GEORGE HENRY WHITMAN F.C.I.I.
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from the Evening Star – 5th May 1942.
Born: 1st June 1912, Ipswich.
Died: 30th April 1942; age: 29; aircraft crashed on take off.
And by a sad coincidence, the news of his death arrived on the day that his son was born.
Residence: 4, The Expanse, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Occupation: a Branch Accountant with the Phoenix Insurance Company.
George volunteered for the R.A.F. in June 1940, and soon obtained his pilot’s certificate and was assigned to the R.A.F.V.R.
Rank: Sergeant/Pilot; Service Number: 1378967.
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1st Section Aircraft Delivery Unit.
Grave Reference:
1.G.18.
Egypt.
Relatives Notified & Address: Only son of Arthur William & Minnie Whitman, of 784, Foxhall Road, Ipswich; husband of Muriel Florence Whitman, of Bridlington, Yorkshire.
Father: Arthur William Whitman, born December 1884, Ipswich. A Building Society’s Secretary.
Mother: Minnie Whitman (nee Norton), born March 1884, Ipswich.
Whitman family home – ‘Evica’ 784, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 4, St. Johns Road, Ipswich.
George was 9 years old. He attended School and lived with his parents and sister.
Arthur Whitman, 36 years & 6 months old, a Friendly Society Secretary – Loyal Commerce Lodge, Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.
Minnie Whitman, 37 years & 3 months old, Home Duties.
Florence Sarah Whitman, 7 years & 11 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
George was educated at Northgate School, and in 1927, passed the London University General Schools Examination. Two years later he entered the service of the Phoenix Insurance Company, at Ipswich, and in 1938, George was transferred to the Hull branch as their Branch Accountant. In 1939, he gained the Fellowship diploma of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Whilst in Ipswich, George took a keen interest in the local work of the Insurance Institute, and for some time acted as treasurer.
In 1939, in Bridlington, Yorkshire of East Riding, George married Muriel Florence Railton, born June 1912, in Hull, Yorkshire.
Muriel and George had one son – born the day Muriel received the news George had been killed.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939
George was an Insurance Clerk Accountant. He and Muriel were living at their family home – 4, The Expanse, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. Muriel was a Shorthand Typist. During the Second World War Muriel was a Red Cross Nurse – First Aid Post, Bridlington Corps.
Probate to Muriel Florence Whitman – widow.
30th April 1942
Aircraft: Bristol Blenheim MkIV; serial number: V5791. The aircraft crashed on take-off at Helwan airstrip, in Egypt, when attempting to avoid a lorry of troops crossing the runway. News of his death reached his family on the day his son was born.
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?7385-Lost-RAF-servicemen-of-Bridlington/page3
Aircraft information courtesy of John Allan.
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