Acting Lance Sergeant George Edwin Breckell
15361 11th East Lancashire Regiment
Missing in Action 1st July 1916, aged 27
Lived at 252a Gannow Lane
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
Burnley Express 19th July 1916 - 22nd July 1916 - 20th September 1916

A Fine Record
Tribute to Late Burnley Sergeant (Burnley News September 20th 1916 )

On Sunday morning official notification was received by Mrs. Breckell, of 252, Gannow Lane, Burnley, that her husband, Sergeant George Edwin Breckell, of the Burnley “Pals,” 11th East Lancashires, was killed in action on the 1st or 2nd of July last in France. News was received in July to the effect that Sergt. Breckell had been wounded in the “Big Push,” but as nothing further was heard concerning him his commanding officer was communicated with and his mother recently received the following reply to her enquiries:-

“Dear Mrs. Breckell. I am very sorry indeed I have no information of your son. I would have written before but have waited in the hope that we might get good news of him. He went in the attack and nobody here knows anything further of him. It is possible that men in hospital who may have been with him may know more of him. If I hear anything from them I will let you know at once. It is possible that he is a prisoner of war; if so you will probably hear from him soon. He was in the old platoon and was always of the greatest value to the company. As an N.C.O. he did splendid work and he has left a fine record of service behind. I beg to express my sincere sympathy with you in your sorrow and hope that soon you will have better news of him.”

Since the receipt of this letter the official communication of his death has been received. Sergt. Breckell was 27 years of age and has one child. He joined the “Pals” on the formation of the battalion and went with them to Egypt, being subsequently transferred to France. He was formerly a weaver at Walmsley’s Peel Mill.