Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary Colonel)

Army Number : 2361

Unit : 5th, 2/5th Bn, 1/5th Bn

Biography :

Guy German was educated at Rugby School and Magdalen College, Oxford. He made 66 appearances for Leicester FC's 1st XV between 1921 and 1927, and scored 4 tries. He was commissioned into 5th Bn The Leicestershire Regiment (TA) on 9.4.1921, he served up to and including the Second World War, being promoted Lieutenant on 1.1.1923, Captain on 20.12.1928 and Major on 6.12.1933. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration in the 1930s. In the rank of Lt Col he commanded 2/5th Bn from 30.6.1939 to 13.10.1939 and then 1/5th Bn 14.10.1939 to 27.4.1940, on which latter date in Norway he was taken a prisoner of war. He was imprisoned at Spangenburg Oflag IXA but because of his defiant attitude was moved to Colditz Castle (Oflag 4c) where he became Senior British Officer. After his release in 1945 he was awarded the D.S.O. (L.G. 11.10.1945) for his leadership of 1/5th Bn at Tretten, Norway, on 23 April 1940. Deputy Honorary Colonel 5th Bn The Royal Leicestershire Regiment (TA) 1958-67. He died in 1984, aged 82 years. There is a brass memorial plaque to his memory in the Regimental Chapel in Leicester Cathedral.
Guy German was the eldest son of Lt Col George German DSO TD JP and the brother of Major Raymond Johnson German TD, of the Regiment.

This page was last edited on 3.6.2019.

Date of Birth : 17.6.1902

Place of Birth : Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire

Date of Death : 17.10.1984

Place of Death : Stafford

Civil Occupation : Estate Agent

Period of Service : 1921-45

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : UK, Norway, Germany