George Edward Northen and his younger brother Frederick Herbert were both killed fighting around Ypres in the First World War. George was born at Thorpe-by-Water on 20 October 1889, the son of Thomas and Mary Northen, and educated at Market Harborough Grammar School. He was a butcher, and at the outbreak of war was living at Ryhall. Alongside his brother Fred he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment as soon as the war started, while another brother, Lieutenant T H Northen enlisted at the same time in the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. George went to France in July 1915 and fought in many battles both there and in Belgium. He was killed on 2 March 1916 near Ypres. In a letter to his father Lieutenant W R Parsloe, of B Company, 7th Lincolnshire Regiment wrote: "I have to inform you that your son, Pte. George Northen is now reported as 'missing, believed killed.' He was one of a bombing party which I commanded during the recapture of some trenches on March 2nd, and was wounded in the foot by a fragment of shell. As the bombardment was intense, without binding his wound I hurried him out of the trench, giving him my stick, and telling him to report to the first dressing station he could reach. He was accompanied by others, and I know that he reached a dressing station of the Suffolks, and was dressed there. Beyond that point I have been unable to trace him, and it seems almost certain that he must have been killed by shell fire later .... He was a good soldier, and one whose loss I deplore. When wounded he was quite cool, and during all the time preceding was of great assistance to me. It is an honour to fight with men of his stamp." George's body was never found and since he has no known grave he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Panel 21. His younger brother Fred was killed in action in August the following year and is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery near Ypres. Both are remembered on the war memorial in Seaton church. The third brother Lieutenant Thomas Northen was severely wounded in 1915, returned to the front line and received his Commission in 1916 and served through the whole of the campaign on the Western front.