Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Hills Road

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Street Name: Hills Road
Name of Veteran: George William Hills May 10, 1923-October 12, 1940
Rank: 1st Boy
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: July 9, 1940 to Oct. 12, 1940
Year of Visit/Dedication: June 2002
Veteran or Family Visit: Joan Bawden, sister and Tony Hills, brother
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: No
Died at Battle: No

George William Hills was born on May 10, 1923 in Middlesex, United Kingdom to parents George William and Kathleen Violet Wise. He joined the Royal Navy on June 14, 1939 at the age of sixteen.

On October 12, 1940, while on patrol in the Mediterranean, HMS Ajax provided cover for the Convoy MF4 to Alexandria with Fleet units. It was there that her and her crew saw close range night action with HM Cruisers Orion, Sydney and York, screened by HM Destroyers Nubian and Mohawk against an Italian convoy in the Gulf of Otranto. Two destroyers, Airone and Ariel were sunk and the destroyer Artigliere was damaged. HMS Ajax was hit by seven shells resulting in thirty-five casualties including thirteen killed. George William Hills was one of those who died during this battle east of Malta. He was only seventeen years old.

In June 2002 two of George’s siblings, Tony and Joan, visited the Town of Ajax to plant a tree in his honour.

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