Collingham & Linton in World War Two

George Lewis Randall appears on this list of mn from Collingham who served in World War 2 as his name appears on the National Registration Roll for Collingham in 1939 at the start of the war.

George Lewis Randall was born on the 28th January 1907 in Ticehurst, Kent, the son of George Lancaster Randall and his wife Annie Harriet Randall (nee Watt). By the census date in 1911 George (Snr) and Annie, with the elder daughter, Lilian Randall, and George Lewis Randall (Jnr) were living at Park Cottage, Hook Green, Lamberhurst in Kent. George (Snr) was described as the Private Assistant to Marquis Camden.

Ten years later, at the 1921 census, the family were recorded at 55 West Hill. George (Snr) was now described as Secretary to Marquis Camden. George's wife, Annie, and George (Jnr) are now joined in the household by a younger son, Stanley Eric Randall, but there is no mention of Lilian.

We do not know where George (Jnr) was educated, but in 1938 a newspaper report shows that George Lewis Randall of 33 Ferndale, Tunbridge Wells, had been successful in the final Professional Examinations of the Chartered Surveyors' Institution.

At the time of the National Registration in 1939, George had moved to Yorkshire and was registered at Langwith Bungalow, Collingham. George's occupation was given as a Chartered Surveyor. He was living with Richard E Ketley and his wife Annie Lillian Ketley. Richard and Annie had married in Wetherby earlier in 1939, and Annie's maiden name was Randall. We think this is probably George's older sister from the 1911 census. Richard was a locomotive engineer and Annie was described as an elocutionist.

Another newspaper report, from July 14th 1939, places George (Jnr) around Staffordshire:

Staffordshire Evening Sentinel, July 14th 1939

"FOOL RATHER THAN KNAVE"

Motor-Cyclist and His Road Fund Licence

"You have been a fool, rather than a knave," said the Magistrate (Mr. R. Macgregor Clarkson) at Stoke Stipendiary Court to-day, to George Lewis Randall, of 33, Fern Dale, Tunbridge Wells.
Randall pleaded Guilty to fradlently using a Road Fund Licence in respect of a motor-cycle combination and to sing an unlicensed combination. He was fined £5 in the first case and £2 in the second.
Sergeant Wall said that on May 29th, he saw defendant driving a motor-cycle combination at Tittensor. The excise licence displayed was in respect of a motor-car, and was due to expire on June 30th.
Defendant said he had left his car in Kent, and he had written for the motor-cycle licence the day before he was stopped. He thought the word 'fraudulently' was hardly justified for if he had done things properly he would have obtained a rebate by surrendering the car licence, and that would nearly have covered the cycle licence.
"It is so unutterably foolish," said the Magistrate. "If I had the slightest idea that there had been any fraud, in the sense that you were trying to defraud the revenue and the police, the fine would have been very, very severe. I accept your evidence and it shows you have been a fool rather than a knave. I do not believe you were doing it with any intent to defraud the revenue.

Service record

George Randall enlisted on the 5th April 1940 in the Royal Engineers with a service number 13012489. After some basic training George entered number 141 Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) and was commissioned in The Royal Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant with a new army number of 233986 - this being announced in the London Gazette in May 1942. We have no further details of his service, but at some point he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

After the war

In 1945 George married Elizabeth Frances Passmore, the wedding being reported in the newspapers:

Tunbridge Wells Courier, Dec 14th 1945

MARRIAGE

On Saturday, at Tonbridge Registry Office, Miss Elizabeth Frances Passmore, daughter of Colonel J.B. Passmore, of the Isle of Wight, and Mrs. M. Passmore, of Southport, was married to Capt. George Lewis Randall, R.E., son of the late Mr. G.L. Randall and Mrs. Randall, of 33, Ferndale. The bride wore a honey-coloured costume with a spray of orchids. She has been Club Secretary of the Y.W.C.A. for the past six months.

Sadly George did not find it easy to adjust to life after the war and a newspaper article from 1946 explains his tragic end:

Tunbridge Wells Courier, November 29th 1946

WIFE FINDS HUSBAND SHOT

DIFFICULT TO SETTLE IN CIVILIAN LIFE

A Tunbridge Wells widow, giving evidence at an inquest on her husband, who was found shot in his garden at 33, Ferndale, on Monday, said his settling back into civilian life had been "abnormal and difficult".
Mrs. E.F. Randall said that her husband, George Lewis Randall (39) was in the habit of going into the garden with his gun in the morning. About 7.30 on Monday he went out and did not return. She had no reason to be anxious until about 8.10 a.m. when she made enquiries and eventually went into the garden and found him.
Her husband had some time before had an attack of dystenery [sic], and the medicines he had in India had had a lowering effect. His settling back into civilian life after discharge from the Forces had been a very abnormal and difficult one.
P.C. S.T.Page described how he found Randall lying under some bushes about fifty to sixty yards from the house. A twelve-bore shot gun was by his side, the cartridge in the right-hand barrel having been discharged.
After hearing evidence by the Assistant Police Surgeon, Dr. A.P. Crowley, the Coroner (Mr. J.H. Soady) returned a verdict that deceased took his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

Biography last updated 23 July 2025 15:24:53.

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info