The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

Three: Major J. L. George, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, late Essex and Lincolnshire Regiments, twice wounded in action

1914-15 Star (2636 Pte., Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) good very fine (3) £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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John Leslie George was born on 9 May 1895. As a Private in the 1/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 1 March 1915. He was wounded with a gun shot to the head on 13 October 1915 whilst taking part in the charge on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Returning to England he was commissioned into the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment on 25 October 1916. Returning to France with the 7th, attached 9th Battalion Essex Regiment in October 1916, he received a bayonet wound to his side on 17 July 1917. George returned to England in January 1918 and was attached to the 2/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry and was engaged in army training. Promoted to Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion Essex Regiment in April 1918.

After the war, George fought the Louth Parliamentary by-election as a Labour candidate in 1921 but lost, coming third to the Liberals. Later he became a trade union worker for the Eastern Counties, a magistrate and County Councillor for Soke on Peterborough.

With the onset of the Second World War, George was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (London Gazette 9 July 1940). He served with 250 Company A.M.P.C. from February 1941 and was made officer commanding in April. In August 1941 he was appointed substantive Captain and Temporary Major. He served in Europe with 250 Company from 8 June 1944 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 March 1945). Major George was released from service in June 1946. With copied service notes and other research including newspaper extracts.