George Hugh Cleal was born on December 15, 1894, in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was the son of Joseph Pacy Cleal and Margaret Robertson "Maggie" McDonald Cleal. His family immigrated to Canada in 1906. He graduated from the University of Toronto Schools and later worked for the Western Insurance Company. He served in the 15th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment), as a Private during World War I.

Pvt Cleal was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres on April 24, 1915, reportedly due to gas poisoning during a German attack. A letter from a British soldier stated that George had been buried and marked with a cross by moonlight, but that grave was later lost, and he is now commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Panel #24 in Ypres, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium.

Source of information: canadiangreatwarproject.com