George Wilfred CALLENDER (1889-1917)

Captain George Wilfred Callender (1889-1917) was a colleague of Cyril Sladden in the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

George Callender was born on 16th March 1889 in Wellington, New Zealand, the son of William and Lallie Callender of 52 Great South Road, Auckland. He was educated at King’s College, Auckland.

During the First World War, George joined up as a Private (2301) with the 28th London Regiment. He then joined the Worcestershire Regiment and was gazetted Captain. He first went overseas to Basra on 1st October 1916.

During the first fortnight of 1917, the 9th Battalion of the Worcesters were involved in preparations for a systematic attack on the Hai Salient in Mesopotamia. Callender had been in command of D Company since 15th December 1916.

Captain Callender was killed in action on 25th January 1917, the day on which an assault at Kut-Al-Amara was launched. According to Cyril Sladden: “… was badly hit at this period apparently by a bomb and a sergeant tried to get him back but couldn’t manage it so had to leave him, and he died out in no man’s land.” He was buried in Amara War Cemetery.

Further details about the events in Mesopotamia at this time may be found on the Worcestershire Regiment website.