Sergeant George Harwood

George Harwood was born on 13 March 1925. He enlisted in East Suffolk Reg/Corps

He signed up again in Warley 2 years later to GSC from 1 July 1943 to 11 July 1943. From 19 August 1943 to 3 November 1943 he was part of the East Yorks Reg. After completing Para training he became a member of the AAC from 4/11/43 to 16/10/47

He was also given a small silver cup for saving a local lad from drowning. 

Private George "Rags" Harwood served with the 5 Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment  on 4 February 1941 after 3 months they discovered he’d lied about his age and on 17 May 1941 he was released. George then volunteered for the airborne forces. He completed Parachute Course 94/95 in December 1943.

George was then posted to the 10 Parachute Battalion (10th Para Bn). He served with 18 Platoon, D Company, 10th Para Bn and was listed as Bren Light Machine gunner. 10th Para Bn was deployed on Operation Market Garden at Arnhem. The Battalion jumped on 18 September 1944 during the second lift into Arnhem. Under heavy German fire, the Battalion fought to virtual annihilation in the besieged Oosterbeek on the 1st Airborne Division’s Perimeter.

George was taken prisoner shortly after. His PoW and camp number are unknown. When his PoW camp was liberated, Pte Harwood returned to the UK and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was then posted to 2nd Parachute Battalion, The Parachute Regiment in Wiltshire prior to being demobbed. He was awarded an MID recorded on 8 May 1945 in The London Gazette. 

On 30 June 1946 he was promoted to Sgt.

On 16 July 1947 his release certificate testimonial reads as follows…. "Sgt Harwood has served in HM Forces for four years, almost entirely, the whole of this time he has served with the Parachute Regiment. He saw active service at Arnhem and subsequently became a prisoner of war. He has been employed for the most part in a rifle platoon and has held his present rank for a year.

Sgt Harwood has very considerable powers of leadership and the ability to get the best out of, and inspire confidence in, his subordinates.

He is smart, punctual, reliable, intelligent and not afraid of using his initiative. I do not hesitate to recommend Sgt Harwood for civilian employment requiring responsibility, initiative & resourcefulness."

After his release, George lived every day to the fullest and married Winnie, the love of his life on 11 September 1954, they had one Son and one daughter. He was a keen gardener and extremely creative, building all sorts from a heart shaped paddling pool to a trio of fish ponds and a summer house. In the early 60s he began taking his family to Benidorm every year. 

He died of cancer on 15 August 1979

George is mentioned on page 61 of the book "The Tenth - a record of The 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment" and he is listed on the 10th Bn nominal roll in "Desert Rise - Arnhem Descent" by Martin Peters & Niall Cherry.