German flag

George Rayner was a wireless operator during the war. He went right through the d. day landings and on to Hamburg. When he got to the Chancery the Germans had already gone and many of the men were taking momentos of the occasion.

One chap had one of the swaztika flags from outside the building. It was huge and he couldn't get it into his kit bag so he gave it to George because as a wireless operator he had more room to store it.

George had it in his pack all the way back to Blighty.
When he did finally get back home to Dagenham. His sister and younger brother used to use it as a play tent hung over the washing line.

That was until the man from the ministry came to tell them not to do it because it was bad for morale.

I still have it today. my children have taken it to school and it is a very thought provoking piece of material. I have said to the children that they must never forget what it stood for and how frightening it must have been to have had it flying over you all those years ago.

George Rayner R.I.P

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