Lance Corporal George William Borman
George William Borman was born on 10 May 1883 at Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire, the first of ten children of bricklayer's labourer William Henry Borman and his wife Sarah Jane (née Chapman). By the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Kirton with his parents and five siblings and working as a farm waggoner.
On 17 May 1902 Borman enlisted in the Dragoons of the Line (No.4885) and was posted to the 6th Dragoons. He served in Egypt from May 1906 to October 1908. At the expiration of his eight years' service he transferred to the Army Reserve (Section A). His conduct and character were recorded as 'exemplary'. "Hardworking, willing & trustworthy man, good groom. ... Was 2nd servant groom to officer 2 years."
By 1912 Borman was living at Flaxpiece Road, Clay Cross, Derbyshire, and working as a postman. On 15 October that year he married Alice Louisa Phillips in the Clay Cross Parish Church.
Borman was discharged at the end of his four years in the Army Reserve, but nine days later, on 25 May 1914, he re-enlisted for another four years, in Section D of the Reserve. He was mobilised on the outbreak of war, and posted to the 2nd Reserve Regiment of Cavalry at Aldershot.
On 14 June 1916 he was posted to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron and embarked for France to join the squadron, which had served as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division since its formation at the beginning of the war.
In June 1916 the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, attached as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the regiment was disbanded, its men transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Borman, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Borman was issued regimental number 41101.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
In late 1917 or early 1918 Borman fell ill with trench fever. He was evacuated to England, where he was treated in the 2nd Southern General Hospital and the Red Maids' Hospital, in Bristol. It appears that he did not fully recover, for on 1 September 1918 he was transferred to the Labour Corps (No.662154) and posted to No.668 Home Service Employment Company at Newtownards.
On 8 March 1919 Borman was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. His military character was recorded as 'exemplary'. After the war he returned to Clay Cross and resumed work as a postman. At the time of the 1939 Register he was living nearby in Ashover Road, Old Tupton, with his wife and three daughters.
At least two of Borman's brothers also served in the war. One, Lance Corporal John Robert Borman of the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (No.9572), was killed in action in France on 6 January 1915 (see below).
Boston Guardian and Lincolnshire Independent, 6 March 1915