Dunkirk veteran dies aged 96

Anti-tank regiment sergeant saw action throughout the Second World War Family thank care home

A Second World War veteran who was cared for in Ashford has passed away.

George Cordery, who fought at Dunkirk, passed away aged 96 on Sunday, November 20.

Sgt Cordery developed vascular dementia in his 80s and received specialist care from Warren Lodge Care Home in Ashford up until his death.

His cremation service is being held at Charing Crematorium today (Thursday).

His son, Brian Cordery, 69, from Brook, said: “He was a good dad and a good husband, with a real soldier’s attitude.

“The army was a big part of his life. He would take nothing from anybody, but would do anything for anybody. He will be sadly missed.”

Mr Cordery was born in September 1920 in London, where he lived for most of his life.

In his teenage years, he met Nell, his wife-to-be, at a cycling club.

He left school at 14, and joined the Territorial Army Cadets at the age of 15, remaining a member until war was declared.

He sailed to France in October 1939 as part of the 5th Division of the Expeditionary Force, and moved into Belgium against the Nazis and fought with the rearguard action at De Panne in Belgium and Dunkirk, defending the evacuation.

At the age of 19, he was ordered to stand guard on the approach road to the port of Dunkirk to stop and disable retreating vehicles. Mr Cordery was rescued from Dunkirk but had harrowing memories of the beaches there.

Later, the division he served in was used in many assault landings, including at Anzio where he kept a regular diary, which detailed being shelled by Germans while swimming in the sea.

The friendships made in his regiment, the 52nd Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery, during the war survived, and Mr Cordery ran the Old Comrades of his former regiment.

Sadly, only one member is still alive following Mr Cordery’s death.

‘He was a good dad and a good husband, with a real soldier’s attitude’

George Cordery finally married wife Nell in 1946 after he sent money back from his tours with the army so she could buy herself an engagement ring.

As he and Nell grew older, Mr Cordery took on the role of carer, refusing outside help.

In his eighties, he developed vascular dementia and the couple moved into sheltered housing in Beckenham, where they spent several years until Nell’s death in 2013, and he moved to Warren Lodge Care Home in Ashford.

The couple’s son, Brian Cordery, told the Kentish Express: “The family would like to thank all the staff at Warren Lodge for their high standards of care.”

Mr Cordery is survived by three children, Brian, Patricia and David, and five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

The family have suggested donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society instead of flowers.