BLAIR George Norman Lieut

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Surname: BLAIR;

Forename(s): George Norman;

Initials: GN;

Rank: Lieut;

Previous Regiment: Northumberland Fus;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 39 Bn;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 5 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 39 Bn;

Awarded: MC;

Gallantry Notes: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer was in command of a company whose guns were detailed to hold an outpost line. He made a reconnaissance of the position which was most exposed and subsequently got his guns forward without delay or loss and went from section to section arranging for an effective screen of fire in case of attack. During the whole of this time he was under shell-fire but his coolness inspired confidence in all ranks.;

Other Data: wounded in action 28/4/1917 in operations to capture Oppy Line and Arleux Switch (see War Diary 5 Co)

MR. GEORGE NORMAN BLAIR, of Victoria Park. St. Helens. Lancashire, has been
appointed principal of the Wakefield Technical College in succession to Mr. N. Tunstall, who
has accepted appointment as an Inspector of Technical Schools. Since 1932 Mr. Blair has
been head of the Commerce Department of St. Helens Municipal Technical School.
Educated at Durham University Mr. Blair was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Commerce
(Dunelm) in 1921. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and an
Associate of the Institute of Industrial Administration. From 1927 for two years he was
engaged in research work at Queen's University. Belfast After a short business career. Mr.
Blair became head of the Commerce Department of Lurgan Technical School in Northern
Ireland and afterwards, lecturer at the Municipal College of Technology at Belfast. He
returned to England in 1929 to become lecturer in charge of the Day Commerce Department
of the Plymouth Municipal Technical College. He broke into his University career to serve for
four years during the War. being awarded the Military Cross. Photo (Leeds Mercury •
Thursday 18 August 1938 p7)
1911 Census
George Norman Blair
Age: 14
Occupation: Schoolboy
Address: 19 Delaval Road Whitley Bay - the dwelling had 5 rooms
Estimated Birth Year: 1897
Where Born: Gateshead. County Durham
Father's Name: John Blair 54. Secretary Clerks Provident Association, b. Gateshead
Mother's Name: Martha Maria Blair 54, b. Gateshead
James Ernest Blair 25. gas company clerk, b. Gateshead
His parents had been married for 29 years - 3 of their 4 children had survived.
1901 Census

Photo (1938) GS archives

George N Blair
Age: 4
Address: 14 South Eleanor St, Tynemouth
Father: John Blair. 44. ship chandler s manager, b. Gateshead
Mother: Martha M Blair, 44. b. Gateshead
Birth Place: Gateshead
John H Blair 17, merchant's clerk, b. Gateshead
James E Blair 15. merchant's clerk, b. Gateshead
Name: George Norman Blair
Death Age: 81
Birth Date: 9 Jul 1896
Registration Date: 3Q 1977
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District: Northallerton (Ancestry)
His brother: -
BLAIR. Pte James Ernest. 12314. 9th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. Died of wounds 10th
July. 1916. Age 31. Son of John and Martha Maria Blair, of "Ernville," The Avenue,
Rowlands Gill. Co Durham. II. A. 21. (Heilly Station Cemetery - France)
BLAIR James Ernest of 19 Delaval-road Whitley Bay Northumberland private 9th battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers died 10 July 1916 in France or Belgium Administration Newcastle-
upon-Tyne 22 September to John Blair commercial clerk. Effects £75 7s. 6d. (National
Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)
BLAIR Martha Maria of 73 Wansbeck-avenue Cullercoais Northumberland (wife of John
Blair) died 18 May 1942 Administration Newcastle-upon-Tyne 19 June to the said John Blair
retired friendly society secretary. Effects £632 Os. 8d. (National Probate Calendar - Index of
Wills and Administrations)
His wife (formerly Campbell b. 1895) - their marriage was registered in Northumberland 3Q
1923: -
BLAIR Gladys Hannah of 23 St. Johns-square Wakefield (wife of George Norman Blair) died
2 September 1956 at The General Hospital Pinderfields Wakefield Probate Wakefield 1
October to the said George Norman Blair technical college principal. Effects £879 Os. 4d.
(National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)
blair, John Hewett of 16 Wentworth St Wakefield died 5 April 1974 Probate Leeds 17 May
£8600. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

BLAIR. George Norman of 16 Wentworth St Wakefield died 5 September 1977 Probate
Leeds 26 October £21887. (National Probate Calendar - index of Wills and Administrations)
George was Commissioned Second Lieutenant. Special Reserve of Officers with effect from
the 29 November 1915 in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers. His
Commission, a large parchment document was signed "by His Majesty's Command" on 26
November 1915. A notification was published in the London Gazette, later. The formal
document was forwarded by the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers in July 1916 to George. The
postage being 2 pence and the envelope addressed to :-
2nd Lieutenant GN Blair,
3rd Northumberland Fusiliers,
Machine Gun Training Centre,
Grantham
Scribbled in one corner of the envelope - "5 Depot Company', this one of several training
companies at the MGTC. George was attending a machine gun course, and was
subsequently seconded to the Machine Gun Corps. He disembarked in France as a Machine
Gun Corps officer in October 1916. In which unit he served, is unknown. He was twice
wounded in 1917. Army List 6 June 1918 shows George was promoted temporary
Lieutenant with effect from 1 June 1917. and that he was attached from the Northumberlan
Fusiliers, Special Reserve, and machine gun trained. He was with 39th Bn MGC in 1918,
when he joined or left is unknown. George Blair returned to the Western Front in May 1918.
On 30 November 1918 a telegram was received in a small coast town in Northumberland, it
read :
"O.H.M.S., 29th Battalion MGC.
To Lt GN Blair Delavall Road, Whitley Bay. You have been awarded Military Cross. Authority
First Army Routine Order No 3068 of 2 October 1918, 39 Bn MGC"
There is a passport sized photograph of George, in a WW2 Battle Dress, wearing ribbons of
the MC, BWM & VM. Also a certificate, dated 2 August 1941, certifying that Major G Blair of
the Home Guard had a attended a Grenade Course, and therefore qualified to supervise live
grenade practices. Signed by Lt Col PS Paterson. Commandant. No 2 War Office School.
Kinnaird House. Falkirk
'75 YEARS AGO.
Lieut GN Blair. Machine Gun Corps, son of Mr and Mrs John Blair of Delaval Road, Whitley
Bay, has been awarded the Military Cross. He went out to France in October 1916, was
twice wounded dunng 1917. and returned again to France last May." (Whitley Bay. News
Guardian. 6 November 1993).
'A LOCAL HONOUR. Lieut GN Blair. MGC. Son of Mr and Mrs John Blair of 19 Delaval
Road. Whitley Bay, has been awarded the Military Cross. Lt Blair is an old Park School boy,
and after obtaining his scholarship undertook duties at the Rutherford College. Newcastle,
there he became a student at the Armstrong College. At the outbreak of war he joined the
Durham University OTC and after obtaining his commission was posted to the Special
Reserve Northumberland Fusiliers. (Whitley Seaside Chronicle & Visitor s Gazette Sat 7th
December 1918).;

Other Notes: MC: LG 11/1/1919;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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