Armistice Day Wednesday 11th November 2020 – Act of Remembrance
Major John Geoffrey Appleyard, DSO, MC and Bar, RASC, CDO, SOE, SSRF and SAS.
Bramley born Geoffrey is the subject of many books detailing his bravery from Dunkirk to West Africa and cross channel raids on Occupied France and the Channel Islands.
Following service in the RASC, No. 7 Commando and No. 62 Commando (where he commanded the Small Scale Raiding Force) he was the first Second in Command of The Second SAS Regiment/2SAS.
He is reputed to have been a major inspirations for James Bond due to his wartime service with Ian Fleming and was captain of the British Ski Team in 1938 and 1939
Much of Geoffrey’s war was top secret. In recent years many hitherto secret files in the National Archives have been released. Recent books have greatly expanded the stories told by Geoffrey but “Geoffrey” remains the original definitive story, and the backbone on which recent books are based.
He was posted Missing in Action on 13 July 1943 (aged 26) near Sicily, Italy and his remains were never discovered.
The centenary of his birth was 20th December 2016 and on 11th November, 2016 he was unveiled on one of the new plaques at Bramley War Memorial and within our Book of Remembrance, now on display at Bramley Library, Hough Lane, Leeds.
The Book: “Geoffrey, The Story of Apple of the Commandos and Special Air Service Regiment”.
Geoffrey’s father, John Ernest Appleyard, wrote an illustrated memoir to Geoffrey, published 70 years ago – this book is still a collector’s item not least, as it contains many of Geoffrey’s own words from his letters.
We have reprinted, in the UK, 700 hardback copies of this illustrated 200 page book. Copies are supplied with an individual numbered bookplate and specific numbers can be ordered.
Copies are now availlable at a cost of £11.99 plus free UK post and packing. They are posted First Class within 24 hours of receipt of order.
The book is 212 mm x 135 mm Cased PPC, 200 pages and 9 x 2pp Illustrations, ISBN No. 978-1-5272-0076-0
We have kind permission and support from his family to seek support to clean and restore his Memorial in Bramley Baptist Churchyard to its original condition when established in 1946, The only Memorial on consecrated ground outside of the Cassino Memorial, Itlay that names and pays tribute to this very brave man
All proceeds including donations, will be utilised to renovate and maintain the Appleyard Memorial.
Contact email bramleywm@aol.com or our website shop www.bramleywarmemorial.com/shop/
Please purchase with your Debit or Credit Card through the PayPal form below – you do not need a PayPal account to purchase this way, just choose “Checkout as a guest” after ordering.
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Please Telephone 0113 2555103 or 07701 048812 for other payment methods.
Copies can also be purchased from Bramley Ironmongers (opposite the Memorial).
Film featuring the Appleyard Memorial http://www.bramleywarmemorial.com/paying-tribute/
Geoffrey Book with numbered Book Plate
Geoffrey Book, back cover
Geoffrey Appleyard.
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