Pte George Charles Reid 14692314

7th Battalion Green Howards

Summary

Born in Walsall, Staffordshire (now West Midlands) in 1924. He was working as a slaughterman when he enlisted. By July 1944 he was serving with 7th Battalion Green Howards. He was captured near Orbois in Normandy on the 27th of July 1944 with Pte P D White. Taken to Stalag VIII-B, he suffered the privations of “the Long March” in early 1945, before being liberated. Returning to Walsall be became a butcher, later moving to Bridgnorth where he died in 2013.

[See the signature – click on the images to enlarge them]

Early Life

George Charles Reid junior was born in Walsall, Staffordshire (now West Midlands), on the 9th of November 1924 the second of seven siblings (the last born in 1943). In Kelly’s Trade Directory of 1932 Reid’s father was listed as a tobacconist at the family address in Alexandra Road, though on the 1939 Register he is recorded as some sort of machinist (it is a little unclear and the second word is cut off on the Ancestry capture of the image).

After the war that area of Walsall was extensively redeveloped though the street names retained.

On the 1939 Register Reid is described as an errand boy, in 1945 he gives his peace-time occupation as slaughter man.

Service Life

On his returning PoW form Reid states that he enlisted on the 16th of December 1944 which is obviously incorrect -1943 perhaps. His service number is 1942 or later and he would have had initial training with the General Service Corps. It is not clear when he joined the Green Howards.

[See Regimental Badge – Green Howards]

The 7th Battalion Green Howards had reformed in 1938, were involved in the B.E.F. of 1940 and, though not intended for front-line duty at that point, were caught up in the fighting around Arras before retreating to Dunkirk. They later saw action in Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and North Africa and Sicily with the 8th army before being recalled to Britain in 1943.

Time in Normandy

On D Day the Battalion landed on Gold beach advancing on Ver-sur-Mer liaising with the 6th Battalion. The Green Howards had the distinction of penetrating the farthest into France of any unit that day (7 miles for the 6th Battalion) the 7th consolidating North of Coulombs. On June the 7th the Battalion moved towards Brouary around which the fighting ebbed and flowed for several days, followed by a period of consolidation. Then a move to Bayeux to regroup before a push through La Belle Epine. Re-enforcements arrived 21st June (from an article re Reginald Robert Smith killed on 12th of August). Eventually reaching the Longraye area near the end of the month. Again, a period of consolidation as other units pressed on.

Reid was captured with White on the 27th of July near Orbois. The war diary states that a patrol led by Sgt Laing came under fire as they went into a wood. Half of the patrol got back to their own lines but four, thought to be wounded, were posted missing. Two of the four had been killed and they were buried close by (later reburied in Tilly-sur- Seulles War Cemetery).

[See Reid/White Capture or to blog post or both]

PoW Life

We can only speculate on the route Reid was taken to Stalag XII-B Limburg, but it is likely that after “The Shed” it was via Alencon and Chartres as related by Willen [Link to journey to prison camp]. Then Chalons-sur-Marne to Limburg which was used as a processing centre for army personnel. He arrived there in August becoming PoW Number 83099 and was shipped out in September to Stalag VIII-B, Teschen. In October he was assigned to the workcamp at Hindenburg (E902). This was a coalmine.

In January 1945, the inmates were marched out of here away from the advancing Russians spending many weeks on the road in what was the coldest winter of the century. On his returning PoW form, he states that he escaped from the column in what was then Czechoslovakia but was picked up after two days and returned to the line after a week, having been well treated during that time.

The trauma of the March was something that Reid mentions on his returning PoW form, and it was a topic he returned to frequently in later years according to his widow.

[See Returning PoW Questionnaire Pte GC Reid]