Geoff Green 1945

Geoff Green was born, the youngest of 5 sons and 2 daughters of Albert 'Bertie' Green and Emily Wright. He married Violet Edith Mole 15 Oct 1938 at West Mersea Parish Church. He was a grocer, living at Co-op Cottage in Kingsland Road.

In WW2, Geoff joined the 2/5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, who served in Palestine/Iraq between 15th June 1942 and the 30th June 1942. The 2/5th Battalion were a Territorial Unit drawn predominately from rural areas in East & North Essex. Subsequently, they fought in the Battle of Deir-El-Shein 1 July 1942.

The Battle of Deir-El-Shein on the 1 July 1942, in which the 2/5th Battalion, The Essex Regiment, fought with particular distinction, marked the turning point of the desert campaign in that year. The actions of the 2/5th were recognized by the award of a Battle Honour to the Essex Regiment. The German forces had forced a general withdrawal of the Allied forces, and they stopped here to stand and fight at what was to become known as the Alamein Line. Short of supplies, the Battalion converted a piece of bare desert into a reasonably defended locality. On the 1st July, a hot and very unpleasant day, the Battalion put up a stout fight all day against overwhelming odds. However, the whole Brigade was eventually overrun after stalwart resistance.

The remnants of the Battalion were captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in captivity.
Geoff was initially reported missing and then 12 Nov 1942 reported to be a Prisoner of War. In 1943 he was in Prison Camp PG53 Sforzacosta, but by September was in PG133/19. PG133 had many sites, mainly farms, but PG133/19 Grignasco is listed as being a stone quarry.
See www.alleatiinitalia.it/en/camps and www.pegasusarchive.org.

Relations with the local Italian 'employers' were often good. Italy surrendered 8 September 1943 and on 11th the camp was abandoned. With the help of the local Italians, many prisoners were able to escape and avoid the Germans, and on 21 September 1943 Geoff reached Switzerland. By 20 October 1944 he was back in the UK.

Returning to normal life in Mersea, Violet and Geoff had a daughter Janyce in 1949. He was a volunteer Fireman with West Mersea Fire Brigade. Geoff retired as Branch Grocery Manager at West Mersea Cooperative. He died March 2006.

Other local men at Deir-el-Shein:
John Dixon. With Geoff when they signed up, were captured, and PoWs in Grignasco. See WW2_FJD
Henry Nesmyth, who lived in The Lane West Mersea, was killed 1 July 1942. See WW2_NSM
Stanley Victor Neville of Langenhoe was captured and went to a German Prisoner of War Camp. He died 25 December 1944 as a result of Allied Bombing on the factory where he was being forced to work.
See NEVILLE Stanley Victor (PDF file opens in a new window).

Thanks to
Ann Ward
Carol Wyatt

More on World War 2