1929 and brought his elderly parents with them or the parents were here first and George and family joined them. We will probably never know. But George’s story is of interest.

French Croix de Guerre

George Christopher Challis in the 1911 census was a motor mechanic which is likely why during WWI he served as a private in the RASC 2nd Motor Ambulance Convoy. It would seem likely that he met his French wife whilst he was stationed in France as they married soon after in 1918.

George Christopher Challis at Buchanan Churchyard Extension, Scotland

In WWII he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Initially as a Pilot Officer then confirmed as Flying Officer in 1941 and eventually he became a Flight Lieutenant. What happened to him we can onlyguess he died in 1941 and was buried in the Buchanan Churchyard Extension aged 53. The Buchanan Churchyard Extension was where some of the patients from the military hospital at Buchanan Castle near Loch Lomond, Scotland were buried so was he a patient and died from his injuries? (NOTE:Just found his probate papers and it confirms he died at the hospital) The hospital at Buchanan castle is the same place Rudolf Hess was taken after he crashed at the end of his flight to the UK in 1941. George was a recipient of the French Croix de Guerre at some point but no details are known. At the time of his death his wife Marie was living at Blairgowrie, Perthshire, but the family home was in Stoke Poges,