I am currently undertaking research into the above named who was born on the 31 January 1910 at Bath Road, Itchen, Hampshire to Alfred John Horley and his wife Laura.
George married Winifred Aldridge in 1q 1935 in Southampton.
In 1939, he was living at 48 Bath Road, Southampton and worked as a builders labourer. He is also recorded as being a member of the ARP Demolition Party.
Following the outbreak of WW2, George enlisted in the army on 5 December 1940. On enlistment, he was posted to the 53rd Training Regiment and then on the 16 April 1941 to the 15th/19th Hussars at Tidworth. On the 20 March 1944, he passed his Trade test as a Gunner Mechanic. Together with the majority of his regiment, he embarked for North West Europe on the 14 August 1944.
" On 14th Sep'44 'A' Sqn, 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars was operating in support of 3rd Irish Guards in the bridgehead over the MEUSE-ESCAUT at Map. square 3487 (Map. ref. France & Belgium1/50,000 Sheet 26 7 36). Tpr. Horley was the gunner in the tank commanded by the Tp.Ldr. of 2nd Tp. During the course of the action when operating in very close country the turret of Tpr Horley's tank was hit and penetrated by a Bazooka and the Tp.Ldr. and operator were both severely wounded, Tpr. Horley, was wounded in the neck and chest and the wireless set was smashed. Despite his wounds and the fact that the was under close range small arms fire at the time Tpr. Horley helped to get his Tp. Ldr. out of the tank and carried him across an open space to the shelter of a house. He then again ran across the open under fire to his Sqn. Ldr's tank 100yds away and gave him information as to what had happened. this was of the greatest value as nobody else had been able to see what had fires at the tank. Tpr. Horley was evidently in considerable pain and collapsed on his Sqd. Ldrs tank."
Having been seriously wounded, George was admitted to 10 Casulty Clearing Station and then to St Hughes College Hospital in Oxford. Having recovered from his wounds, George was posted to the 1st Royal Gloucester Hussars on the 23 January 1945; he did not serve overseas again.
His papers state that on 1 October 1945 he was "Designated to S.A.D.E.". His discharge to the Army Reserve being on the 1 March 1946.
Unfortunately, the Southampton papers are not currently available and I was wondering if anyone who has access to a library in the area could check to see if anything about George winning the MM appears.
Any help would be most welcome.
Thanks
Mark
