George Hadfield enlisted into the General Service Corps and was posted to The York and Lancaster Regiment.He volunteered for airborne forces and qualified as a military parachutist on course 152 which ran at RAF Ringway from 7 to 20 February 1945. The course reports states: ‘Pte Hadfield: Above av., confident & very willing & helpful.’

After training Private Hadfield was posted to 8 Platoon, C Company, The 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion and went on Operation Varsity (The Rhine Crossing) in March 1945.