George was born on 21 April 1936 in Leeds. He was called up to National Service and joined the West Yorkshire Regiment of the Army on 5th August 1954 at the age of 18.
He was posted to Malaya in December 1954, sailing from Southampton on the Troopship “Empire Fowey” arriving in Singapore in early January 1955 where he transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment. George spent almost a year based at Rengam in Malaya before his battalion set sail for home on the Troopship “Devonshire”, arriving in Liverpool in late January 1956. He was then posted to Osnabruck in Germany for the remainder of his National Service before being de-mobbed in August 1956. George is the President of the Yorkshire Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association.
See where George Smith served
Pte. George Smith in the uniform of the West Yorkshire Regiment at his grandmother's house on the Hawksworth Estate, Kirkstall, Leeds in 1954. This was the first time George came home in uniform after his National Service draft.
George Smith (Left) and John Shanks (Right) portrayed by photographer Kwa Lamb in Kluang, Malaya in 1955.
George is wearing a white silk shirt made from a parachute dropped in the jungle on a re-supply mission.
Troop ship 'Empire Fowey' which George Smith travelled to Malaya aboard.
David Lawrie (Left) and Ivan Wharton (Right) in the Corps of Drums Uniform, 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.
A 7 ton, full armoured truck outside the company offices in Kluang having crashed in the Monsoon.
George Smith portrayed by Lai Wah, a professional photographer in Kluang.
A 7 ton, full armoured truck outside the company offices in Kluang having crashed in the Monsoon.
A Sycamore Helicopter at Rengham.
The airfield at Kluang.
A civilian planters landrover being inspected after it had been involved in an ambush. Photo taken in the MT yeard at Kluang.
A Westland Whirlwind flying over the camp at Rengham.
Westland Whirlwind landing in a dropping zone in the Rengam area.
The lads of 7 Platoon with some Iban trackers. George is Second from left kneeling.
A Westland Whirlwind landing at Rengam.
An aircraft dropping supplies to troops in the jungle.
A group of 7 Platoon soldiers in the jungle.
George waving at the camera while on a jungle operation.
A group of 7 Platoon soldiers in the jungle with a copy of the News of the World.
George with a Bren Machine Gun.
George (Right) with John Shanks (Centre) and Lt. Matthews in a jungle basha.
Three of the 7 Platoon lad with a copy of The Weekend Mail.
The Snake Charmers of 7 Platoon with a Boa that had killed in the jungle.
L/Cpl. Bill Batton with the dead Boa.
A group of 7 Platoon soldiers in the jungle.
Members of 7 Platoon with Iban trackers.
Measuring the snake with a Lee Enfield Mk5 Jungle Rifle. The snake was 32 lengths of the rifle in total.
Bill Cooney, the driver of this Saracen armored car. The Saracen would go out on point in front of the platoon.
Dodge pick up truck at Rengam.
A Member of 7 platoon outside a Kadolphin tin hut. These were used as troop living quarters and got red hot through the day.
George Smith with a palm oil worker on the palm oil estate.
George Smith cutting grass with a machete.
The Bucket Tima Palm Oil estate swimming pool. 7 platoon troops used this for rest and relaxation.
George Bradley in the back of a 7 tonner looking after the weapons.
Imphal barracks York – 1954 National Service intake – George dead centre.
George on returning from Malaya at his friends house in Boroughbridge.
Target practice with a Bren.
John Shanks geared up for the Singapore riots in 1955.
Parade square at Changi barracks, Singapore.
Guard duty at night.
Inspection at Changi Barracks before going on riot patrol in Singapore.
Union Jack Club hotel in Singapore. This was the place to stay for troops on leave in the area.
A trooper writing a letter home at Changi Barracks.
Main Street in Singapore.
Singapore Harbor.
Changi Barracks.
War Memorial on Queen Elizabeth walk, Singapore.
The Capitol Cinema in Singapore.
Downtown Singapore 1955.
A bridge across the estuary in the old part of Singapore harbor 1955.
Street shops in Singapore 1955.
Pile driving in preparation for building works in Singapore 1955.
Singapore Court house 1955.
Queen Elizabeth Walk in Singapore harbor.
Singapore 1955.
Singapore harbor 1955.
Coming back home on the Devonshire with his comrades. George, center with raised pint glass.
Base camp at Liang Liang. Members of 7 platoon with a tracker dog.
Messing around in the stream at Liang Liang. The troops made a dam so they could swim on the outskirts of the camp.
Liang Liang swimming pool .
A rubber tapper tapping a rubber tree.
Cpl Ron Joy with Monkey at Liang Liang.
Liang Liang camp.
Planters Land Rover at Liang Liang with rubber trees in the background.
Lt. Matthews going to a Chinese wedding in Liang Liang village.
7 Platoon Mess tent at Liang Liang 1955.
Kit bags drying in the sun after being painted with return addresses in preparation for departing Malaya.
George Smith 1955.
Liang Liang village 1955.
George Smith drinking tea from a tin army issue mug in 1955.
Jumping intot he bathing pool at Liang Liang 1955.
Broken Mess tent at Liang Liang.
Repairing the broken mess tent at Liang liang. John Shanks watching on the left hand side.
Supplies being dropped into the jungle.
7 platoon troopers in the jungle on patrol.
British Army 7 tonner at Liang Liang.
Firefighting in a dropping zone after a dropped phosphorous grenade set fire to the bush.
Changi Barracks 1955.
Road building machine at Changi Barracks 1955.
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