Douglas Joseph Geere was born in 1894 in Forest Gate. He was the eldest son of Thomas Henry (a timber merchant) and Dorothy Tickell Geere. In 1901 Douglas was living with his family at 104 Windsor Road East Ham. By 1911 Douglas was a pupil at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, and is recorded living there in the census. He was keen member of the Cadet Corps. At this time his family had moved to Keswick Mornington Road Woodford Green. It was still the family home in the 1940s, before becoming part of St Mary’s Convent School. The modern Keswick House Block of Trinity High School now occupies the site of the old house, but the tree lined drive remains.
Douglas became a Student of electrical engineering at the City and Guilds College of Imperial College Kensington. After war broke out he left his studies and obtained a Commission in the Royal Field Artillery, arriving in France on 9th September 1915.
On 23rd February 1916 Douglas was with his Brigade near Loos, France. A German shell landed close to his position, injuring him and some of his Gunners who were a little further away. Geere moved forward in an attempt to bring them to safety, but before he could do so a second shell landed, killing him and two of those he was trying to help.
On Wednesday 11th September 1918 a memorial window for him in the West window of the North aisle at All Saints Church was dedicated by the Vicar in the presence of his family and friends.
Research by Adrian Lee
Douglas' father left a legacy of £10,000 to Marlborough College, Whiltshire, in memory of his son which was used to provide a running track at the school. The memorial to Douglas is by the side of the track.
Additional details submitted by a family member in May 2017.
Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com