4 Thursday, September 24, 2009 www.whitehaven-news.co.uk Cleato
Cleator Moor's first and
� tribute to George Gillb
THIS month marks the 70th
anniversary of the start of
the Second World War.
In cities, towns and vil-
lages across Europe, millions
of people were mobilising to
take part in one of the blood-
iest conflicts the world had
even seen.
Although still haunted by
the horrors and decimated
generation of World War I,
no-one could ignore the
threat Hitler and his Nazis
posed.
So, yet again, young men
signed up in the vain hope it
wouldn't last as long as the
previous war.
Local historian, JOSEPH
RITSON, has extensively re-
searched those from the
Cleator Moor area who
served, and died, for their
country. Here he relates the
story of Sergeant George
Gillbanks and Leading Air-
craftman, Alfred Higgin.
Joseph writes: "Cleator
Moor's first and last `Mili-
tary Funerals' were of broth-
ers-in-law Sergeant George
Graham Gillbanks, Border
Regiment (died November 6
1941) and Leading Aircraft-
man Alfred Higgin, RAFVR
(died 28 August 1945).
Both funerals took place at
the Presbyterian Church on
Ennerdale Road, Cleator
Moor and followed by inter-
ment in the same grave in St
John's Churchyard, Cross-
field Road.
"I have lot of detailed in-
formation about these two,
which was supplied to me by
Mrs Mary Hodgson, sister of
Sergeant Gillbanks and sis-
ter-in-law of LAC Alfred Hig-
gin.''
SERGEANT George Gra-
ham Gillbanks: Sergeant
George Graham Gillbanks,
Border Regiment, Service
Number 3599598, was serving
with the 7th Battalion The
Border Regiment on Home
Service when he lost his life
as the result of a training
accident on November 6
1941.
Sergeant Gillbanks, who
was 22 years old when he
died, was the son of Myles
Gillbanks and Margaret Gill-
banks of Ennerdale Road,
Cleator Moor, Cumberland.
Sergeant Tom Banks, an-
other Border Regiment sol-
dier whose home was at
Inkerman Terrace, White-
haven, Cumberland was se-
riously injured in the same
accident.
Sergeant Banks was prob-
ably saved by Sergeant Gill-
banks who noticed a live
grenade had been dropped
and threw
shield his
jury.
He was
this was a
Before
Gillbanks
School tea
blower at C
byterian C
also base
Road.
LEADIN
fred Higg
craftman A
vice No 10
brother-in-
Gilbanks,
while serv
Leading A
was the h
Lister Hig
Thomas H
garet Hig
Road, Clea
He was
died on Au
Read more on Cleator Moor and district's war heroes in this week
BY JULIE MORGAN
LEADING
AIRCRAFT
MAN: Alfred
Higgin
TRIBUTE: A war memorial to Sgt George Gillbanks
Picture: Joseph Ritson

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8 Produced by PageSuite