George Edward Carey was born at the start of 1877 and was the oldest of eight children to Samuel and Hester Carey. Samuel was a solicitor’s clerk from Clevedon in Somerset, and this is where the family were born and raised. Samuel was not one to sit on his laurels, however, and the 1891 census recorded his occupations as law clerk, innkeeper and insurance agent.

George followed a different path to his father, and found work as a printer’s apprentice when he finished his schooling. He worked up to being a full compositor quite quickly, and was employed as such when, on 30th January 1899, he married Lizzie Taylor. A civil engineer’s daughter, she was working as a teacher when the couple wed: they set up home in Clevedon, and went on to have four children.

By 1911, the Carey family were living in a seven-room house on Strode Road, Clevedon. George was still working as a compositor, but was employed by the local sanitary works. His widowed brother, Albert, who was lodging with his brother and sister-in-law also did the same job.

With storm clouds brewing over Europe, George stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers in the autumn of 1914 and was attached to the 503rd Field Company in Exeter. Little information is available about his time in the army, and he only comes to light again a year or so later.

Lance-Corporal Carey, 2nd Wessex RE, who has been employed at the office in Colleton-crescent, Exeter, was found dead, with his neck broken, at the bottom of a flight of stairs at the Grapes Inn, South-street, on Thursday morning. The discovery was made by Mrs Dorothy, wife of the licensee of the inn. Information was given to the police, and Dr Pereira visited the scene, and subsequently the body was removed to the mortuary by PCs Wise and Barrett. Carey was fully dressed. He was about 48 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children. For about fourteen months he had been engaged on the Wessex RE staff, and was billeted at a house in the Friars. His home is at Clevedon, Somerset, where he was engaged as a compositor before mobilisation with the Territorials. He was under orders for transfer to another station.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 12th January 1916

George Edward Carey died on 4th January 1916: he was, in fact, not quite 39 years of age. His body was brought back to Somerset for burial and was laid to rest in the stunning graveyard of St Andrew’s Church in his home town of Clevedon.

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