George Alfred Altass

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from John Hamblin, Researcher

George Alfred Altass, Lieutenant 214210, TEM, Wiltshire Regiment attached to the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. Killed in action on the 6th of August 1944 aged 25.

George Alfred Altass was born at Fulham on the 5th of January 1919 the second son of David Sidney Altass, a fitter, and Sarah Maud (née Curtis) Altass of 37, Quick Road, Chiswick.

He was educated at Caincross C of E School and Marling School, Stroud in Gloucestershire. He was also a member of Cairncross Church choir.  He lived at 29 Lorrimore Square, Walworth, London SE17. After leaving school he was employed with a firm of underwriters in London.

He had joined the Territorial Army and was called up when the war began and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 25th of October 1941. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of October 1942 and transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment with the same rank on the 1st of April 1944 and was attached to the 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment on the 6th of July 1944. He joined them while they were in a rest area at Coulombs in Normandy.

The 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment had landed in Normandy on the 14th of June 1944. They spent several weeks unsuccessfully attempting to break out of the bridgehead in the vicinity of Caen as part of Operations “Goodwood ” and “Bluecoat”. By early August, mounted on tanks from the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, they had broken through the German defences and were in position around the village of Sourdeval on the Bas Perrier Ridge, but were surrounded on three sides.

On the 5th of August 1944 the artillery of the 10th SS Panzer Division began a heavy bombardment of their positions which was soon followed by tank and infantry attacks. The British tanks were forced back at the same time as C and D Companies of the 3rd Monmouths were attacked by the infantry and were soon driven back as far as their Battalion Headquarters before they managed to check the attack. Casualties were so heavy during this assault that the survivors of the battalion were forced to merge with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (who were also at half strength) when they arrived to relieve them the following day. The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry had twenty tanks left and the combined battalions numbered five hundred and fifty men.

Fifteen minutes after the Norfolks arrived, the Germans renewed their attack. After hand to hand fighting the Germans overran the forward positions and, once again, their infantry came within two hundred yards of Battalion Headquarters. Amid smoke from exploding ammunition, burning vehicles and nearby houses the personnel from headquarters held their ground and drove off the attack. During the fighting George Altass and 2nd Lieutenant G.C. Williams, who were both operating from Bren gun carriers, were posted as missing.
The combined battalion had suffered casualties of a further one hundred and sixty men, killed wounded or missing. For his gallantry that day Lance Corporal Sidney Bates of the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross.

George Altass was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal, which was announced by the War Office on the 21st of January 1949. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Lloyd’s of London. He is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, Plot XVI Row E Grave 5

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of George Alass. If you are aware of one or you are related to George we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.