George Roy Skevington
He was a motor mechanic, Midland General Bus Company, Underwood garage.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George Roy was the fifth son and youngest child of James and Elizabeth ( Lizzie) Ann Skevington (née Green).
His father was born in Selston on 3 May 1866 and his mother on 26 February 1869 in Basford, although both her parents, John and Elizabeth Green, were born in Selston.
James and Lizzie were married at Selston St Helen's on 14 April 1892 and had seven children who were born in Selston: John William Leivers (Leivers) b. 1893 JAS, Elizabeth Hilda b. 1895, Harold Joseph (Joseph) b. December 1897 (reg. 1898 JFM), Reginald Baden P. (Baden) b. 1900, Sarah Annie b. 1904, James Massey b. 1907 and George Roy b. 18 January 1917.
James and his wife lived in Selston all their married life and he worked as a miner until retirement.
The couple were living in Inkerman, Selston, in 1901 but had moved to Hanstubbin, Selston, by 1911 and were still living in Selston on Inkerman Road, in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled; by this date James had retired. Only their youngest son George, a motor mechanic, was still living at home, but their grandson, Eric Joseph Skevington (b. 1916), the son of Leivers and Charlotte (née Gothard m. 1916), a colliery clerk, was also in the household.
James Skevington snr. died aged 75 in 1942 (reg. AMJ Basford) and his widow Lizzie Annie in
1957 (reg. OND Basford aged 88.
John William Leivers, a coal miner hewer, his wife Charlotte and their daughter, Ivy (b. 1920), had moved from Selston and were living in Askham, near Doncaster, by 1939. Charlotte died in 1942 aged 43; her husband has not yet been traced after 1939.
Elizabeth Hilda married George Bacon, a miner hewer, in November 1915 and in 1939 they were living at Mexboro Villas, Mansfield Road, Selston, with their children Edna (b. 1918), an insurance clerk, and George (b. 1923) an iron fettler. Elizabeth died in 1984.
Harold Joseph, a coal hewer, married Emma Green in 1935 and they were living in Hanstubbin, Selston, in 1939 (plus 1 closed record). He died in 1976 (registered Mansfield).
Reginald Baden married Gladys Brundenell in 1924. Reginald, a chief salesman (colliery), and his wife were living in Basford, Nottingham, in 1939 (plus two closed records) but they had returned to live in Selston by the time of his death in 1961. Gladys survived him.
Sarah Annie married Joseph Dawes in 1928 and the couple were recorded in Southwell in 1939 (plus two closed records); James worked at a colliery as a boiler fireman 'above ground'. Sarah died in 1968 (death registered Southwell).
James Massey, a coal miner hewer, married Sarah Dawes in 1931 and they were living in Basford in 1939 with their daughter, Lorna (b. 1931). James died in 1999 (registered Mansfield).
George Roy Skevington RAFVR served with No. 256 Squadron (Fighter Command) based at Squires Gate, Lancashire.
He was killed on 23 April 1941 by a stray bullet fired from the turret of a Defiant from the same unit.
George was buried in Selston St Helen's churchyard on 28 April (grave ref. Sec. B. Grave 360).
George Roy's nephew, Eric Joseph (Joseph) Skevington (b. 1916), the son of George's older brother John William Leivers and his wife Charlotte, enlisted in the TA on 14 October 1939. He was a shorthand typist clerk and worked at a colliery. He was posted in April 1940 and was discharged in the rank of Corporal on 16 March 1946. Service record: Home 13 October 1939-25 November 1942, 3y 45d. North Africa 26 November 1942-8 December 1944, 2y13d. Home 9 December 1944-16 October 1945, 7d. BAOR 17 October 1945-22 December 1945, 83d. Home 23 December 1945-15 March 1945, 83d. He qualified for the Africa Star. Joseph had married Mildred Horsley on 13 April 1940 at Belper Register Office; she died on 22 November 1944 while he was serving with the British Army on the Rhine (granted compassionate leave).
CWGC Additional information: Son of James and Lizzie Ann Skevington, of Selston.
Nottingham Journal, 28 April 1941: ‘Selston Parents Bereaved. The news of the death of their son, Mr George Skevington, through an accident at a West Coast town has reached Mr and Mrs James Skevington, of Inkerman-road, Selston. Aged 24, Mr George Skevington was, before he joined the Services, engaged as a motor mechanic at the Underwood garage of the Midland General Bus Co.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 29 April 1941: ‘Aircraftsman’s Funeral At Selston. The funeral service took place yesterday of AC G.R. Skevington at Selston Parish Church. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and Mr T Young sounded the 'Last Post’ at the graveside. Representatives of the Selston Home Guard were present.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Journal, 30 April 1941 (photograph): ‘Selston Airman Buried. The 'Last Post’ was sounded over the grave of Aircraftman George Roy Skevington at his funeral at Selston Parish Church. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and nearly 40 wreaths were sent.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 30 April 1941: ‘Mr and Mrs James Skevington and Family (Selston), wish to express their thanks and appreciation for the many kindnesses show towards them in their overwhelming loss and also for the numerous floral tributes.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Journal, 15 April 1942: ‘Selston Golden Wedding. Mr and Mrs James Skevington, who live at Inkerman-road, Selston, celebrated their golden wedding to-day. Mrs Skevington, was formerly Miss Elizabeth A Green, and the wedding took place at Selston Parish Church. Mr Skevington, who is 76 – his wife is a year younger – spent most of his working life in the mines. They have four sons and two daughters. A fifth son was killed recently whilst serving in the RAF. There are eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of George Roy Skevington
Photograph published in the Nottingham Journal, 30 April 1941 (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)