George Pointing was born at Lewes on 29th July 1896 and by the time the 1901 census was
taken, was living at Thompsetts, Chailey with his family. That family comprised
James Pointing (senior) aged 44 and working as a postman, his 40 year old wife Alice (working as a laundress from home) and
their four children: William Pointing (aged 13), Alice Pointing (aged nine), James Pointing (aged six) and George Pointing
(aged four). A fourth son, 14 year old Frank Pointing, was boarding at Teague
Green, Chailey.
Thankfully, George’s partial service record survives at the National Archives and
the following information is taken from it.
He enlisted at Brighton 23rd June 1915, joining the 3/1st Sussex Yeomanry.
He was given the army service number 2822. George was 19 years old, five
feet one and a quarter inches tall and working as a shop assistant for J Sainsbury at Stamford
Street, Blackfriars, London. The qualification of “signaller” is noted on Army Form B.103 – Casualty
Form – Active Service. George recorded hi mother, Mrs J Pointing, as his
next of kin, giving her address as Roeheath Common, Chailey, Lewes.
George remained in England until 20th
September 1916, landing in France the
following day. On the 22nd September 1916 he was posted to the 11th Royal Sussex
Regiment from the 40th Infantry Base at Etaples.
George received a gunshot wound to his left knew on 29th March 1918, but prior to this
he had also been to various Casualty Clearing Stations in France with ankle sprains.
After he was shot he was taken to the 6th General Hospital
at Rouen and then sent back to England. He arrived in England on 2nd April
1918 and then spent time at two hospitals there: the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester and Brier
Hill Hospital, Dearnley
On 17th January 1919, George’s Statement as to Disability noted that he “complains
of pain in left knee on going upstairs or uphill.” The Board found that
he was less than twenty per cent disabled and awarded him a pension of five shillings and sixpence a week for 26 weeks.
George was discharged from the army on 28th February 1919.
The following year, in April 1920, a further medical report noted, “complains of
pain (aching in left knee)” but the doctor examining him reported, “two scars… full movement of knee…
no swelling or thickening. No creaking. No wasting. The joint has apparently not been touched.” The Medical
Board found that George “has recovered” and awarded him a gratuity of five pounds with “no grounds for further
awards”.
Many years later, In ‘Chailey Through The Centuries’, George Pointing recalls
a visit to Thompsett’s Charity in July 1967 which sheds further light on his war service. “It was a wonderful experience for me to enter my birthplace after a lapse of 49 years. Having been wounded on the Somme and after six months in hospital, I was
able to obtain special leave to assist my parents in moving house to Setford’s Lilac Cottage, South Street in October 1918. The changes
that have taken place at Thompsetts Charity are all so breathtaking that it is difficult to fit everything into place. Our family still affectionately refer to it as the Old Thatch, although this material
was a constant nightmare to my mother who had a dread of the place catching fire, especially during thunderstorms…”
Also in ‘Chailey Through The Centuries’ are verses from a poem, ‘Chailey
Green’ in which George affectionately recalls both the village and some of the characters he grew up with. The selection concludes with the war to end all wars:
“One final thought recalls those lads
Whose names are carved in stone.
For they were some who grew ‘not old’
When scarcely yet full grown.
The Snellings, Turners, Beards and Brooks,
So often here were seen,
Before the Holocaust broke out,
We played on Chailey Green.”
George Pointing married Lily Gertrude Weal at Brentford, Middlesex in about May 1924. He died on 25th April 1985 in Ealing, west London.
George’s three brothers Frank, James and William all served during the First World War and William’s partial service record also survives. I believe that the boys’ mother, Alice Pointing, is the same Alice Pointing noted as serving as a cook with Sussex 54 VAD. Their sister, also Alice Pointing, married
Ernest Frank Stevens who is also commemorated on this site.
