George A Johnson

George A Johnson often know as Tony or Anthony,  enlisted with The Royal Artillery before joining the airborne forces. He was stationed in Cyprus in 1956 and then went on to serve in Suez. He was transported on the aircraft carrier Theseus. 

Born in Loughborough and spent all his life in Leicestershire his family home was in Woodhouse Eaves, (home of the old signal station Beaumanor Hall  or Garets Hey)After Tony married Annie in 1963, they lived in same village for about 24 years, before moving to small villages around and about that area.

He was at small schools before going to Loughborough Grammar school, where he was not a great academic, but enjoyed school and all sports being involved in cricket and rugby which he continued after school, being involved with the old boys rugby, golf etc.

Joined the CCF at school and got his ATC wings presented by Lord Rowallan was the Chief Scouts then at school speech day in November 1952. He also got a private pilots license and proudly told his family that he landed, or maybe crashed it in a corn field.

After  qualifying he worked at the family knitwear factory his Father made him start at the bottom and work through all the areas of manufacturing, so if told by any of the workers to do it himself. So making Anthony (as called in the factory as his father and uncle also worked there, so all known by Christian names to save confusion when George and Walter then his cousin David joined) so making him the sixth generation of Johnson in the business. It was a small hosiery factory in Loughborough employing about 300 people,  making lambs wool classic sweaters and school kids grey and navy v neck sweaters for M&S, John Lewis and others, also socks and some nylon stockings before they became tights for ladies. The family business was sold out in about 1970 to a company in Nottingham which married in with our garments like vest, pants etc. Tony stayed with them until he took early retirement as business was changing for him,  it was by then the beginning of technology rather than a gentleman’s handshake, and all getting a bit fast and vicious for him.

His interests were always sport ….skiing, golf he got down to quite a low handicap and held all sorts of positions on different committees,  also being one of the youngest Captains of the club. He loved his rugby and followed Leicester Tigers, in one of the villages where he lived.

Tony also loved his garden and growing veggies, and keeping his lawns all neat and tidy so much so one of our grandchildren didn’t say grandpa just suddenly called him “Mower”. That name stayed with him from about 1989 by his own kids and grandchildren, and even some friends. 

His wife Annie recalls how George loved his time with the service and followed the airborne forces with interest throughout his life via The Pegasus Journal. Tony made many pilgrimages to Arnhem and Normandy, and even met Mme Arlette at the Cafe Gondee.

Annie said that he never flew again after leaving the forces. He always used his car to take his family on their foreign holidays. Much the the amusement of his four children and nine grand children. Annie also recalls he used to tell us that he apparently lost his gun while sleeping on the canvas cover on top of the lorries during the transfer on the ship. Also he got into trouble for putting some cigarettes in the typewriter box on their return home.

George was in Hospital before he died and the family wanted him to be at home in his final days. As they transferred him on a trolley from the ambulance, one of his sons noticed that the name on the side of the trolley was written: 'Pegasus'. 

His coffin was covered in The Union Flag and his beret was placed on top. Annie requested that the florist create an arrangement made of vegetables instead of flowers, to reflect Tony's love of his garden. 

The profile picture is George A Johnson September 1956 in a  '3 tonner' at harbour  on exercise Lefkoniko, Cyprus.