Major George Leslie Northcote

[Big Pete]

Hi again,

I'm looking for any info on Major George Leslie Northcote, 65177, died 06/08/1944 and is buried in Brouay France. He was,  I believe with the 1st Batt,  Manchesters.

I'm finding it harder to find anything other than the above.

Can anyone help please? I found info on his Dad Horace much easier to get.

Thanks

Pete

I have managed to find a picture of him. Its a family portrait taken in 1940.



George is the on the bottom left of the picture. His brother Douglas (Bottom right) was also with the Manchesters.

My Gran is in the middle. She will be 90 next year.

[Fritz Bayer]

From the Army Roll of Honour...

[Fritz Bayer]

...and (you'll probably already have this)..from CWGC...

[Fritz Bayer]

Involved in actions on the River Odon and (I think) Mont Pincon he was killed on the eve of the German counter-offensive.

The war diary can be found at kew under reference WO 171/1336

Dave.

[Big Pete]

Thank you so much, will have a look at that tonight.

Just ordered it from them.

Regards


Pete

[Wendi]

Hi Pete !

What a smashing photo, you must be very proud of them !!!

One of the reasons you are finding so hard to find info regarding George is that his records are not in the public domain.

All service records for personal who served in WW2 (not home guard) are held by the MOD, and are available to the service personal or their spouse for free.  Next of kin can obtain copies, for a fee of £30. Copy of a death certificate must also be supplied.

Further info and application forms can be obtained here.  http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

Wendi 

[Big Pete]

Hi Pete !

What a smashing photo, you must be very proud of them !!!

One of the reasons you are finding so hard to find info regarding George is that his records are not in the public domain.

All service records for personal who served in WW2 (not home guard) are held by the MOD, and are available to the service personal or their spouse for free.  Next of kin can obtain copies, for a fee of £30. Copy of a death certificate must also be supplied.

Further info and application forms can be obtained here.  http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

Wendi 

Its an amazing photo. We have a couple of others. Douglas Northcote (bottom right) will be 93 next year and still lives in Wilmslow. In this picture he is a Sargeant in another photo he is an officer. Which leads to more questions lol.

Then there is the youngest, Jack (back right) he joined the Airforce. When his Brothers and his father were in the Manchesters. Why did he do that? So many questions....

I have ordered from Kew the records for George, will post my results.

Thanks for the link Wendi

Regards

Pete

[Fritz Bayer]

I have ordered from Kew the records for George, will post my results.

I hope that you mean that you've ordered them from the MoD, Glasgow, Pete!!!

(PS. let me know what the national Archives quote you for the War Diary - WW2 diaries can be very detailed and can cost up to about £18 per month (depending on how many pages there are) in the cheapest format from their online service... I'm certain that someone who happened to be visiting there would be able to get you some high-res digital images of the pages for far less!!!)

Dave.

[Wendi]

... I'm certain that someone who happened to be visiting there would be able to get you some high-res digital images of the pages for far less!!!)

Good idea Dave 

Pete ask themonsstar 

Wendi 

PS.  War Diaries = Kew
       Service Records MOD Glasgow 

[Fritz Bayer]

Pete ask themonsstar 

...or if he is unavailable, then I'm quite certain that there are other members on here to whom Kew has become a sort of second home of late who may be able to help.

Dave.

[Big Pete]

Ah.....ok I followed your instructions and went for the record at Kew

Date of order:           28/11/2008 12:54:47
Transaction reference:         

Document(s)
        
Service type
        
Delivery time


Catalogue ref: WO 171/1336
Major George Leslie Northcote, service number 6517 ....
        Gold service (24 hours)         01 December 2008 17:00         

Have I done the wrong thing? Oh well its a learning curve I guess.

That's an excellent map Fritz, can't make head nor tail but at least I can hazzard a guess where he was.

Can I go in person to Glasgow, as I live in Aberdeen and will be down there for Christmas.

Thanks for all your friendly help, the amount I have learned in such a short space of time is amazing.

Regards

Pete
     

   

[Wendi]

...or if he is unavailable, then I'm quite certain that there are other members on here to whom Kew has become a sort of second home of late who may be able to help. ;)Dave.

Sorry Dave I'm a little slow on the uptake today 

Pete NO !!!!

you need to read the link I sent you & sort the application form out!  don't go there, they don't actually keep the records there, it's their admin place 

Wendi 

[Fritz Bayer]

Catalogue ref: WO 171/1336
Major George Leslie Northcote, service number 6517 ....

...and that WO reference is for the 1st Manchester's War Diary not the service records!

[Robert Bonner]

Extract from Bell's History of The Manchester Regiment, Regular Battalions 1922 - 1948:

     On 6 August the battalion suffered a grievous loss, for Major Northcote, the commanding officer of 'A' Company was killed when his jeep ran over a mine near Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay.  Major Northcote had served with the battalion since the beginning of the war and he was by everybody much respected and beloved.  He was indeed an officer whose exceptional qualities had excited the deep and lasting affection of which the British soldier is sometimes capable.  He is remembered as a gentleman who was sans peur et sans reproche and to this day his photograph is shown to recruits who are drafted to 'A' Company by NCOs who joined the Regiment after his death.

That really says it all.  Author Commander Bell was not given to writing so fully about any casualties.

Robert

[Big Pete]

Extract from Bell's History of The Manchester Regiment, Regular Battalions 1922 - 1948:

     On 6 August the battalion suffered a grievous loss, for Major Northcote, the commanding officer of 'A' Company was killed when his jeep ran over a mine near Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay.  Major Northcote had served with the battalion since the beginning of the war and he was by everybody much respected and beloved.  He was indeed an officer whose exceptional qualities had excited the deep and lasting affection of which the British soldier is sometimes capable.  He is remembered as a gentleman who was sans peur et sans reproche and to this day his photograph is shown to recruits who are drafted to 'A' Company by NCOs who joined the Regiment after his death.

That really says it all.  Author Commander Bell was not given to writing so fully about any casualties.

Robert

I'm lost for words.......thank you for posting that.

Kind regards

Pete