War (POW) camps, with historical records indicating this company was deployed to Ireland. He did not serve abroad so was not awarded any medals but he was awarded the Silver War Badge (B245052) being discharged with deafness on the 25th May 1919. He had married Ernestine Chesters at Holy Trinity Church, Hanley on the 14th July 1918. His given addresses on his pension cards are 36 Sydney Street and 13 Navigation Road, Burslem.

Husband of Sarah Ann Chesters- 36180 PTE WILLIAM DUROSE 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment KIA 02.10.1915 at the Battle of Loos. Born Burslem. Married Sarah Ann Chesters 1903. Staffordshire Sentinel 15.11.15 report missing - Mrs Durose of Reid Street Burslem (Great York Street) Informed husband Pte W Durose missing since 10th October. He had also served in the Boer War. Army Medal Rolls for the Boer War only reveal one W Durose who served as Private 5132 of the 4th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with Bars Cape Colony and South Africa 1902.

Husband of Lilian Chesters - 200922 PTE GEORGE CAPPER 5th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Enlisted 12th April 1914. Served abroad on or after 1st January 1916. Discharged 13th June 1919 due to Dilated Stomach and Piles. Awarded BWM, VM and Silver War Badge (497804). Address on pension card 4 Balfour Street, Hanley. Married Lilian Chesters in 1910 at Wellington, St Luke. Stoke On Trent. 

Husband of Gladys  - 17864 PTE HARRY SLATER 7TH Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment was killed in action on the 19th April 1916 in Mesopotamia. He enlisted on the 1st July 1915. His given addresses being 4 Hanover Street, Burslem, 62 York Street and 36 Sydney Street. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, BWM and VM. He is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial Panel 34. He had married Gladys Chesters on the 8th July 1912 at Wolstanton.

Second Husband of Sarah Ann Chesters  - 35948 PTE HARRY GADD 12th Battalion York Lancaster Regiment. Initially enlisted as 28554 Driver GADD ASC, entered France 13.08.14. Entitled to the 1914 Star, BWM, VM and SWB (B19634). Discharged due to wounds 18.09.18. His pension card gives an address of 36 Sydney Street, Hanley. According to the pension card he was refused a pension due to a GSW to Left Leg being caused by serious negligence. There are a number of reports in the Staffordshire Sentinel concerning GADD as follows.

5th December 1917 - Mrs S GADD of 36 Sydney Street, Hanley informed her husband H GADD, York Lancs Regt, has been wounded. He had re-enlisted after being discharged on medical grounds. Has a brother and two brothers in law serving.

30th August 1918 - Sarah took Harry to court complaining he had deserted her and was not contributing to maintenance as she now could not work through ill health and had forfeited her military pension of 13 shilling a week ( awarded after loss of first husband DUROSE ) after remarrying GADD. GADD complained of suffering after effects of shell shock and says he cannot afford to pay as he already pays for 2 other children. Admonished by the judge and ordered to pay a contribution. In a later entry he says he spent time in Stoke War Hospital and was permanently lamed in the leg.

10th July 1917 - Sarah took GADD to court for assault. He was bound over in the sum of £5 for 6 months.

2nd June 1919 - GADD was one of 6 men fined at court after absenteeism from their place of work at Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Company. He was fined 14 shilling and 3 pennies.

World War Two

The 1939 census shows James Chesters General Labourer and his wife Nellie living at 7 Russell Street, Wolstanton and children Florence Thorley born 17.11.1924 and Lilian born 19.04.1933; a further six child records have been redacted from this record. James had married Nellie Thorley on the 28th March 1925,  registered at Wolstanton. 

Nellie passed away on the 16th February 1943 and James remarried very soon after to Annie Violet May Giles on the 31st July 1943 at Ampthill in Bedfordshire. They would have one child called Peter born in 1948. 

James Chesters born 27th December 1903 at Hanley - son of George Chesters - served in WW2 as 11429153 GNR CHESTERS. He was first enlisted on the 11th June 1942 and was eventually discharged to the reserves on the 17th April 1946 and subsequently discharged from service on the 10th February 1954. 

He had served first with the 11th Anti Aircraft Artillery Driver Training Regiment. He became a Lance Corporal on the 20th August 1942 and completed his service as Corporal. He was posted to the Pioneer Corp on completion of his driver training. He was described as being 5’9” tall, 127lbs, brown eyes, dark brown hair, 36” chest with 1.5” expansion, medically fit B1. 

 Sources

ANCESTRY 1871 CENSUS

ANCESTRY 1881 CENSUS

ANCESTRY 1891 CENSUS

ANCESTRY 1901 CENSUS

ANCESTRY 1911 CENSUS

ANCESTRY 1921 CENSUS

ANCESTRY WW1 PENSION CARDS

ANCESTRY WW1 MEDAL INDEX CARDS

ANCESTRY WW1 MEDAL ROLLS

ANCESTRY WW1 SOLDIERS EFFECTS

ANCESTRY SILVER WAR BADGE LIST

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES

STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL 15TH NOV 1915 - 15TH MAY 1916 - 20TH MAY 1916 - 10TH JULY 1917 - 15TH DEC 1917 - 30TH AUG 1918 - 2ND JUNE 1919

STAFFS BMD JAMES+ELIZABETH MARRIAGE 11/1/223

STAFFS BMD JAMES CHESTER SENIOR BIRTH AUD/7/295

STAFFS BMD ELIZABETH RAYBOULD (CHESTERS) BIRTH WMB/7/19

STAFFS BMD JOSIAH BIRTH TUN/075/038 - DEATH SHE/55/063

STAFFS BMD JAMES BIRTH TUN/078/060 - DEATH STO/63/087

STAFFS BMD GEORGE BIRTH TUN/083/046

STAFFS BMD JOHN W BIRTH TUN/087/084 - DEATH HAN/18B/097

STAFFS BMD SARAH A BIRTH TUN/093/051 - MARRIAGE TO HENRY GADD 1917 24/08/207 - WILLIAM DUROSE 1903 09/06/176

STAFFS BMD ROSETTA BIRTH TUN/097/013 - DEATH TUN/057/069

STAFFS BMD LILIAN BIRTH SHE/088/053 - MARRIAGE GEORGE CAPPER 36/09/71

STAFFS BMD GLADYS BIRTH SHE/092/090

STAFFS BMD ELSIE BIRTH SHE/099/019 - SHE/61/065

STAFFS BMD ERNESTINE BIRTH SHE/103/035

STAFFS BMD MARRIAGE ERNESTINE + JOHN WILLIAM FINCH 17/06/165

GLADYS CHESTERS MARRIED HARRY SLATER 1912 -= WRO/58/004