South Yorkshire Times, September 11th 1943
Urged His Men On
Wombwell Man Who Would Not Give In
A story of how a Wombwell man’s gallantry at the Battle of Rewisat is related in a letter received by Ambulance Officer G. H. Pye and Mrs. Pye of 177, Summer Lane, Wombwell. It relates to their son, Sgt. George Henry Pye (30), West Yorkshire Regiment, who was blown up by a shell while urging his men into action, and is now a prisoner of war in Italy. He is said to have had a providential escape. The letter comes from a colleague who was a Sergeant Major with him at the time and he is now in an O.C.T.U (Officer Cadet Training Unit).
The writer is asking what has happened to Sgt. Pye and begs for his letter to be forwarded. He says “We went into a counter attack against the enemy on Rewisat Ridge and George was Platoon Sergeant. His platoon was well forward and George, who was always a great leader, was well in front. Suddenly they ran into a terrific barrage of fire and their advance was halted for a few seconds. Everyone went to the ground and they seemed to be going to stay there when George decided to get up and make them push on. He had only got to his knees when a shell dropped smack in front of him, three yards away, at the most. It was and must be considered an act of God for George to remain alive. But he was in one place and he turned his head and shouted “Get on, get on.” His platoon commander helped him into a slit trench and told him to get back as soon as the momentary blindness had gone off.
The attack was not successful and we came back through the same positions. But we did not see George and everybody thought he had been taken back wounded to hospital. But what must have happened is that he could not leave the platoon and he must have followed them and got taken prisoner. I trust to God that his eyes and face were not affected, as he really is a very brave and lucky man. Please don’t worry because this is not the first time George has been blown up by a shell. It occurred to him a few times at Keren.”