Having only just turned nineteen, George enlisted in Beverley into the 22^nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, who were known as the 3^rd County Pioneers and said goodbye to his parents, James and Sarah Ann Douglas of 68, Queen Street.  He spent several months training before being sent out to the front line, where he lasted only a matter of weeks before he died during the German Offensive of Champagne.  He is remembered on the Soissons Memorial, France.