George Caton – King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 6th Battalion

Private George Caton – King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 6th Battalion

Early Life in Norwich

George Caton was born in 1894 in Norwich, Norfolk, the son of Thomas Caton and Catherine Johnson, who had married in Norfolk in 1882.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Caton family were living at 2 Prospect Place, Norwich. Thomas, aged 37, worked as a General Labourer, while Catherine, aged 38, kept the home. Their children were Thomas, 16, also a General Labourer; Maud M., 13, a schoolgirl; William, 11; and George, then aged 7.

Move to Cardiff

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had relocated to 6 Hawthorne Road, West Llandaff North, Cardiff. Thomas, now 47, was employed as a Wood Working Machinist, and Catherine, also 47, remained at home. Only two of their children were still living with them: William, 21, working as a Porter for a Grocer, and George, 19, employed as a Carter for a Contractor.

Relocation to Swansea

By the time of the 1921 Census, the Caton family had moved again, this time settling in Morriston, Swansea, where they appear to have remained.

Military Service and the 6th Battalion KSLI on 1 July 1916

Private George Caton enlisted with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and served with the 6th Battalion, part of 60th Infantry Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. While many British battalions were engaged on the Somme front on 1 July 1916, the 6th KSLI were positioned in the Ypres Salient, where they undertook a major diversionary operation intended to prevent German forces from being redeployed south against the main British assault.

The Battalion’s Role on 1 July 1916

In the early hours of 1 July, the battalion carried out a gas release at 2.45 a.m., sending a cloud drifting towards the German lines. The Germans reacted immediately. Artillery from behind Bellewaarde Lake and Kitchener Wood opened fire with 4.2‑inch and 5.9‑inch guns, bombarding the KSLI’s front line, support trenches, and battalion headquarters. The shelling included both high‑explosive and gas shells, and came from both flanks, creating a deadly enfilade.

At 3.15 a.m., British artillery retaliated, and a heavy exchange continued for around half an hour before the German fire abruptly ceased. The battalion’s casualties for the day were:

• Two officers killed – Capt. M. Boddington and Capt. F. T. Burrough

• Nine other ranks killed

• Nine wounded

These losses came on top of earlier casualties suffered during wire‑cutting bombardments and a trench raid in the days leading up to 1 July.

Aftermath

The battalion was relieved at 9.30 p.m. by the 6th Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and withdrew to billets at Ypres and Vlamertinghe. In the days that followed, they were employed in removing discharged gas cylinders, repairing trenches, and wiring work before returning to the line on 8 July.

It was during this period of intense activity and German retaliation that Private George Caton lost his life.

Death and Commemoration

George Caton
Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium credit - findagrave

Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects

Western Mail

Private George Caton was killed in action on 1 July 1916. He is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Belgium, close to where the battalion had been operating. His death was reported in the Western Mail on 8 July 1916, in the Local Casualties section. The Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects recorded that a War Gratuity of £1‑5‑2 was subsequently paid to his father.