GEORGE WILLIAM LEFTLY

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Photographs courtesy of Heath

Born: 27th November 1911, Ipswich.

Died: 17th February 1944; age: 32; died of wounds.

Residence: 27, Bradley Street, Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 5824435.

Regiment: Royal Artillery, 2 Field Regiment (64 Field Regiment).

Grave Reference:

IV.S.12.

ANZIO War Cemetery,

Anzio,

Lazio

Italy.

Image of the grave site, courtesy of Sean Winters.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Henry Robert W. J. & Martha Hannah Leftly, of 4, Tanner’s Lane, Ipswich; husband of Annie May Leftly.

Original grave marker.

Son of HENRY ROBERT WILLIAM JAMES LEFTLY.

Father: Henry Robert William James Leftly, born June 1880, Woolwich, Kent – Died during the First World War of wounds – 27th September 1914, at No. 5 General Hospital, Angers, France. Henry was ranked a Driver, service number 29203, for the Royal Horse Artillery, 3rd Brigade, Ammunition Column. He was laid to rest at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Mother: Martha Hannah Leftly (nee Johnson), born 1885, Walton, Suffolk.

In 1915, in Ipswich, Martha Leftly remarried to John Taylor.

CENSUS

1921   11, Albert Street, Ipswich.

George was 9 years & 8 months old. He attended School and lived with his mother, stepfather, brother and stepsisters. George and his brother, Henry, were recorded under the surname Taylor.

John Taylor, 48 years & 9 months old, a General Labourer with Messrs. Cocksedge & Co., Engineers, at Eagle Works, Rapier Street, Ipswich, born Charsfield, Suffolk.

Martha Taylor, 36 years & 9 months old, Home Duties.

Henry Albert Edward Leftly Taylor, 11 years & 3 months old, at School, born Woolwich, Kent.

Rosa Ella Taylor, 4 years & 2 months old, born Ipswich.

Elsie M. Taylor, 2 years & 6 months, born Ipswich.

In 1937, in Ipswich, George married Annie May Welham, born May 1916, Ipswich – daughter of Richard Welhams, KiA 22^nd March 1918, Arras – a Lance Corporal for the Suffolk Regiment, 11^th Battalion, and Lily Welhams (nee Suckling), and stepdaughter of David James Simmonds, of 48, Dickens Road, Ipswich.

Annie and George had one son:

Robert R. Leftly, born 1938, Ipswich.

George is also remembered in the war memorial at St Mary at Stoke Church, Ipswich, and the Ransomes & Rapier Ltd. at Bourne Park Ipswich.

The Anzio landings commenced on 22nd January 1944, on the west coast of Italy. Known as “Operation Shingle.” Taking the two coastal towns, Anzio and Nettuno, just 40 miles west of Rome, the capital city. The Italian campaign had come to a halt, hampered by mountain terrain and layers of fortified German and Axis positions, known as the Gustav Line. It had been decided to leapfrog around the coast, setting up new beachheads, outflanking the German positions.

The Amphibious assault was a great success in the first few days. By midnight, 36,000 soldiers and 3,200 vehicles had landed on the beaches consisting of US and allied forces, but failed to push deep inland, choosing to hold back for more troops to be landed before moving. By January 24th, the Germans had moved over 40,000 troops into the area and surrounded the beachhead, shelling the Allied forces trapped in a small area. Fierce fighting continued until June, when the Allied forces finally broke out from the beachhead, taking Rome.

Ipswich has long historical links with the Italian coastal town of Nettuno, and Ipswich Borough Council has a “Cooperation” ( Twinning) link.