DINNIS, GEORGE Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (A) Date of Death: 10/03/1942 Age: 25 Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Eagle. Grave Reference: Plot 2. Row B. Joint grave 13. Cemetery: GIBRALTAR (NORTH FRONT) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of George and Jennie Dinnis, of Golders Green, Middlesex. B.Sc. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2814480/DINNIS, GEORGE
His parents had several grocery shops around North London. George himself is more notable as the boyfriend of Clifford Last. Clifford served in the British Army first as a PT instructor and later transferred to a combat unit [after George's death].He was wounded in Italy. After the war Clifford became a sculptor and lived most of his life thereafter in Australia where one of his works is exhibited in the Australian Parliament. Cliff's mother, herself, became famous but only after her death. She submitted a diary to the wartime Mass Observation organisation and continued to do so up until her death in the 1960's. The Mass Observation collection of people's diaries is now held by the University of Sussex and Cliff's mother, Nella Last's diary formed the basis for the TV film Housewife, 49. The film is quite sanitised while the diaries themselves contain the uncensored names of real people hence the discovery of George. Nella had this to say about George; “I disliked George before I met him but when I did meet him he became “just another of my boys”, his clear blue eyes, sun bleached hair and happy grin will always be a memory”.
1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 65 Cranbourne Gardens , Hendon M.B., Middlesex NAME DOB OCCUPATION George Dinnis 28 Apr 1887 Provision Merchant Wholesale & Retail Jennie Dinnis 05 Oct 1888 Unpaid Domestic Duties David M Dinnis 31 Mar 1915 Provision Merchant, Wholesale & Retail Housewife, 49 is on TV this very day I believe.
10/03/42 HMS Eagle 813 Sqdn. Swordfish V4630 coded E4B. Place of death: Gibraltar Bay. Air crash. Temp Lt (A) GRL Bell, RNVR, Pilot, Killed Temp S/Lt (A) G Dinnis, RNVR, Observer, Killed Ldg Airman TH Clarke (FX79447), Air Gunner, MPK (Ref: Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Flying Personnel 1939 - 1947) Tim
Marriages Jun 1911 Last William Barrow F. 8e 1830 Lord Nellie Barrow F. 8e 1830 Children: Ronald William Last BIRTH 17 DEC 1911 • Barrow in Furness, Lancashire DEATH 1911 • Barrow in Furness, Lancashire Arthur Howard Last BIRTH 08 AUG 1913 • Barrow in Furness, Lancashire DEATH 18 MAY 1979 • Trowbridge, Wiltshire Clifford Frank Last BIRTH 13 DEC 1918 • New Forest, Hampshire DEATH 1991 • Australia 1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION Last Household (2 People) 9 Ilkley Road, Barrow-in-Furness C.B., Lancashire NAME DOB OCCUPATION William Last 11 Dec 1888 Master Joiner Nellie Last 04 Oct 1889 Housewife Last household and neighbours: NAME: Nellie Last BIRTH: abt 1890 DEATH: Jun 1968 - Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire NAME: William Last BIRTH: 11 Dec 1887 DEATH: Jun 1969 - Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire