George Thomas Fitch

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

George Thomas Fitch was born on the 29th of March 1925, the son of William and Amy May Fitch (née Howard) who had married on the 8th of February 1914 in the West Ham registration district. William was working as a motor driver and they were living at 27 Vaughan Road, Stratford. He had served in the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport) in the First World War, enlisting in September 1916. He was posted to Baghdad for the duration and was transferred to the Reserve on the 19th April 1919.

Whilst he was away a son, William Charles Fitch, had been born on the 6th of March 1917 at West Ham. But sadly he died, aged 2 years in the March quarter of 1920. A few months later, a daughter, Christina May Fitch was born to William and Amy and baptised on the 30th of May 1920 in All Saints Church, West Ham, Essex.

The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921 shows the family still living at 27, Vaughan Road, with William Fitch as head of the household, working as a Motor Driver for L. Refray, Fruit Salesman, Stratford Market. But they were to suffer another loss as Christina died in January 1922.

George Thomas Fitch was born, as previously stated, on the 29th of March 1925 and he is seen for the first time on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939. But it shows that Amy Fitch and family had suffered another bereavement. William Fitch had died on the December quarter of 1938 in the Romford registration district, leaving Amy Fitch as head of the household on the 1939 National Register. She and George were living at 4, Torrens Road, Forest Gate, Newham, and had two lodgers. Amy was doing household duties and George was working as a Messenger, Retail Pharmacy.

In 1941, I believe that Amy Fitch married a Daniel W. Brown in the June quarter of that year. He had been living a couple of doors down from Amy but his wife had died in February 1941 and he and Amy got married. But they weren't married long as Daniel died on the 21st November 1942.

Sadly, I have no other information on George Fitch, neither his early or teen years, but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. He was serving in 30th MTB Flotilla on MTB 471, which had been commissioned on the 9th May 1944. On the night of 20/21st August MTB 471, MTB 476 and MTB 477 were in action against three R Boats and trawlers off Cap d’ Antifer. MTB 471 and MTB 476 suffered casualties and MTB 476 and MTB 477 were severely damaged. MTB 477 had to be towed back to base and the three R Boats were reported to be in difficulties and one was apparently sinking. Casualties in the Flotilla amounted to four killed, two missing and seven seriously wounded. George Fitch's body was either lost or buried at sea so he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing, Kent.

The news of the death of her only remaining child, George Fitch, must have been terrible, after losing so many family members, but Amy Brown, was to reach a good age, and died in the December quarter of 1983 in the Southend on Sea registration district at the age of 95 years.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of George Fitch. If you are aware of one, or you are related to George, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.

R Boats were small motor minesweepers used by the Kriegsmarine for both mine clearing and escort duties.