Born: 08 Jul 1913
Died: 04 Apr 1998
Age at death: 84 years, 8 months, and 27 days

About: WOII Gatland MBE

George was the Company Sergeant Major of Support Company, 11th Parachute Battalion.
He enlisted in the Parachute Regiment coming from the Royal Artillery in 1943. After his parachute course No. 94 at Ringway near Manchester from 06 until 20 December 1943 he was assigned as the Company Sergeant Major to Support Company of 11th Parachute Battalion.

On Monday, September 18, 1944, he flew from Saltby airbase to Holland. As they flew over the Netherlands, German anti-aircraft fire intensified. The plane George was flying in was hit, and all occupants had to bail out. The pilot of the aircraft managed to make a successful emergency landing a few kilometers from the spot where George had landed. George was ordered by his officer, Captain King, to check if there were any survivors left on the plane. Upon arriving at the plane, George already saw German soldiers standing there. But he was seen by them as well. A firefight ensued, during which George killed one of the German soldiers. The German soldiers fled, and George reported back to Captain King.

With the help of Dutch resistance fighters, George and his men eventually managed to reach the British troops in Wolfheze. There they participated in the fighting at the Johannahoeve and in Wolfheze.

On Wednesday, September 20, George was hit by a German sniper and taken to the Medical Dressing Station Schoonoord in Oosterbeek. There, George was taken prisoner of war and assigned prisoner of war number 118867. George was held in four prisoner-of-war camps, the longest in Stalag VIIIC.