"AN EX-MEMBER of the RAF is looking for an old friend he believes is living in Bridgwater.
Brian Giles, from East Sussex, wants to contact George Mills, an old friend from when they were both stationed at RAF Westonzoyland from 1954 to 1957.
Mr Mills, whose home town is Newbury, married a Bridgwater woman.
Mr Giles said: “We were both with the 542 476 squadron. I think he’s around 75 now.
“Both of us were in the trade of servicing recorder in the rank of S.A.C (plus). I had a Triumph motorbike on camp.”
"Mr Giles was told by Bridgwater Town Council that records show a man fitting Mr Mills’ description is listed in the area. However, due to data protection, his address could not be disclosed.
If anyone knows Mr Mills, call ***** or email *****"
View the original article here
I located the whereabouts of George Mills and also found his telephone number. I phoned George to confirm it was 'the' George Mills and indeed it was. After explaining that Brian was trying to find him, I asked if I had permission to pass on his contact details to Brian. He was thrilled and we had a lovely long chat about his time spent with Brian and how they were like brothers.
I eagerly phoned Brian to tell him the good news but no-one answered the phone. Over the course of the next few days, I tried several times to contact him but again no reply. I decided to leave a message for Brian on his answer machine and to wait until he got back to me. I phoned George and we guessed that maybe Brian had gone of for a few days.
Several days later, I received a phone call from Brian, he was absolutley thrilled. The reason I could not reach him on the phone was because he had come to Bridgwater to look for George. He had gone back to Surrey very disappointed that he hadn't found him.
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| George seen here with the cup during his RAF days in Westonzoyland |
The Bridgwater Mercury ran a follow-up;
"TWO ex-members of the RAF have been reunited after 55 years after one of them placed an article in the Mercury. Brian Giles, of East Sussex, is back in contact with old friend George Mills, of North Petherton, after seeking him out through the paper. The pair became close friends when they were stationed at RAF Westonzoyland from 1954 to 1957. Brian, 77, said they were both in 542 476 Squadron Bomber Command in the trade of servicing recorder in the rank of S.A.C (plus). When planes came in, any faults would be listed and it was their job to make sure they had been seen to. He said: “He was 18 and I was 20. I’ve been trying to track him down for several years, and decided to go caravanning at Othery and went to Bridgwater to ask if he was on any of the town’s records. “I knew he must have been there because he married a Bridgwater woman and stayed in Sedgemoor. “We were transferred to Westonzoyland as the start of a task force for bomb tests on Christmas Island. “I’ve found it hard to track people down because a lot of information is classified.”
Brian received a call from Ursula Martin, of the Family History Research Service, Bridgwater Gene Pool [Now Somerset Genealogy]. After seeing the article she found George’s details and contacted Brian.
She said: “As a professional researcher I felt I could help them find each other and I’m glad I did! “I’m happy to announce that George has been reconnected with Brian after more than 50 years and they’re going to have a reunion.” George, 75, said: “It’s great to speak to him again. We’ve been talking about old times. “I remember the first time I tried cider and got very drunk. He put a crash helmet on my head so I wouldn’t hurt myself. “We were the best of friends.”
The reunion on Saturday, August 4, will take place at 2pm at the Castle Club, former Royal British Legion Club, in Bridgwater. Since the article, the pair have found two other RAF friends".
View the original article here.
The story was also run in Brian's hometown of Bexhill-on-Sea.
"ALMOST 60 years have gone by since former Royal Air Force chums Brian Giles and George Mills last saw each other, but that is to be set to rights next month when they meet for a long overdue reunion. Brian, 77, of Pebsham Lane, Bexhill, shed a tear at the prospect of meeting the man who was once “closer than a brother” when he came in to the Bexhill Observer office last week to tell his remarkable story. He and George, 75, who now lives in North Petherton, near Bridgwater, Somerset, became mates when both were called up for National Service in the early 1950s. At first with Fighter Command, based at RAF Chivenor, Devon, the adventurous pair decided to volunteer for a task force going to Adelaide in Australia preparatory to atom and hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific Ocean.
It meant a switch to 542 Squadron at RAF Westonzoyland, near Bridgwater, but then the two senior aircraftsmen heard they wouldn’t be going abroad after all, despite already having had 28 days’ embarkation leave and being issued with tropical kit.
Both were eventually demobbed and lost touch, not least because their intended mission was branded top secret and it meant much of any information about them was classified.
Decades passed, and George married and remarried, while Brian also took a wife, Brenda. He returned to his home town of Hastings and found work as a foreman carpenter and later a coach driver.
But he never forgot his old mucker, originally from Newbury, and earlier this year he and his wife took their caravan down to the West Country and began inquiring about George Mills around their old base.
An article seeking information in the Bridgwater Mercury led to Brian getting in contact with local genealogist, Ursula Martin, who used her expertise to locate George.
Brian said: “The upshot was that we had a long and emotional chat on the phone, and have now agreed to meet at the Castle Club, formerly the Royal Brittish Legion, in Bridgwater on August 4.”
It is hoped another contemporary from 542 Squadron, Ron Trump, will also be present.
Brian said: “I haven’t seen or heard of George in 58 years. I can hardly believe we’re going to meet again at last.”
While on his West Country odyssey, Brian visited the church once used by RAF personnel in Westonzoyland, and discovered lots more about his old and now disbanded squadron from memorials in the chancel. Also displayed was an old squadron badge.
The unit flew high-altitude Canberra B Mark II bombers fitted with long-range fuel tanks and specialist sampling devices, and its motto was “Above All”.
Brian said: “I just know George and I are going to have so much to talk about. We were once closer than brothers and it is going to be tremendous to see him again, even though we’re both no longer young men.
“It’s been such a lucky thing to be back in touch, and we owe a big thank you to Ursula and all the people who have helped us cut through the red tape and secrecy surrounding our old squadron to become reunited again.”
View the original article here.
George and Brian are going to meet on the 4th August, in Bridgwater. I have been invited along to the reunion and I feel very humble and honoured to have been asked. I am also looking forward to finally meet these two wonderful men. I have another surprise for them, but you'll have to pop and back read the update after the event has taken place.
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