George Leslie Bland

A Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, George died on 23rd of February 1941 at the age of 26.

George was a son of George Harry and Ethel Bland. George's father served in the Northamptonshire Regiment in the First World War and was killed in action on 22 October 1914. George was born at Colchester on 21 February 1915, some four months after his father's death. 

George married Ruth Mary Jenner at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 1 June 1937. At that time George was living in Norwich and working as an electrical engineer and Ruth lived at 119 Worthing Road. In 1939 George and Ruth, and their son, lived at 34A Glenmore Gardens, Norwich, and George was an engineer in charge at Rediffusion Radio Services. 

George was keen on aviation and he gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator's certificate at the Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club on 20 April 1939. For this he flew a De Haviland Gypsy 1 aircraft. George joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve soon after the war began.

As a skilled pilot George was selected to become a pilot-instructor and was attached to the 61 Air School of the South African Air Force. 

George accidentally drowned in Victoria Bay, South Africa. 

After the war Ruth lived at Oulton Broad.  

He was training at No 61 Air School, and drowned accidentally in Victoria Bay, his body being found three days later.  He is buried in George Cemetery. CREDIT:Malcolm Barrass