CAPTAIN GERALD FITZPATRICK

From a humble Anglo-Irish background, Gerald Fitzpatrick became an apprenticed engineer at the age of 15, and subsequently a machine design draughtsman.  In October 19+39, aged 20, he interrupted his studies for a B.Sc. and enlisted in the Royal Engineers where he served for one year as a Sapper.

Commissioned into the infantry, he served in the Essex coastal defences before being posted to Burma in November 1941. He joined with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry near the beleaguered city of Rangoon and thus became involved in the longest ever withdrawal of a British army force, instituting pivotal offensive action and facilitating the escape in horrific circumstances from the Japanese invasion of Burma.

Returned to England in 1945, he was posted to Germany where he held several 'general staff' appointments.  The Berlin airlift was instigated from his office at H.Q.B.A.O.R.  Back in Britain after the war, he operated a coal haulage and removals business before moving into management, and for 20 years was responsible for the Yorkshire and Humberside areas for two organisations.  Gerald Fitzpatrick in now retired and lives in Yorkshire.

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