George Payne was born in North Street, Thame on 9th May 1866. His mother was Ann Payne, but no father was recorded on the birth certificate. He was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Thame on 16th August 1888 when he was 22 yrs of age.

He lived at Church Row Thame with mother and grandmother until his marriage in Abingdon in 1887 to Rhoda Ann Brocklesby. Soon after their marriage it appears that they moved to Oxford where he worked as a coach smith. They had two sons and three daughters.

George volunteered for service with the Royal Engineers in WW 1 as a Sapper No 97429 and went to France in 1915 when aged 49 years.

He died of influenza at Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Westminster on 17th February 1919 aged 52 and is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.

It is hoped that he will be remembered on the War Memorial in Thame at the end of this project.