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Pvt. George Henry TREE, 7th Btn, Rifle Brigade
1885 - 31st December 1917

Born in London in 1885, George Henry Tree was the eldest son of George and Mary of Cray Road,
Foots Cray. Both father and son earned their living as basket makers. George married Constance in
1912 and the couple set home in Orchard Villas Foots Cray. Constance was a talented self-employed
musician.

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George Tree joined the Rifle Brigade on 8 June 1916, and was later sent to France. During late
December 1917 he became ill with nephritis (an inflammation of one or both kidneys) and despite all
the care that the nursing staff were then able to offer, he grew steadily worse. The attending vicar
promised the dying soldier that he would write to Constance to send her his love as he was then too ill to
do so. George Tree grew steadily worse and sadly died on New Year’s Eve, 1917. Some months after
her husband’s death, Constance gave birth in 1918 to a son, naming him George after her late husband.

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On 28 September 1923 Constance bravely decided to emigrate to Canada sailing from Liverpool with
her young 5-year-old son on the Canadian Pacific steam ship “Mont Claire” bound for Quebec and
eventually setting up home in Margaret Street, Meaford, Ontario, Canada. With most entertainment
then being provided by people in their own homes, Constance Tree gambled that she could provide a
living for both herself and her young son by teaching the ever popular instruments of piano and violin.

In memoriam: George Tree was buried in Lusenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.

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Corporal George S. WENHAM, 2 Battalion, Royal West Kent Regt
1897- 8th May 1917

Born in Sidcup in 1897, George Wenham’s mother Lilian was born in Foots Cray. In 1901, his father,
George Thomas Wenham was employed as a florist, but he unfortunately died in 1903, aged just 45
years. Just six months after his father’s untimely death, his mother married William Martin, also a
florist, who had been lodging with the family at their home in Bexley Village. Men were desperately
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needed to fight for the Empire and young George decided to enlist. He was placed in the 2 Battalion,
Royal West Kent Regiment who were based in Tonbridge, Kent and his commitment and leadership
skills saw him soon promoted to Corporal.

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The 2 Battalion, Territorial Force joined the 67 Division of the RWKR and on the 20 July 1915
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they embarked for Alexandria from Southampton via Mudros and landed on 20 August at Suvia Bay.
On 13th December 1915, the Battalion was evacuated to Egypt due to heavy casualties from combat,
disease and severe weather conditions, with the Division being engaged in only part of the Palestine
Campaign, including the three Battles of Gaza. At the end of March 1917, the Battalion was attacked
and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary force in the first Battle of Gaza but the attack was
broken off when Turkish reinforcements appeared.

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The second Battle of Gaza, from 17 -19 April 1917, left the Turks in possession. Corporal George
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Wenham died on 8 May 1917, probably from injuries sustained in the second Battle of Gaza.

In memoriam: George Wenham is buried in the Gaza War cemetery.