George Tansley was born and lived in Derbyshire. He enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Tansley successfully completed his parachute training and was posted to A Company, 156 Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. He took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Pte Tansley was killed in action on 25 September 1944, aged 29, and was given a field burial in an isolated grave in Oosterbeek, he was reinterred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 13 August 1945.