The Memorial Cross issued to the next-of-kin of George Burns Imrie, who was shot down and killed whilst serving as a navigator on Stirlings with 75 (NZ) Squadron in 1943.

 

George Imrie was born at Auckland on the 19th August, 1921. He received his secondary education at Sacred Heart College, where he passed his Matriculation examination, passing with credit. He proceeded to the Auckland Training College and later to Auckland University College, where he passed in three units for the Bachelor of Arts Degree. His principal sport was rugby, but he also played tennis. His civilian occupation was that of a school teacher under the Auckland Education Board. Flight Sergeant Imrie was enlisted on the 18th April, 1942, at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, for training as aircrew, and on the 22nd June he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.
 

Imrie trained in Canada, where he was, on the 6th November, awarded his flying badge as an air navigator and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On the 1st June, 1943, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant, and by year’s end, was in the UK. After further training, he was posted to 75 (NZ) Squadron in August 1943. He took part in eleven operational flights, his targets including Mannehim, Hanover, Kassel and Bremen, in Germany; and Boulogne, Montlucon and Modane, in France. He also took part in minelaying sorties in the Baltic and off the Frisian Islands and off the Ile de Re.

 

F/Sgt. Imrie was a member of the crew of a Stirling III, BK778,  which took off from RAF Mepal in Cambridgeshire to carry out sea mining in the Baltic on the night of the 4/5th November, 1943. At 21:10 hours the aircraft was attacked by a JU 88 C-6 night fighter piloted by Lt. Hindelmayer from IV / NJG 3 and exploded in the air. None of the crew survived. The aircraft was brought down over Beersted, Denmark and the crew were interred at Frederikshavn Cemetery.

 

The Memorial Cross is correctly impressed NZ422676 F/SJT. G.B. IMRIE.