George Arthur Lumby was born at Yeadon on 26th March 1891, one of seven children born to Samuel and Mary Lumby. On 30th November 1912, George, a 21-year-old nursery gardener, married 21-year-old Elizabeth Ann Kyle at St. Mark's Church, Harrogate. The couple settled at Rose Cottage in Rossett Green, and had one child, Violet, born in November 1913.
George would have attested to serve under the Derby Scheme towards the end of 1915 and was called up on 11th April 1916. With minimal training, he was sent overseas to join the 12th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment.
In the early evening of 17th August 1916, British heavy howitzers carried out a bombardment of a German position south of the Somme village of Guillemont known as Lonely Trench. The bombardment ceased at 8pm; two hours later the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers and 12th West Yorkshire Regiment attempted to take the trench by a surprise assault. The attack failed in the face of heavy rifle and machine-gun fire: the battalion war diary reported 15 other ranks killed, 3 officers and 135 other ranks wounded, 1 officer suffering from shell shock, and 1 officer and 11 other ranks missing. George Arthur Lumby was among those presumed to have been killed in the action.
Lieutenant Colonel R. C. Smythe, commanding 12th West Yorkshire, wrote the following report of the chaotic circumstances under which the assault took place:
- Orders issued to battalion at 5pm on 17.8.16.
- Companies moved off to position of assembly at 6.35pm. The attacking companies “A” and “C” reached assembly trenches at 7.45pm. Supporting companies reached EDWARDS TRENCH at 8.45pm and went in position.
- I was informed by [the] Brigade Major [of] 9th Infantry Brigade that Lt. Col. Long, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was leaving 76th Infantry Brigade Headquarters at 7.30pm and that I was to meet him at the communication trench which divided the units attacking at ASSEMBLY TRENCH.
I reached the above point at about 8.30pm and walked some distance along the trench which was to be occupied by R.W.F. At about 9pm I met the advance party of R.W.F. under the company commander of [their] left company. At about 9.30pm the R.W.F. had not reported their arrival.
My tape and position had been reconnoitred at about 9.15pm and I was in position to place my men on that line - but was unwilling to do so until I received a report that the R.W.F. had arrived.
I spoke to the Brigade Major of 76th Infantry Brigade at about 9.50pm and arranged with him to make the zero hour at 10.30pm as I had had no report of the R.W.F. being in position. I therefore made this change of time known to my right company and was passing the same information to my left company.
At about 10.01pm I met Lt. Col. Long for the first time and he said that it was zero hour and that his men were advancing. I therefore ordered my men to advance at once, which they did, over the parapet in the best formation possible under the circumstances; this could only be done by passing the order from right to left. The attack failed and I ordered my men to hold the semi-dug fire trench in front of the ASSEMBLY TRENCH with a view to re-organising.- I would point out that our artillery continuously fired short and many shells dropped behind the ASSEMBLY TRENCHES, while I was in these trenches; and on the ground marked by the tape. This state of affairs continued for some considerable time after the zero hour.
- After it was quite clear that the assault had failed, I consulted with Lt. Col. Long and arranged to attack again at 4am on 18.8.16 - arrangements were completed and the attack was launched in my section from the FIRE TRENCH in front of ASSEMBLY TRENCH in connection with KING’S OWN on my right. This attack also failed owing to heavy machine-gun fire and it appeared that the garrison of the German trench had been increased.
- The ASSEMBLY TRENCH and the ground to be attacked had been reconnoitred by myself and the officers commanding companies forming the attacking line during the morning of 17th Inst. and no difficulty was experienced in reaching my position and forming up in ASSEMBLY TRENCH.
George's body could not be identified and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.