Geoffrey George Noseley
Manager Kimberley and Eastwood branches of the Nottingham Savings Bank.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Geoffrey George was the son of George Edward Noseley and his wife Helen (née Tinkler).
His father George Edward, was born in 1879, the son of George Edward Roden and Harriet (née Thornhill m. 1869), and was baptised at Radford Christ Church in September 1879. His parents were then living at 40 Bloomsgrove Street, Radford.
George Edward and Helen (b. December 1883) were married on 6 December 1913 and had two sons, Geoffrey George b. 1 May 1916 and Alan L. b. August 1920. George Edward served in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War (see 'Extra information').
In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, George, a building contractor's general clerk, his wife Helen and their sons, Geoffrey, a branch bank manager, and Alan, a bank clerk, were living at 4 Sutton Passeys-crescent, Wollaton.
George Edward died in March 1944; he was still living at 4 Sutton Passeys-crescent. His widow, Helen, continued to live at the same address until her death in January 1981.
Their surviving son, Alan, married Ruby AFL Kerr in 1943 and probably had one child, Angela (b. 1946). Alan also served with the RAF in the war (see 'Extra information').
Geoffrey enlisted in the RAFVR in June 1940 having previously had flying training at Tollerton, Nottinghamshire, and after qualifying as a pilot served with 224 Squadron.
Previously a First World War RNAS/RAF squadron which was disbanded in May 1919, 224 Squadron was reformed in February 1936 as 224 Squadron. A Coastal Command squadron, it was initially a maritime reconnaissance squadron then from 1942 anti-submarine warfare. Initially flying Avro Ansons, these were replaced with Lockheed Hudsons in May 1939 and the squadron was operational with the new aircraft by August. Disbanded November 1947 but reformed in March 1948 (disbanded 1966).
Hudson AM698, 224 Squadron: 'aircraft failed to return from Stopper Patrol [anti-shipping patrol] off the coast of Brest, France, 8 January 1942. Crew: Flight Sergeant G C Williams, Flight Sergeant G G Noseley, Sergeant B A Mobberley, Sergeant E Upton and Sergeant P F Burn: missing believed killed.'
Geoffrey George and the other members of the crew, who were all RAFVR, are commemorated on the Runneymede Memorial (Burn - Panel 79, Mobberley - Panel 89, Noseley - Panel 75, Upton - Panel 95, Williams - Panel 76).
Geoffrey's father, George Edward Noseley, served with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. He enlisted on 20 March 1917, aged 37, civilan occupation contractor's managing clerk. He served as 67669 Corporal and transferred to the Air Force Reserve on 25 February 1919.
Geoffrey's brother, Alan, served in the RAF in the Second World War: Pilot Officer October 1942; Flying Officer April 1943; Flight Lieutenant October 1944. General Duties Branch.
CWGC Additional information: Son of George Edward and Helen Noseley, of Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, 28 August 1942: ‘Local Casualties. Nottm. Pilot Presumed Killed. Official notification has been received that Flight Sergeant Pilot Geoffrey Noseley, eldest son of Mr and Mrs GE Noseley of 4, Sutton Passeys-crescent, Wollaton Park, who was reported missing in January last, is now presumed killed. Prior to the war he was manager of the Kimberley and Eastwood branches of the Nottingham Savings Bank, and took up flying at Tollerton. He volunteered for the RAFVR as a pilot, joined up in June 1940, and gained his wings in six months. Posted to the Coastal Command, he served in the Battle of the Atlantic and the French ports, and was missing after a patrol over the Bay of Biscay.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 1 September 1942: ‘Wollaton Pilot’s Death. The photographs of Flight-Sergt. Geoffrey Noseley of 4, Sutton Passeys-crescent, Wollaton (left) who is presumed killed. [Also photograph of Bdr CB Walker, POW Italy]. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 January 1943: ‘Noseley. In loving memory of Geoffrey (Flight-Sergt., Pilot, RAFVR) missing January 8th, 1942, presumed killed. Sadly missed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
WMR 104916. Beeston, Broxtowe: Flight Sergeant GG Noseley. Addition to gravestone (cemetery/churchyard unspecified).
Additional research RF (Nov. 2025)
Photo of Geoffrey George Noseley
Nottingham Evening Post, 1 September 1942 (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of Geoffrey George Noseley
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial (www.cwgc.org)