Rfn George A. Hawthorne, 10/14863, is reported as having been wounded and now missing in action. Subsequently confirmed as having been killed in action on this date by the War Office, August 1917. The family reported the wounding of both George, and his brother William, in the Belfast Telegraph on the 31st July 1916; “Rifleman George A. Hawthorne, South Belfast Volunteers, has been officially returned as wounded. His brother William of the same Battalion, was wounded at the same time. The lads, who are sons of Mr. George Hawthorne, 19 Mulhouse Street, were both employed on the Great Northern Railway.” In a further report, posted in the same newspaper on 13th August 1917, George’s death, aged 22 years, was finally confirmed. He was still recorded as ‘missing’ but his remains were later identified and removed from the battlefield, for interrment at the Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval, in grave I.A.17. The boys were born at Tynan, County Armagh and enlisted at Belfast where they resided.
The wounding in action is reported of Cpl William Hawthorne, 10/14861, brother of Rfn George Hawthorne, who was killed in action on this date. The Belfast Telegraph of the 10th July 1916 reports “Lance-Corporal Wm. Hawthorne, South Belfast Volunteers, wounded, is one ot two soldier sons of Mr. George Hawthorne, 19 Mulhouse Street. He formerly worked on the Great Northern Railway.” William’s photograph subsequently appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on the 14th July, with the caption “L.-Cpl. Wm. Hawthorne (South Belfast Volunteers), of 19, Mulhouse Street, wounded.” The wounding in action of both William, and his brother George (above) is also mentioned in the notice which appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on the 31st July 1916. William made a full recovery and returned to action, subsequently serving with the Royal Air Force as Cpl William Hawthorne, 144785. He appears on the Ulster Covenant as residing 63 Glentoran Street in 1912, when he signed the