George Robert's Story.
George was born in Coppenhall, Crewe to parents Benjamin and Eliza Ann Brierley but before joining the army in 1939 he lived in Gosport, Hampshire with his wife Violet Brierley. He served with 1 Heavy Anti Aircraft (1HAA) Regiment Royal Artillery serving in France in 1940 before returning to England after Dunkirk where they were employed on home defence duty. In 1943 the regiment went to Sicily where they joined the 8th Army. After Sicily they travelled with the 8th Army to the Italian mainland where they supported the campaign against the Gothic Line in 1944 then the Senio River Campaign in 1945. As the Allies basically had total control of the skies by this time 1HAA used their AA guns as field artillery in support of the infantry.
3.7" Heavy AA gun being used as field artillery
On 22nd April 1945 George was killed in a road accident in Italy. He is buried at Faenza War Cemetery in Italy and is commemorated at St Michael’s Church in Coppenhall and on the Crewe War Memorial.
The Casualty Form detailing George's death
Crewe War Memorial
Coppenhall War Memorial