MILTON, George Edward Pte. 15538

George Milton was born on the 1st August 1893 at 9 New Market Street, Chorley, the son of John and Margaret.

He enlisted in the Pals on the 19th September 1914 and was the first member of the Chorley Company to die, succumbing to a bout of pneumonia (complicated by meningitis) on the 1st February 1915, being buried in Chorley Cemetery. He received a full military funeral on the 6th February, with Corporal Thompson commanding the firing party over his grave, under the direction of Sergeant A. Lang. Crowds lined the streets from St. George’s Church to the Cemetery to watch the gun-carriage bearing Private Milton’s body, draped in the Union Flag; behind it came his family and the rest of the Chorley Pals, led by his namesake Captain J.C. Milton. A card on one wreath simply said “He answered his country’s call, now he has answered the heavenly call.

George Milton was single and worked as a Butcher in the town, attending St. George’s Church.