BRIGHT, George Henry

George was born 1895 in Newport to George & Annie of Wootton. In 1918 he married Dorothy WAITE, at St Edmund’s Church, Wootton, & they lived at 6 Osborne View, East Beech Lane in Wootton.

George was a regular solider having served 27 years at the time of his death on the 17th January 1941. He was laid to rest in the Haifa War Cemetery in Palestine, beneath a Commission Headstone bearing the family inscription: “DEEP IN OUR HEARTS A MEMORY IS KEPT OF ONE WHOM WE LOVED AND WILL NEVER FORGET” in a cemetery that contains 304 of his comrades.

Haifa was of great strategic importance during WW II because of its deep water harbour & airfield. It was also the terminus of the railway line from Egypt & of the Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline. Haifa became one of the main supply bases & arms depots serving the Middle East forces & a large naval depot was established at Haifa Bay. The cemetery was again used during the early part of the war until the new war cemetery at Khayat Beach was opened. George was 45.

George is also remembered on the Wootton War Memorial.