Name
George Pitkin
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1944
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
14603500
Royal Engineers
555 Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Geel War Cemetery
I.C.23.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
HE NOBLY ANSWERED DUTY'S CALL; HIS LIFE HE GAVE FOR ONE AND ALL
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Saviour's Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He was born in Hertfordshire and was resident in the county at the time he enlisted His Service Number was 14603500 and, at the time of his death, he was in the 555th Field Company Royal Engineers. This unit was part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division of XII Corps. He died of wounds in Northwest Europe.
This was during the Battle of the Nederrijn when the Division was on the left flank of the corridor leading to Arnhem. Heavy casualties were sustained by the Division whilst clearing the ground south of the Wilhelmina Canal, their toughest fight being at Wintelre west of Eindhoven which the Germans successfully defended for two days.
He is buried in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 23 in Geel Cemetery near Antwerp in Belgium.
He was the son of George and Anne Pitkin of Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Orders of Battle 1939-45’ by H.F. Joslen
