No. ?, Rank ?, George Ernest ROSE
Aged 28
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Much of what follows here is from the book by Robin Sharp - "Valiant Hearts", but efforts are being made to find the missing details, such as his service
number and discharge papers. The medals shown are based on his service on HMS Southampton.
George Ernest Rose was born in Drinkstone on 30th December 1918 (1st qtr 1919 Stow 4a:1205), son of Philip Walter and Alice Mary ROSE (née SMITH). He was the middle of 3 brothers. His mother was a Rattlesden girl. George entered Drinkstone School in 1923. Their house, once 5 Council Houses, Gedding Road, is now Number 16 Gedding Road. This is where the family were for the 1939 Register His father Philip Walter ROSE (senr) farm labourer [3-11-1881], his mother Alice M.[4-7-1891]; Philip W junior [30-3-1917, James N.[28-6-1921]. Also there was Arthur N.CLAISSE [20-10-1928] (possibly an evacuee?) There is one closed record. |
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George enlisted in 1937. He was serving on HMS Southampton, a light cruiser, when, laying at anchor off Rosyth on 16th October 1939,
she was hit by German bombers. Fortunately only minor damage was caused and she was quickly repaired and back on
duty. One such duty was involvement in the Norwegian campaign at Narvik in 1940. Then in November 1941 she moved to the
Mediterranean, escorting convoys to Malta. Following a convoy escort to Durban, South Africa, she returned to the Mediterranean and
on the 11th January 194 she was escorting convoy 'Excess' and was SE of Malta when hit by two delayed action bombs. The damage was too
extensive for repair, especially while under air attack. The survivors were taken off and she was abandoned and sunk by torpedoes from
HMS Gloucester and HMS Orion.
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George's nephew Walter said that George was taken to a military hospital in Alexandria. Unable to return to UK, he spent two years
convalescing in Durban before returning home. He had a shattered left arm and had conracted T.B. Local newspaper reports said that he
had 20 operations to remove shrapnel. He lived in a wooden hut in the garden of 5 Council House, Gedding Road which was on a turn-table
so that it could be turned to always face the sun.
He died due to tuberculosis and is buried in an unmarked grave in All Saints Curchyard, believed to be in the eastern part.
photo by courtesy of his nephew Nigel Rose
photo C.W.G.C.
He has not been recocognised by C.W.G.C.