George Hempshall

George William Hempshall was born in Long Bennington in 1889.  He was the son of George (a labourer) and Charlotte (nee Burton), both born in the village.  In 1891 they were living in Mount Pleasant, in 1901 they were in Costa Row.

In 1911 George (age 22) was working as a cowman at Langold Farm, Letwell, North of Worksop. 

George was one of the first men from Long Bennington to enlist in 1914.  He joined 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, which was encamped at Belton Park before moving to Frensham, Surrey in April 1915.  Over the next few weeks he married Martha J Middleton in Surrey.  

In early July the battalion sailed for Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay on 7th August.   He was killed in the attack at Ismail Oglu Tepe, (Chocolate Hill).  According to a letter from his CO, George was helping carry a wounded man when he was shot in the head and killed outright. However, his death wasn’t announced until the following February and he has no known grave, being commemorated on the Helles Memorial.