Coldstream Guards, 3rd Battalion, Service no. 2657660
Born: 1916. Son of Thomas Lodge and Annie Hayes
Killed in action: 3rd August 1941, in Italy, aged 24
Story
George was the eldest son of Thomas Lodge (born 5th February 1891) and Annie Hayes (born 5th June 1892), who were both from Bottomboat, near Wakefield, and had married in Stanley on 12th December 1915. George was born the following year. In the early 1920s, the family moved to Hollings Cottage on Brecks Lane, Kippax, with Thomas working as a horseman on Brecks Farm.
George enlisted with the Army before the War began. At the time of his death in 1941, he had served 4 years in the Middle East with the 3rd Battalion (pictured below in Gaza, which was under British rule until 1948.)
During the War, the 3rd Battalion moved to North Africa, and then into Italy, where they were mockingly referred to as the “D-Day Dodgers way out in Italy”. As their casualties mounted, the British Forces based in Italy ironically adopted this nickname themselves. George Lodge died of wounds in an Italian Hospital. His brother Willie also served in World War 2. George Lodge is listed on the Caserta War Cemetery, IV, A, 1.
Kippax Roll of Honour 