The son of Charles and Emily Leary, George was born in Wolverhampton in 1896. In 1901, they were living at Stubbs Lane, Penn, along with George’s siblings Charles and Agnes. His mother died in 1904, so by 1911, he was living with his widowed father at 7 Lewis Street, Wolverhampton, along with an additional brother, Albert. George was working as a horse driver for a hay and straw merchant.
George enlisted in the 7th Service Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 10442). He was killed in action in France on 21 November 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Wolverhampton's War 