George William Sutcliffe was born on 11 March 1905 the fourth of the seven children of Henry Albert Sutcliffe (1875-1944) and Mary Margaret Sutcliffe (b.1875) in Fulham, London. His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1905 in the Fulham Registration District, London.
His father completed the family census return form on 2 April 1911 and in doing so reversed his son's forenames for some unknown reason and showed him as William George Sutcliffe, aged 5 years, living in three rooms within 45 Stanley Road, Fulham, with his parents and five siblings: Frederick Michael Sutcliffe (1899-1919) - a scholar; Mary Margaret Sutcliffe (1901-1960); Henry Albert Sutcliffe (b. circa 1903); Daisy Sutcliffe (1908-1945) and Ellen Kathleen Sutcliffe (b.1911). His father described himself as a general labourer employed by the Gas Light and Coke Company, whilst his wife, to whom he been married for 14 years, was listed as a laundress, shirts and ironer. He also stated his wife had given birth to six children, all of whom were still alive.
He was shown on the census return form that was completed by his father on 19 June 1921 as William Sutcliffe, aged 16 years, 3 months and a G.P.O. messenger living in four rooms within 33 Kilmaine Road, London, SW6, with his parents and three siblings: Daisy Sutcliffe; Ellen Kathleen Sutcliffe, who was listed as Helen Sutcliffe and John Sutcliffe (b. circa 1915). All three siblings were in whole time education and his father described himself as a gas purifysation (sic) attendant employed by the Gas Light and Coke Company at Bagley Lane, Fulham.
In August 1924 he was appointed as a Postman in the London Postal Service, West.
Electoral registers in 1927 show him and his father listed at 33 Kilmaine Road, London,
On 4 September 1932 he married Ruby Florence Simpson (1906-1937) in Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common North Side, Clapham, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 27 years, a bachelor and a civil servant living at 17 Old Town, Clapham, the son of Henry Albert Sutcliffe, a gas company foreman, whilst his wife was described as aged 26 years and a spinster who was residing at 37 Grayshott Road, London, SW11, the daughter of Walter Herbert Simpson, a carman.
His wife's death was registered in the 1st quarter of 1937 in the Surrey Mid Eastern Registration District, Surrey.
On 29 April 1939 he married Mabel Foster (1912-2001) in St Paul's Church, Hammersmith, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 34 years, a widower and a civil servant who was living at 12a St James Street, Hammersmith, the son of Herbert Alfred Sutcliffe, a foreman, whilst his wife was shown as aged 26 years, a spinster who was also residing at 12a St James Street, Hammersmith, the daughter of the late George Foster who had been a carman.
The England and Wales Register that was compiled on 29 September 1939 shows them both living at 11 Wentworth Close, Morden, Surrey (now Greater London). His occupation was shown as a Postman – Driver (G.P.O.), whilst his wife was recorded as a laundry manageress - receiving office.
He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Service Number 1633885, and died on war service, aged 38 years, on 16 April 1943. His death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1943 in the Romsey Registration District, Hampshire and he was , in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Dawney Hill, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0JB.
Probate records confirm that his address remained as 11 Wentworth Close, Morden and when on 27 May 1943 administration of his estate was granted to his widow his effects totalled £980. On 20 September 1943 his widow was sent his £245-3s-2d Royal Mail gratuity.
He is shown as 'SUTCLIFFE W.G.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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