George William Grayson

A photograph was first shared with the Trust following research by the 11th Armoured Division Facebook Group and its Black Bull Research Team. This story and photos have been updated by Norma Grayson, daughter-in-law of George Grayson.

Remembering George William Grayson, Killed in Action, 19 July 1944.

This is the history of Rifleman 6922215 George William Grayson, who was the father of my late husband, Geoffrey George Grayson, so he would have been my father-in-law.
George was born on 12th September 1910, at 12 First Avenue, Mortlake, London SW14; the third child and only son of George and Annie Grayson.

Following a Grayson family tradition, George joined the Mortlake Sea Scouts, where he was known as “Noisy” because he was so quiet. After leaving school, he worked as a Compositor on the Barnes and Mortlake Herald.

He married Patricia Mary Lee at St. Paul's Church, Hammersmith, on the 15th August 1936.

At the outbreak of war, he wanted to join the Navy but was turned down on medical grounds, as he suffered from a hernia. The Navy deemed him unfit because if the ship was sunk, he would not be able to swim for any great distance or survive.

However, he later received his call-up papers and was conscripted into the Army. Below are the dates of his services supplied by the Ministry of Defence.

• Enlisted in the London Rifle Brigade as Rifleman 6922215     14th August 1941
• Posted to 2nd Battalion                                                                  22nd October 1941
• Posted to 8th Battalion                                                                   6th March 1942
• Embarked for North West Europe                                                9th June 1944
• Killed in Action                                                                              19th July 1944

We have a couple of photos which show George with his carrier group.

George sits 1^st left in the back row

George is on the left carrier at the back left.

 

My husband never met his father, but we’ve managed to learn a little about George’s time in Normandy.

George was part of G Company, which left Aldershot on 8th June 1944 and embarked on 10th June 1944.  They lay off the Thames Estuary until the 12th June, and after sailing over to Normandy, they lay at anchor on the 13th June.

On the 14th June, the Company disembarked and became engaged in the battle for Normandy.

Looking through our family’s history, we found a letter from Major. G.N Bell, in which he wrote that on the 19th July, during the battle around Caen, G Company attacked and took the village of Hubert Folie.

During this attack, George was wounded. He was put into a carrier and driven back to a First Aid Post and Dressing Station. The carrier then came under heavy shell fire, and unfortunately, George was killed.

However, it would be some months before his wife knew. At first, she believed he had been wounded as an article about him was published in the Richmond Herald of 3^rd September 1944 with the headline that he was believed to be a prisoner.

Source: Richmond Herald, 02 September 1944

 

Major Bell had written to her in August to tell her the news, but it appears the letter never arrived. He wrote a second letter to explain what had happened when he found out she did not know that George had been killed.

 

She did not get the official notification until December 1944.

From one of his last letters home, dated 11th July 1944, we found that George knew that his wife might be pregnant.

Unfortunately, George never got to meet his only child, his son Geoffrey George Grayson, who was born on 10th February 1945.

George is buried in the Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, Normandy. A temporary cross was placed in his grave until it was replaced by the CWGC headstone. The family had the following personal inscription carved onto it: God must have a beautiful garden, for he only takes the best.

Family History.
The Grayson family represents three generations of service.

Son - Geoffrey George Grayson 10th February 1945 – 13th February 2021
Served in the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy

Grandchildren

Ian Grayson 30th May 1966 – 22nd December 2019
Served as a Musician in the Royal Air Force
Elizabeth Grayson 8th May 1968 –
Served as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller in the Royal Air Force

My late husband, our children, our grandchildren, and I have visited George’s grave on several occasions.

L-R George’s son, Geoffrey and grandson, Ian

 

Geoffrey was delighted when the British Normandy Memorial was proposed and hoped to visit on our next trip to Normandy. Unfortunately, he died before that was possible.

In 2025, my daughter and I made a special trip to the British Normandy Memorial, and together with the Standing with Giants installation, we felt it was a dignified and fitting tribute to all who lost their lives in the Battle of Normandy.

Column on which George Grayson is commemorated on the British Normandy Memorial