George was born on 18th December 1888 in Kentish Town, London to Reuben Herbert, a Bricklayer, and Susanna Ann Treadwell (née Tranter). He had two older sisters, Amelia and Sarah, an older brother William, and a younger sister Edith. His parents lived at 3 Argyle Street, Tynemouth at the time of his death.
He attended Armstrong College between 1908 and 1910 where he trained to be a teacher, then South Western Polytechnic, Chelsea, where he took a diploma in Physical Training and Swedish Gymnastics. He then worked at South Western Polytechnic as a master of Physical Training and Gymnastics.
George's father Reuben, also served in the war. He was a Sapper with the Royal Engineers and enlisted in August 1917 after George's death. Reuben was discharged on the 14th February 1918 as he was over military age. He died at home three months later, aged 56, and is buried in Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery.
Before the war, George served for some time in the Army Service Corps (Territorials) and had volunteered for foreign service. He also joined the University Officers' Training Corps in August 1914. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment on the 9th September 1914. He was further promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th December and then Captain on the 3rd March 1915.
George served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Gallipoli from June 1915. He was invalided home in September 1915 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis. He underwent another operation at Southsea in February 1916. He re-joined his regiment in Mesopotamia in July 1916 and acted as second in Command of the battalion from January 1917. On the 18th May, George left his company and joined Headquarters Staff. George was killed in action aged 28 near Kut-el-Amara on 5th February 1917, while he was directing operations during an assault on an enemy strong post. He was posthumously gazetted Major for acting as second in Command of the battalion.
In a letter to his parents, George's Commanding Officer wrote: "I cannot tell you what a loss your son is to the regiment. Having fine soldierly qualities, and great energy and force of character, he was a splendid company leader and trainer of men. He was one of the best of those splendid types of officers that the new army has produced." George was also remembered by a senior officer who served with him during training in England, and afterwards in Gallipoli: "It was my fortune to have been close touch with him during all the time we served together, and I was very fond of him indeed. He was one of the best fellows, and an excellent companion. He was a very keen soldier, very conscientious in all his work, always ready to carry out anything he was asked; brave and fearless, and always to be depended on. He was one of the best officers of the New Army I have ever had the honour of meeting, and his death I consider a great loss to the Army and to the regiment."