St George's House,
Northern Police Orphanage. 1898-1956  Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

 

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The Services - Memorial
 Many of the men & women who were raised at St George's House, fought in the First and Second World Wars and for that matter
 in many of the armed conflicts since then. The intention of this article is to draw attention to the participation of St George's men
 and women in all of the services, including Nursing and the Police Force.  Below are reproduced some of those photographs
 showing their involvement.
 In most instances the men & women can not be identified, whilst this is regretted it nevertheless does not detract from the
 meaning and purpose behind the article.
 Flanking the St George's flag are two photographs of the 1918 War Memorial.  This memorial was donated in December 1918 by
 Dr & Mrs Crawford Watson and was unveiled by the Rt Honourable John Grenfell Maxwell, PC,GCB,Commander in Chief, Northern
 Command. The image portrayed on the memorial shows the vision of St George appearing to and succouring Richard,Coeur de
 Lion.  Inscribed in gold on the pediment are the words 'Deus Vult', being the Crusaders motto.
 When St George's closed, the Memorial was relocated to St Mary's Church in Westcliffe Terrace and later to St Andrew's Police
 Convalescent  Home  (see photo below).
A further memorial in memory of those from St George's who lost their lives in the Second World War was erected by the Old Boys
 and Girls, Easter 1947,  this memorial has recently been refurbished  (see photo below).
                     
 
                                 
 

                     

                      Thirty Seven old boys from St George's served during the First World War and of these, 10 gave their lives.
                  Many also served during the Second World War and 5 of those sacrificed their lives.


                     

                     
                      Above.William S. Meehan        Above: Kathleen Webster

          
  
                         
                      Peter A.Geraghty. Malaya 1956.                                         Lt Col (Rt'd) Peter A.Geraghty MBE, BEM.
                                                                                           
 

    
                                                 
Richard H.Peacock. D.F.C.  6/4/1923 - 30/1/2005

                                  
                                                                                          
                                                                                             

                                                        Pilot Officer R.H.Peacock  (191819) RAF  (VR) 640 Squadron
                                                                   Awarded D.F.C.  25/9/1945 - London Gazette.

                                                                                             CITATION

                                                       Pilot Officer Peacock has completed numerous sorties against enemy
                                                       targets during his first tour of operations. One night, in October,1944
                                                       when detailed to attack Cologne, P.O.Peacock was forced to make
                                                       a long bombing run through heavy anti-aircraft fire. Despite this, he
                                                       continued with his task and bombed the target successfully.
                                                       An excellent photograph was secured. This officer has displayed
                                                       untiring gallantry and devotion to duty.
  
 

                                                 

       
                                                                      
                                                     

                                                           

                  During the Second World War girls at the Orphanage knitted various articles for the serving men, made camouflage
                  nets and in conjunction with the St George's Scout Troop, collected salvage in the neighbourhood to contribute and
                  help in the war effort.
          

                     

                                 
                     

     The War Memorial 1914-18    
 This memorial has been completely refurbished by Ripon Museum, where it is now displayed.
 It commemorates the boys from St George's who served with the Armed Services during
 the First World War. 37 served during the conflict of which 10 lost their lives, they are:

                        Richard Ashburne
                    Vincent Wilson Boyd
                    Henry Crawford
                    Albert Flood
                    Russell Halliday
                    George Philbey
                    Frederick P. Phillips
                    Joseph Rotherforth
                    Cyril Sykes
                    Frederick Winks

                                                                                                                                                              
      

 

 

       The War Memorial 1939-45
This memorial has also been completely refurbished by Ripon Museum, where it is on display.
The production of the memorial was carried out by the firm of Robert Thomson, the 'Mouseman of Kilburn' which is internationally renowned for his oak carvings all adorned with a hand carved mouse (look above the word House to see the mouse shape).

It was erected by the 'Old' Girls and Boys in Easter 1947. to commemorate the 
5 boys from St George's who lost their lives while serving with the Armed Forces during the Second World War.                                         
                   
Henry Hunter Bagot
                    George William Boston
                    Lawrence Stanley Bryan
                    Herbert George Edwards
                    Desmond William Pepper

                                                                                                                             

It is not possible to mention all of those who have joined and helped the Services over the years, suffice it to say that their contributions, whilst  unspoken, are nevertheless quietly recognised and appreciated.

 

                                                                
 
In the early part of 2007, when St Andrew's was undergoing refurbishment, the two plaques were officially donated by Katherine Martin, former Chief Executive Officer at St Andrew's, to Ralph Lindley of the Ripon Museum, where they are available for viewing by the public.

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                    Deus vult