Lieutenant Ronald Cyril Charles Geary

Ronald Cyril Charles Geary, only son of Harold Geary, Director of C W Horrell Ltd, Footwear Manufacturers, and Edith Annie his wife of 47 Park Avenue Rushden.

He was educated at the Rushden Intermediate School and Wellingborough Grammar School and was employed by Messrs Cattell and Chater, Accountants of High Street, Rushden.

Lieut Geary had been in the Army for just over four years, gaining his commission in November 1940, after serving in Egypt, Syria and Palestine he went to Italy.

He was killed in action at Monte Cassino, discovered in death still clutching a cigarette in one hand and his lighter in the other, May 12 1944, aged 28 years. Buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

His sister Enid was serving with the NAFFI.

P A Fryer - master at Wellingborough School wrote, "I should like to extend my sincere sympathy, hard as it is to lose our young generation in this fearful massacre, as the names of those educated with me at Wellingborough, who have fallen, come in (so far nearly 60), I derive some consolation in feeling that they have done their duty & upheld the best traditions of their school."

Mr T F Chater wrote:- "I am sure you would like to know that Ronald was considered to be the most popular member of the staff and we all felt for him a sincere affection."