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A veteran interview with

George Bayliss

A lovely old gentleman who survived [by the skin of his teeth] his time in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiments in Italy during WWII

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About George Bayliss

George Bayliss shares his experiences serving in the Territorial Army with the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment. Having worked with explosives in a firework factory he was assigned to the pioneer platoon, working in a close-knit battalion to clear mines.

George recalls his training clearing mines, how dangerous this work was, and describes experiences of shelling whilst living close to the Germans.

He recounts his preparation for the Battle of Cassino, marching across the river whilst being shelled, and then being in front making a safe passage through the minefield for the rest of his company and shares personal anecdotes of singing hymns and writing letters to his wife. He details horrific injuries he saw inflicted on his young colleagues and how lucky he was to escape serious injury.

As the war comes to an end George explains how he was posted to a REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) unit and waited for demob to be sent back to England and his happy reunion with his wife.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Vicky Barnes

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | George Bayliss

A veteran interview with

George Bayliss

George-Bayliss-Thumbnail

A lovely old gentleman who survived [by the skin of his teeth] his time in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiments in Italy during WWII

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Bayliss, George. A Veteran Interview with George Bayliss. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 23 Feb. 2011 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-bayliss/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
APA Style:
Bayliss, G. (2011, February 23). A Veteran Interview with George Bayliss [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved April 23, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-bayliss/
Chicago Style:
Bayliss, George. 2011. A Veteran Interview with George Bayliss. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, February 23. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-bayliss/
Harvard Style:
Bayliss, G. (2011). A Veteran Interview with George Bayliss. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 23 February. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-bayliss/ (Accessed: 23 April 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Bayliss, G. A Veteran Interview with George Bayliss [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2011 Feb 23 [cited 2026 Apr 23]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-bayliss/
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