Fillingham George Sidney Captain 1057
Personnel Entry
Name Fillingham George Sidney
Army number 1057
Rank Captain.
Decorations M.C. Gazetted 4/2/1918*. Mentioned in Despatches 11/11/1919 - Gazetted 3/2/1920 for services in North Russia. British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1914-15 Star. Awarded the Russian Order of St Anne. For his service in World War Two he was awarded the regular Service Awards as well as being awarded the Czech Order of the White Lion for Victory, Star 4th Class - Gazetted 16/1/1947.
Date of birth Born 26/11/1896. Birth registered Q1 1897, Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Age 65 at the time of his death.
Unit Cadet - Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst until 10/8/1915. Joined The Durham Light Infantry - Commissioned as 2/Lt in the Regular Army 11/8/1915. Posted 2nd Battalion DLI. Attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Posted 3rd (Militia) Battalion DLI as Adjutant 2/10/1922. Restored to Establishment 2/4/1923. Posted as Instructor in English to French Military School Graded Class FF 1/11/1925. Restored to Establishment 1/10/1928. Seconded to the Colonial Office 27/2/1929. Retired 15/4/1931. Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Posted 70th Brigade HQ as Staff Captain (Temp) 7/7/1939. Embodied 24/8/1939. Posted 70th Brigade HQ 1/9/1939. Served with the B.E.F. in Northern France. Evacuated via Dunkirk. Posted to No 4 Infantry Training Centre 30/6/1940. Posted to Number 166 OCTU. Posted to 14th Battalion DLI. Posted as Commander of Troops billeted in a new Camp serving the Bletchley Park complex. Ceased RARO on age grounds 2/12/1946.
Company/Battery
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Platoon Commander. Company Commander. Adjutant. Language Instructor. Staff Captain. Battalion Commander. Camp Commandant.
Joined Brigade 7/7/1939.
Promotions A/Captain as Company Commander 6/6/1917, relinquished rank 4/7/1917. Lt (date not known). A/Captain 16/11/1917, relinquished rank 11/7/1919. Captain 1939. Brevet Major 29/12/1940. W/S Major and T/Lt Colonel 14/2/1943. Honorary Colonel 2/12/1946.
Wounded Not as far as is known.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Died 12/8/1962 at the age of 65 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, according to Probate Registry (McGregor Card shows 13/8/1962). Probate granted 19/12/1962.
Home address Boarder at Sevenoaks School, Kent at the age of 14 in the 1911 Census. Married Eileen M Martindale at St George's, Hanover Square, London in Q3 1933.
Source table 70BG
Details from Lt Col Fillingham's Service Record would be required in order to put his spells of Extra Regimental Employment during WW2 in the correct order. His McGregor Card makes no reference to his role supporting Bletchley Park, although he was not directly involved with the work there but appeared to have been Camp Commandant for the new Army accommodation nearby. One contact also made reference to his command of a Young Soldiers' Battalion of the DLI but, again, that is not specifically listed on his McGregor Card - unless they meant 14th Battalion.
- The Citation for his Military Cross reads as follows:-
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the advance his Company came under point-blank fire from a hostile Field Battery which was holding up the attack on the flank. Having located and reported the exact position he was sent forward with two parties to attack the Battery. They charged the guns and captured the Battery, all the gunners being either killed or taken prisoners. The success of the enterprise was due to his gallant reconnaissance and dashing leadership."
To see Lt Col Fillingham's entry in the Durham at War Project please click here https://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/11962/
