Royal Navy
Born: 22nd June 1920.
Story
Geoffrey was the son of Sydney Firth (1896-1974) who was a Special Constable in Kippax during the War, and Agnes Hartley (1895-1968) of 3 Tatefields, Kippax. Geoffrey had a milk round in Kippax before the War, and joined the Royal Navy in July 1940. He was engaged in rescue work, but had to be rescued himself when his Minesweeper ship was struck by a mine, while minesweeping, and he lost his kit. Geoffrey then served on the Iron Duke, and gave his mother Agnes a tour of his new ship. He spent the rest of the War engaged in detecting submarines, and then rescue work. Kippax bus driver Walter Fawcett had served on the Iron Duke (pictured below) in the First World War.
After the War, Geoffrey married Gwendoline Herbert (1921-2012) in 1946, and they lived at 29 New Street, and were later at 13 Calvert Close. Geoffrey passed away in 2008.
Above: Crew of HMS Iron Duke, 1943 at Scapa Flow.
Kippax Roll of Honour 