HITCHCOCK, George Albert

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Rank: 
Gunner
Unit / Base: 
1 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Artillery
Service: 
Army
Number: 
2050295
Died : 
Monday, September 25, 1944
Died on active service
Age: 
25
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Trincomalee War Cemetery
Gunner George Hitchcock died from gun shot wounds during a live ammunition firing exercise at Trincomalee, Ceylon. Son of George and Sarah Hitchcock; husband of Evelyn Hitchcock, of Woodlands, Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Extract from the No 1 Commando War Diary for September 1944
1000hrs, 25 Sept, at TRINCOMALEE  
All Officers and W.O's attend a demonstration based on U.S Marine Corps operations in the S.W. Pacific performed by No 5 tp and demonstration personnel of this unit, and two sub-sections from the Bde. Engr. Cdo. 
During the demonstration 2050295. Gnr.Hitchcock, G.A. (R.A. S/L) No 1 Cdo received fatal injuries from machine gun fire and died almost immediately.
0930hrs, 26 Sept. 
A military burial service was held and Gnr Hitchcock was buried at St. Stephen's Cemetery, Trincomalee.

Sources
CWGC
War Diary  No.1 Cdo, Sept.1944, National Archives file WO/218/63.
Issue 9 of the Third Jungle Book [see linked content below].

Notes
A week earlier in a similar live fire training exercise at Trincomalee an Officer and a Marine from 44RM Commando were wounded by mortar fire [more....].

Primary Roll of Honour: 
1 Commando Roll of Honour
Additional content: 
3 Cdo Bde Third Jungle Book issue 9
Archive pages : 
No 1 Commando

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