George

GEORGE was born in Rusholme and then attended Parrs Wood School in Didsbury. He had one or two jobs before settling into insurance with a company based in Cheadle Hulme, located on Station Road near the local cinema. George was with the company at the outbreak of war.

On 19th March 1940 George arrived at the RAF's No. 1 Electrical and Wireless School in Cranwell, Lincolnshire. George is in the middle row, second from left.

After he had completed basic training he was posted to 229 Squadron as a Radio Telephony Operator for Air Field Control, at that time stationed at Speke Airport, Liverpool (Now John Lennon Airport but apparently still in Speke), with the rank of AC II and pay of two shillings per day - less stoppages.

The Squadron was ordered to the Far East, and it embarked at Liverpool in February 1941, equipped for that theatre of war. However, due to reasons beyond George's control, plans were changed to the effect that after 12 weeks on the high seas calling at Freetown where he stayed a few days, then to Durban for change of ship and a welcome 10 days stay, the squadron finally arriving at Suez in Egypt.

Not long after arriving, they moved up to join the Desert Air Force in the Western Desert in support of the Army's offensive against the Italians back across Libya. But then the Germans intervened and the Afrika Corp drove our forces back. The Squadron had to withdraw at very short notice, suffering casualties some of whom were George's comrades. There were Stuka attacks and contacts with  Panzer units. In this action George lost all his kit and had to walk for it. The Squadron later regrouped in lines to the rear.  

At this stage we come to the French Connection. George, who was now a sergeant, was posted in a liason capacity along with an RAF Officer and 6/7 other NCO's to the Free French Air Force's 'Alsace Squadron'. This Squadron was equipped with Hurricanes, and, except for the few D.A.F. (Desert Air Force) Personnel, was entirely a French outfit with a detachment of Lebanese Troops who performed guard duties and sundry other jobs on the camp.  

At Bir Hacheim - so aptly named 'the cauldron' - the Squadron was in support of the French Forces.  There were heavy losses of casualties and aircraft. During this time George was involved searching for pilots shot down in the action. The searches were done by going on sorties in trucks and also from the air in a Lysander scout plane. George took part in both. It was absurdly dangerous work. The Lysander was slow and carried no armament.  Bir Hiachem was under ferocious ground siege by Afrika Korps forces with overwhelming superiority in numbers and equipment.  Despite the odds, the garrison held out. George's squadron dropped back through El Alamein, to Cairo where it was to prepare to return to the U.K. minus of course the D.A.F. personnel, in readiness for the 'D' Day landings (It continued to fight with great distinction.  A leading pilot was Georges Clostermann, whose memoirs are one of the finest accounts of the air war to be written). Prior to the Battle of El Alamein General De Gaulle inspected the Squadron at a full ceremonial parade, including the Lebanese troops, but not the D.A.F. However George and his colleagues were later presented to the General, and after exchange of salutes, were honoured by a handshake from the great man himself.  

George next found himself at a Desert Air Force station near Alexandra by Lake Edcu. It was here that a German fighter plane, with smoke pouring from it, came slowly in to land. As the German pilot got out of the plane he enquired in excellent English "Where the hell am I?". He was told and then said "I could do with a drink". He was then escorted to the mess.  

A photograph taken by George during a night time Air Raid on a forward base where he was stationed.  The white lines and dots are tracer and flak explosions from ground Anti-Aircraft positions.

Later George was posted to 294 Squadron and early in 1945 the Squadron was moved to the Turkish border because of the possibility that Turkey were entering the war on the side of the Allies. But it did not happen and George returned to Cairo.

On 2nd May 1945 George sailed to the U.K. for some well earned leave. But this was short lived for, soon after he was sent overseas on active service again. Where? Would you believe it - to the Isle of Man.

Demob came for George on 13th March 1946; six years service almost to the day. He was married in 1947. He has two daughters and - up to now - one grandson. After demob, George was employed by a local Engineering/Steel Company in the Shipping/Export Department. He later became responsible for all the company's shipping business.

 Since 1949 George, as one of his hobbies, has served in the Ticket Office at Manchester City's ground and contributed to the arrangements for groups to visit the ground on conducted tours. Eventually, he hung up his boots on the 6th December 1991, after 42 years, 2  FA Cups, a League Championship and European cup Winners Cup (and that's if you just count the post-war cabinet trophies...). City players and Managers have come and gone, George has seen them all. Their wages have, on the whole, gone up more rapidly than his pension.  Yet he reserves consternation and mild disapproval only for the "Computers and Things" now installed in the ticket office. To mark George's retirement the Club put on a surprise party for him. He was lead to a room on the pretext of being taken for a quiet drink with a Director. On opening the door he was overwhelmed to see a gathering of directors, management and players all waiting to wish him a happy retirement.

 George was presented with a carriage clock from the Manager, Peter Reid and the players. He was then presented with a silver tankard, also suitably inscribed, from Manchester City Football Club. George said that the occasion would be remembered as one of the most pleasurable moments of his life.

 Now 88 years of age, George continues to take pride in his turnout and retains a remarkable mental acuity, particularly evident during the Association Raffles.  He leads the Remembrance Sunday parade at a pace that would do credit to the Light Infantry.  And when he reads the Exhortation at Church, the quiet and effortless authority of his voice is as clear today as it was sixty years ago.     

 As well as being a founder member of the Branch, George has acted as one of the auditors. He is a regular attender at meetings and an invaluable member of our Association.