George Skelton enlisted in early 1915, after his elder brother, Tom, was invalided out of the army having lost a leg at the Battle of Mons in 1914 (he was the first Filey soldier to be wounded).  The Skelton family lived at 5, Wenlock Place, off Church St. and George followed in his brother’s footsteps by joining the Coldstream Guards; in actual fact the two were both in the 3^rd Battalion. 

          He was in France from late 1915 to his time of death in May 1916 during the Battle of Flers – Courcelette (Ypres campaign), and a letter from an army chaplain to his parents explains the circumstances surrounding it:

          “I promised I would write a line from your son, Pte. G.W. Skelton of the 3^rd Coldstream Guards who came into the dressing station last night severely wounded.  He was sent to a hospital further back, and I hope there may be a good chance of his recovery.  I am afraid it is only fair to warn you that he was in a very precarious position and had been shot through the chest.  I spoke with him and said the Lords prayer.  He asked me to write to you and send his love.  I only hope that you will next hear that he is making progress…”

          Unfortunately, George died within twenty-four hours of this letter being written and was buried in Lijssenthoek Cemetery.