George David Adsett

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. The letters to Major Parry are courtesy of Paradata.org.uk

George David Adsett was born circa 1923, the son of Charles & Ellen Kate Adsett (née Wakeford), who had married on the 22nd of December 1900 in the Parish Church at Pulborough, Sussex.

Charles and Ellen Adsett

Both families came from a long line of agricultural workers and shepherds in Sussex. Charles & Elle Kate Adsett were to have six children, so George Adsett would have grown up in a large family, most were to carry on the tradition of working on the land. They would have been devasted at his loss.

We can follow the censuses from 1901 to 1921 seeing the family growing and in the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, we see they were living at Rookery Cottage, Nyetimber, Chichester, Sussex.

Sadly, I have no information on George David Adsett, neither his early or teen years, but he must have either enlisted early in the war as soon as he could or was conscripted. The casualty list tell us that George David Adsett was missing on the 6th of June 1944 but was then reported as Killed in Action.

We have discovered letters George's father wrote to Major Parry after he was posted missing in action. Unfortunately we don't have copies of the letters Major Parry wrote but we get an idea of what was said in them based on his reply. The first letter he sent was on 15th July 1944.

Dear Sir
In reply to your most kind letter, which we was (sic) very pleased to get, and to learn the news of my Son, George, thanking you so much for all you have done, in trying to find him. As yet we have not had news of him from the "Red Cross", but as soon as we hear, I shall most definitely inform you at once. Thanking you once again for all your kindness.
Wishing yourself the very Best
From yours sincerely
C. Adsett (Mr)

George's father sent a second letter to Major Parry on 24 July 1944.

Dear Major Parry
In reply to your most kind letter, and we thank you so much indeed, for writing and letting us know about my Son George, and for the very kind message you wrote on his behalf.
The news about George, being Posted Missing, came to us as a great Shock, as we didn’t know, that he was such, not before Receiving your letter, and we hope with all our Hearts that George is safe and well. And to you, “Major Parry”, we thank you at the Bottom of our Hearts, for all you have done for him, and for trying to find him. and we will most definitely let you know. as soon as we hear from the “Red Cross”. George has always spoken of you, of being a very Good Master, and was always so very eager to get back with you, when his time was up, to go back off leave, to carry on his Duties and if my Son have been taken Prisoner, which we think, and hope, that he is, I am most sure, that he is very conscious, to get free, and to get back with you to carry on until the End, we are all very Sorry, that he has left you, and quite understand your feelings towards him. I speak of George as my Son, as I took him, when he was a very small Baby, and has been with Me all the time, until he entered the Army, so we do hope that he is safe, and again Sir, I will say, “thanks for all your Kindness”.

Wishing yourself Sir, and your Men, the very Best of Luck, and a safe Return.
Sincerely yours
C. Aslett

This letter alludes to a bit more about his past as it suggest that he may have been adopted as his father refers to him taking him as a very small baby.

It would take almost a year for his death to be oficially recognised as his body was never found. He is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial to the Missing.