George Alfred Fox was born in West Hartlepool, County Durham to John and Amy fox on 1 June 1911. He had an older brother William.

He worked as a labourer before singing up, aged 18 with the Green Howards on 18 November 1929 for 7 years’ service plus 5 years in the Reserves. Based in the South of England at Aldershot, he attended a Preliminary Course in Physical Training and boxed for the battalion winning trophies for his bouts.

George married Edith, his childhood sweetheart on 29 July 1931 at the All Saint’s Church, Preston-on-Tees. He was discharged at Portland on 23 April 1936, his seven years regular service was up and described as ‘exemplary’ by his Commanding Officer.

He spent the next three years working for an engineering company and serving in the Reserves. He was recalled on 15 August 1939 and posted to the 303rd Infantry Training Centre due to his wealth of experience.

He was promoted to Colour Sergeant and became Company Quarter Master Sergeant for the 10th Battalion the Green Howards on 13 August 1941.

Promotion to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant came in June 1943 when his battalion became the 12th (Yorkshire) Battalion The Parachute Regiment. He didn’t have to be parachute qualified as he was part of the support force, but he applied and joined parachute course no.84 on 20 September 1943. Unfortunately, he had to be returned to unit due to sciatica.

He landed on the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944 to support the Battalion, following them through France and up into the Ardennes in late December to counter the German attack in the Battle of the Bulge, holding the line at Venlo.

He was Gazetted on 1 February 1945, receiving an M.B.E. and Mentioned in Dispatches for his actions in Normandy and returned to the UK on 22 February 1945.

George was killed on 24 March 1945 in Operation Varsity during the landing of his Horsa glider just outside Hamminkeln, aged 33. He was buried at Hamminkeln.

George’s wife and daughter collected his M.B.E. from the King at Buckingham Palace on 29 October 1946. Soon after on 11 November 1946, George was reburied in his final resting place at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, plot 42.A.7.

His citation in the London Gazette 1 February 1945 read:

“After the Battalion had had heavy casualties at BREVILLE on the night 12th/13th June 1944, R.Q.M.S. Fox arrived soon after the position was taken and on his own initiative brought up hot tea, ammunition and drinking water for very tired men despite the fact that a counter-attack was probably imminent. His efficiency and cheerfulness at a time when the Battalion was expecting a counter-attack was an example to all and had a steadying effect. When the Battalion withdrew to refit it was R.Q.M.S. Fox's efforts on re-equipping the Battalion which enabled the Battalion to be ready again for action, fully armed and equipped twenty-four hours afterwards. R.Q.M.S. Fox has been acting as Quartermaster of the Battalion since 15th June 1944, a post which he has carried out with extreme success. His organising powers have been of immense value in reorganising the Battalion.

Fox has exceptional organising ability and throughout the operations has been one of the main stays of the Battalion. His thoroughness and devotion to duty have been remarkable. He has taken endless pains to see that the administration of the Battalion has been of the highest order. Nothing has been too much trouble to provide for the troops in the front line, with the result that the task of re-organising the Battalion has been facilitated. His cheerfulness, thoroughness and devotion to duty have at all times been exceptional. 

He has been consistently brave under fire."