George Horlsey was born 1883 in Kineton, Warwickshire.  His parents were Abraham (an agricultural labourer) and Emma (nee Horsley) and was one of at least 7 children.  By George 1901 he was a footman on  Compton Verney estate near Rugby.  In 1911 he was a butler for Col Everrard Digby JP at Buckshaw House, Holwell, near Sherbourne, Dorset.

He married Margaret Dora Lewis of Carlton Scroop at Bishopwood, Herefordshire on 24 Jul 1912.  Their first child, James Lewis Horlsey, was born in Jan 1913 at Carlton Scroop.  In Dec 1915 George was living in Carlton Scroop and working as a butler when he signed on for the Lincolnshire Regiment at Grantham.  After a few months on the reserve he was called up in Aug 1916.  He was described as 5ft 8.25” tall with a 38” chest. From Aug 1916 to Feb 1917 he was on ‘home service, but we suspect that he’d joined 2/4 or 2/5 battalion (Lincolnshire Regiment), which were part of the 59^th (2^nd North Midland) division which was in Ireland in 1916 to help suppress the rebellion.  The division sailed from Southampton to Le Havre on 22/23 Feb 1917 to join the Expeditionary Force in France.