George Roland Baxter
Colliery Wagon Lowerer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of Richard and Florrie Baxter of Warsop. In 1921 the family lived at 5 Alexandrea Street, Warsop. Florrie died in 1936 and by 1939 Richard along with George and younger son Derrick were living at 7 Ridgeway Road, Warsop. His siblings were, Gwendoline 1909, Lily 1913, Leonard 1914 and Gladys 1922.
Baptised George Roland on Christmas Eve 1919 he seems to have been known as Roland. In 1940 Roland married Vera Hale and they had 2 daughters, Linda in 1940 and Maureen in late spring 1944 so she was, at the most only, a few weeks old when Roland died.
Vera remarried in 1951 to Alfred Ireland.
The 4th Bn of the Linconshire regiment was sent to France 8 days after D-Day on the 14th of June 1944. Roland was killed the next day.
The regiment after returning from Norway spent 2 years in Iceland training.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 3/8/1944: Cpl George Roland Baxter.
The sad news was received by Mrs Vera Baxter of 20 Victoria Street, Warsop that her husband Cpl George Roland Baxter was killed in action in Normandy on june 15th 1944. Cpl Baxter was the son of Mr R Baxter of Ridgeway Road, Warsop and had been in the forces since February 1940. He served for 2 and a half years in Iceland before going to France in the carrier service of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Cpl Baxter's worth may be estimated by the following extract from a letter received by Mrs Baxter from her husband's major;
"I knew your husband so well personally, and he leaves a gap which I am quite unable to fill. He stood out as an example of smartness and cheerfulness and had a fine sense of duty. I know you must feel proud of him as it is by his example and great sacrifice togather with that this unit has acheived a reputation next to none in the B.W.E.F."
Mrs Baxter has also received a letter of sympathy signed by 28 of her husband's comrades in arms. He leaves a widow and 2 children aged 3and a half and 4 months to mourn their great loss.
B.W.E.F. = British Western Europe Force.
Maureen may have been born in April so only a couple of months old when her father was killed.
No photos