Corporal George William Toomey
George William Toomey was born on 4 February 1878 at Townsall, Dartmouth, Devon. He married Limerick-born Mary Louisa Eleanor Wilson, the daughter of the first mate of the Cunard Liner SS Russia, at Liverpool on 1 June 1900. The couple had three children over the next decade.
At some point before 1911 Toomey served 3 years and 8 months with the Somerset Light Infantry, obtaining his discharge by purchase.
At the beginning of 1911 he was living with his wife and two surviving children at 45 Northumberland Terrace, Liverpool, and working as a musician with the city's Shakespeare Theatre. Soon after, however, he travelled to Belfast, where on 24 April 1911 he enlisted in the North Irish Horse (No.603). He probably served in the regimental band, and was promoted to corporal on 4 May that year.
On 8 January 1915 Toomey transferred to the 5th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment (No.3312) with the rank of band rifleman.
He did not serve overseas during the war, and when his term of service expired on 23 April 1916, he chose to leave the army.
Toomey remained in Liverpool. By 1939 he was living with his wife and one child at 86 Herschell Street and working as a professional musician.