Trafford

Born in 1874 at the Aldersot Barracks of the 20th Hussars - ref: 286/23,
the son of Robert & Lily Gillespie (nee McKeague).

1881 Census - 1 Barton Grove, Barton Upon Irwell.    Son - aged: 7 -
Scholar - born: Aldershot, Hampshire.    Head of household - Robert
Gillespie - Married - aged: 44 - occ: Rural Postman C S Mess - born:
Ireland.    Also - Lily Gillespie - Wife - aged: 34 - born: Ireland.  Plus
3 siblings.

His father - Robert Gillespie died on the 30/04/1890 aged 49.

1891 Census - 553 Barton Lane, Barton Upon Irwell.    Son - aged: 17 - occ:
Bleacher - born: Aldershot, Hampshire.   Head of household - Lillie
Gillespie - Married (actually a Widow) - aged: 44 - occ: Dressmaker - born:
Ireland.  Plus 3 siblings, an aunt and 2 boarders.

1901 Census - Lilly? (between 551 & 557), Barton Lane, Eccles.   Son -
Unmarried - aged: 26 - occ: Bleacher - born: Aldershot, Hampshire.  Head of
household - Lillie Gillespie - Widow - aged: 52 - born: Scotland.  Plus 2
siblings.    The 1881 & 1891 census returns state that Lily was born in
Ireland.  This one states - Scotland, which I suspect is the more accurate
as her sister was born in Scotland.

His mother - Lily Gillespie died on the 24/07/1902 aged 52.

1911 Census - 553 Barton Lane, Barton upon Irwell.   Brother - Unmarried -
aged: 36 - occ: General Labourer - born: Aldershot, Hampshire.   Head of
household - Elizabeth Gillespie - Unmarried - aged: 38 - born: Canterbury,
Kent.  Plus his younger brother, Herbert.

George is Commemorated on the private family gravestone in St. Catherine's,
Barton on Irwell - Ref: 6e8.

I am most grateful to Neil Drum & Pete Thomas for allowing me to use
verbatim the following extract from their superb 623 page book "A District
at War - Irlam & Cadishead's Part in the Great War", an incredibly detailed
and comprehensive book that is not only a credit to them, but a magnificent
memorial to the WW1 men of that district.

Served with the 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment, 87th Brigade, 29th
Division.

He was born c. 1874 at Aldershot, Hampshire, the son of Robert and Lilly
Gillespie.   He had a sister, Elizabeth M. (born c. 1872 at Canterbury,
Kent) and three brothers who were all born at Barton: Robert J.R. (born c.
1877), Joseph A. (c. 1879) and Herbert (c. 1884).   George was unmarried
and resided with his sister at an address in Peel Green Road, Peel Green,
Eccles.   He was an ex-scholar of St Catherine's School in Barton Street,
Eccles.   George Gillespie worked at Eccles Magnesium Metal works.   He had
previous military experience, first as an Eccles Volunteer and later as a
Signaller in the Territorial Force. His brother, Herbert, resided at 6
Alexandra Grove, Irlam and was, doubtless, the link between George and the
district.

In 1914, at the age of 38, he enlisted into the Borders at Manchester. He
disembarked at Gallipoli on 31st July 1915 and joined the 1st Battalion of
the Border Regiment, which had been in Gallipoli since April.   After the
evacuation from Gallipoli in December he served in Egypt between January
and March 1916. In March the 29th Division was sent to France in
preparation for the July offensive on the Somme.   George was killed in
action on Saturday, 1st July 1916, aged 40, in the area south of 'Y'
Ravine, near Beaumont Hamel.   He is not listed on the Irlam and Cadishead
War Memorial but he is commemorated in Joseph Cooke's 1917 Official Record
and Roll of Honour.    Medal Entitlement: 15 Star Trio.