George William East
Private 11503 “D” Coy.,
8^th Royal Berkshire Regt.,

Division 42 

George William East was the husband of Alice East of 20, New End, Hampstead.  He was a Londoner, born in Kentish Town but was stationed in Reading.  At the time of his death he was in the Maitland Military Hospital.  He died on the 25^th February 1915. East had enlisted on September 3^rd 1914 but did not go to France.  He died of disease aged 26.

 However, his was amongst the first of the military funerals and was  carried out with full honours.  A report was carried in the local press. 

 East had been  connected with the passenger dept at St. Pancras station (Midland Railway) and six fellow workers attended to pay tribute.  A large detachment of the 8th Berks. followed the funeral procession, being headed by a firing party and the Caversham and Reading Veterans Band who played the dead March in “Saul” and Chopin’s funeral march. A large crowd of people was attracted by the spectacle.  The coffin was covered with the Union Jack.  Three volleys were fired over the grave and the Last Post sounded.  The band played a hymn at the graveside and six comrades of the deceased acted as bearers.

George William East’s grave is a registered CWGC grave with a war pattern headstone.