George Herbert Francis Laurens

It is uncertain exactly when Lieutenant Laurens took up the position of Scout Section officer, but a document survives signed by him on 2 Jun 1942. He is recorded as “specially employed” in the Army List from the 3rd quarter of 1942 until the 2nd quarter of 1944, which is remarkably late given that the last Scout Section Officers left Auxiliary Units in November 1943. Possibly he had another role either in Auxiliary Units or was elsewhere during this time. However, it often seems to have taken 6 months to update the Army List in this respect.

Laurens was the driver of an open topped touring car that was involved in a crash resulting in the death of Auxilier Lieutenant Charles Moxlow in June 1942.

Lieutenant Laurens was the son of George Oscar Laurens, a well known Jersey resident. He had attended the Victoria College School. George Laurens had escaped the island prior to the German occupation in 1940. 

Leaving Auxiliary Units, he rejoined the East Yorkshire Regiment and was promoted Captain. He was killed 27 Feb 1945 in Germany during the battle of Schaddenhof Farm, as part of the 2nd Battalion's action to first capture, then hold against heavy counter attack, what would become known as Yorkshire Bridge near Weeze on the Dutch-German border. The Battalion would suffer 8 other officers and 147 other ranks killed or wounded in this action.

He is buried in Germany and is remembered on memorials on his father's grave and in the form of a Sports Pavilion at his old school which bears a memorial plaque.