A memorial to George Hildred

"Nemo me
impune lacessit"

("No one provokes me
with impunity")

Memorial

Ceremony to mark the Monument's erection in 1948

Since the Monument's erection at Haut-Croth crossroads in 1948 George's three remaining brother's (Jack, Dennis and Roger) have revisited the site and surrounding area on numerous occasions. George's niece Jacqui has also visited the monument and cemetery.

The villager's of Bourg Achard, in particular René and Monique Hauchard, have been very hospitable in accommodating the 3 brother's on their visit's and during 2004 made them honorary citizens by presenting them with a medallion during a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary.


This Medallion presented to Mr D. W. Hildred by the Mayor of Bourg-Achard to mark his being made an honorary citizen. 28.08.2004 On this same date in 1944 his brother George was K.I.A. in helping to liberate this village.


Jack, Dennis & Roger during a Ceremony at the Memorial in 2004 followed by a reception at Bourg Achard Town Hall


Jacqui during a visit in 2004	Close up picture of the Memorial stone

The Memorial stone has been refurbished several times but is now showing signs of the need for some more attention.
Hopefully this is something that we can arrange during an intended visit in 2008.

Update: 24th June 2008

It was our intention to clean up the memorial during our visit this Year, so armed with filler, paint etc we went to the memorial only to find that it has been completely replaced.


The new memorial in June 2008	Close up picture of the new memorial

‘They left my brother off memorial’

By Gavin Aitchison
7:56am Tuesday 19th September 2006

Some of George Hildred's brothers and his sister with the Normandy memorial. From left are John Hildred, Roger Hildred, Gwenda Robinson, Derek Hildred and Dennis Hildred.

A BEREAVED pensioner has hit out over a new war memorial in York, claiming it neglects his fallen brother.

Dennis Hildred, 76, says the new monument, in Memorial Gardens, has been engraved with the wrong dates, meaning his brother George's death is overlooked.

George died at Haut-Croht, in Normandy, on August 28, 1944. But the new monument erected by the Normandy Veterans' Association, commemorates those who fell between June 6 and August 20, 1944 - eight days before George died.

Today, Dennis, of Sirocco Court, off Fossway, lamented the mistake and called for it to be put right.

"It's engraved in stone and I think it wants altering. It's just not good enough," he said.

Mr Hildred spotted the mistake when he went to visit the gardens in Leeman Road. He said: "I went along and saw it was carved in. I was very angry.

"Your own brother has died eight days after what they said."

Mr Hildred has written to the Royal Highland Regiment, in which George served in the Black Watch in the 51st Highland Division, asking how many other people from the York area died in Normandy after August 20.

He said: "After August 20, York men were fighting and dying, so are they forgetting them? Have they something against them?

"What's wrong with these blokes? My brother died on August 28."

Jack Harland, secretary of the York branch of the Normandy Veterans, Association said: "It's a horrible mistake and I'm sorry about that - it's obviously my mistake.

"I checked with the national Normandy Veterans' Association and they said the dates were June 6 to August 20, but obviously Mr Hildred's brother was killed on August 28, so I am hoping that I can get to the stonemason and get the date changed."

Dennis Hildred has made several visits to a monument in Normandy, near the spot where George died, along with three other Allied soldiers.

He said: "I cannot believe that people like Jack Harland did not do their research. This is unbelievable."

Two years ago, Dennis and his brother, Roger, attended a memorial service in Normandy to commemorate the 60th anniversary of George's death.