George Bestford was born on 1^st October 1897 at Bensham, Gateshead. His parents were Thomas Bestford and Elizabeth Ann Bestford (née Reed) who married in 1889. 

The 1901 Census recorded George aged 3 and living with his parents at Bedlington Ironworks. These ironworks had been closed since 1867 but the associated housing was still in use. The census recorded that George had five brothers: Robert Bestford (11), Luke Reed Bestford (9), William J. Bestford (8), Adam Bestford (6) and Thomas Bestford (1). George’s parents were both said to be 39 years old. His father Thomas Bestford was working as a candlemaker.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at 36 St. Cuthbert’s Terrace, Gateshead. George Bestford was 11 years old and attending school. His father Thomas Bestford (now 49) was working as a coal miner (a hewer). George’s brother Robert was no longer in the household but his other four brothers were recorded as follows: Luke Reed Bestford (19) working as an engine cleaner for the North Eastern Railway, William Thomas Bestford (18) working as a cartwright, Adam Bestford (16) working as a mixer in a bakery, and Thomas Bestford (11) still at school. 

On 26^th October 1914, at the age of 17, George falsified his age in order to enlist in the 20^th (service) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish Brigade). After training he embarked for France on 9^th January 1916. George was in a trench at La Boiselle when the Battle of the Somme began on 1^st July 1916. George and the 1^st Tyneside Sottish were located just to the North of La Boiselle. Almost certainly unbeknown to either of them, his 4^th cousin George Besford  was with the 3^rd Tyneside Scottish just to the South of La Boiselle. Both men were wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. George Bestford later received a GOC (General Officer Commanding) Divisional Commendation in recognition of his gallantry that day. 

After recuperating back in the UK, George was transferred in August as Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant to the 29^th (Reserve) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was subsequently posted to the 3^rd Battalion which was attached to the 84^th Training Reserve Battalion at Hornsea in Yorkshire.

George Bestford was recommended for a commission in March 1917. Major A.E. Ken wrote, “This NCO came very much under my observations, while at Home he attended several courses of instruction and on each one did very well indeed. On one occasion he came under the notice of the Brigadier who complimented him through his CO on his success. On Service he was even better. As a leader of men he is a success. I never knew him to shirk any danger or fatigues, and his coolness under shell and rifle fire is splendid. I regret to say that his CO (Lieutenant Colonel C. Sillery) was killed, as I knew that he had marked Sgt. Bestford out for distinction, and no officers being left (all either killed or wounded) there was no one to put the recommendation forward. I think that with a little training at a Cadet School he will make a very good officer.”

George Bestford spent time with an Officer Cadet Battalion and was subsequently commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers in October 1917. He returned to the Western Front in December 1917 with the 25^th (Service) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. This was the 2^nd Battalion of the Tyneside Irish Brigade. George thus achieved the rare distinction of serving with both the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish Brigades during the First World War.

George survived the First World War but, very sadly, his brothers William Bestford and Robert Bestford did not. William was killed on the 21^st July 1916 and Robert on the 1^st December 1917.  

After the end of the First World War George Bestford continued his military career, serving as a Signalling Officer to the 2/4^th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Syria and Egypt. George was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1919 but in March 1920 he resigned his commission in order to emigrate to South Africa.

George joined the South African Police as an instructor at the Police Depot in Pretoria. He achieved several promotions , advancing from Constable to Captain, then to Station Officer and District Officer by 1940.

Following the defeat of the Boers in the Second Boer War (1899-1902) the Union of South Africa had been created as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire in 1910. The country became a fully sovereign nation state within the British Empire in 1934. 

South Africa played a significant role in the Second World War, contributing troops, airmen and other resources to the Allied cause. George Bestford was appointed as a Captain in the 1^st South African Police Battalion of the Union Defence Force (i.e. the South African Army). George arrived in Egypt in June 1941 as part of the 2^nd South African Division. He took part in the Battles of Sollum and Halfaya (known to the troops as Hellfire). 

George was promoted to the rank of Major in February 1942, serving as Brigade Major, 6^th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters during the retreat from the Gazala Line in May and June 1942. He was then part of the Allied Garrison which was isolated at the port of Tobruk in Libya. The Allied forces in Tobruk held out against German and Italian forces under the command of Erwin Rommel. Cut off from any supplies, transport or reinforcement, and with no means of escape, the Tobruk Garrison was eventually forced to surrender on 21^st June 1942, with 33,000 men (including George Bestford) being taken prisoner.

George was taken to Italy and interned at Campo 75 at Bari. As the war developed and Allied forces landed in Sicily and Italy, George was transferred to Nazi Germany where he was held prisoner in Stalag VII-A. This was the largest POW camp in Germany, covering an area of 86 acres. It was located just north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria.

George was later moved to Stalag V-C, a camp near Malschbach in Baden-Wurtemberg. He was next detained at Oflag XII-B, in Hadamar near Limburg. On 21^st March 1945 George and his fellow prisoners at Hadamar were conveyed in lorries to a POW camp at Lollar in Hesse. One week later , American forces arrived and liberated them. By 4^th April 1945 George Bestford was back in England. The Shields Evening News of Thursday, 12^th April reported as follows:

More Good News for Tynemouth Families

Further news of men liberated by the Allied Armies in Germany has now been obtained. Major George Bestford of the South African Staff Corps has arrived at the home of his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bestford of 36 The Drive, Tynemouth, after being released from a prison camp in Lollar.

Quarter of an hour after their release by the spearhead of the First American Army, members of a British Officers Prisoners of War Camp at Lollar had turned the tables on their German Commandant and guards. Armed with German rifles the British officers acted as guards and the Germans were securely fastened away.

This information was given to the Evening News this morning by Major Bestford, South African Staff Corps, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bestford. Mr. Bestford, who is Bakery Manager of the North Tyneside Co-operative Society’s bakery, is the brother of Major Bestford. 

“We received no ill-treatment from either the Italians or the Germans” said Major Bestford “probably because we had so many senior officers.”

The British officers had been in a prison camp at Oflag 12B in Hadamar, but they were conveyed by motor lorries to Lollar. They left Hadamar on March 21, and on the following Wednesday were released by the Americans. The next Wednesday they were in England.

“We were supposed to move from Lollar to somewhere in the centre of Germany” said Major Bestford  “but American planes had knocked the stuffing out of the railway lines and we could not be moved. The German Commandant decided we should stay put.”

“Our treatment was all right in Italy until the Germans took over” said Major Bestford. “ We were moved from Italy to Germany by S.S Troopers.” He then described the punishment inflicted on three South Africans who had tried to escape and were captured. The men were travelling in wooden railway trucks and with a penknife had hacked their way out. The three men who escaped and were recaptured were beaten by the Germans. It was an extremely hot day and they were tied down with wire on a flat truck without a roof with their bleeding and torn faces turned towards the hot sun.

Major Bestford served in the Tyneside Scottish during the last war. He was born at Gateshead. This is the first time he has been in Tynemouth for 16 years. He is a captain in the South African Police Force and is married and has one child. Major Bestford went to South Africa 24 years ago just after the last war and began his Army service in June 1940.

George Bestford was retrospectively awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The recommendation for this was from his Brigadier F.W. Cooper and read as follows: “From 10^th January 1942 to 21^st June 1942 Major Bestford was my Brigade Major. During that period he carried out his duties with entire disregard for his own comfort under what at times were very trying and dangerous conditions. He was mentioned in despatches for his work during operations at Sollum and Halfaya in January 1942. During the period the brigade was attached to 1 S.A. Division at Gazala (March-April 1942), and during the period prior to the fall of Tobruk (April-June 1942) his conduct was an example to all. The work he put in over the six months, especially during the two vital days prior to the surrender, entitles him, in my opinion, to a D.S.O. for which I recommend him.”

George Bestford returned to South Africa and resumed his employment with the South African Police. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the Police Training Depot in Pretoria.

George was presented with his DSO by King George VI in May 1947 at Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria.

George served as District Commandant of Durban Police prior to his retirement.

He died in Durban in October 1968.

George Bestford’s medals were sold at Kaplan Auctions in Johannesburg on 2^nd March 2005. They were subsequently sold at Noonan’s Auctioneers in London in  March 2024 for the sum of £4,200.

George Bestford’s ancestry

George Bestford’s parents were Thomas Bestford and Elizabeth Ann Bestford (née Reed), who were married in 1889. 

Thomas Bestford was born in 1861, the son of Robert Bestford and Dorothy Bestford (née Lee), who were married in 1856.  Robert and Dorothy were thus George Bestford’s grandparents.

Robert Bestford was baptised on 8^th April 1832 at Birtley, Northumberland.  He was the son of William Bestford and Ann Bestford  (née Dodds), who were married at Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland, on 1^st April 1815. William and Ann were therefore George’s great-grandparents.

William Besford (note the surname is spelt without a t from this point back in time) was baptised on 25^th August 1793 at Birtley, Northumberland. His parents were George Besford (1743-1820) and Mary Besford (née Dodd), who were married at Birtley, Northumberland on 12^th May 1772.  George and Mary were thus George Bestford’s great-great grandparents.

George Besford was baptised at Birtley, Northumberland, on 31^st July 1743 and was the son of John Besford (1717-1788) and Mary Besford (née Felton). John and Mary were George Bestford’s great-great-great grandparents. 

George Bestford’s ancestry can thus be traced back to the 1679 marriage in Rothbury, Northumberland, of his 5x great grandparents James Besford and Margaret Robson.