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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 255

The General Service Medal awarded to Corporal George Kamara, The Green Howards, younger brother to professional footballer and pundit Chris Kamara

General Service Medal 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24266105 Pte. G. Kamara Green Howards), very fine

George Kamara was born on 23 April 1954 at 6 North Street, Haverton Hill, Billingham. He was the son of Alimamy Kindo 'Albert' Kamara and Irene Howard née Livingston and was the younger brother of Chris Kamara, the professional footballer and sport's commentator.

When Kamara was a teenager he enlisted into the army, likely having been 'frogmarched' to the recruitment office by his father, similar to what he previously did with his eldest son Chris (Luxe Magazine, January 2023 refers). Kamara joined the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), the regiment he served with for the remainder of his military career. When he was 21 years old, he married Gail Spencer Harris, an 18 year old wages clerk in the Chester and Ellesmere Port register office on 13 September 1975.

Aside from his military duties, Kamara was a keen boxer - he was recorded in the Green Howards Gazette in December 1979 as D Company Notes describes that:

"The new arrivals in the Company have not been without talent... Fresh in our minds is the inter-company boxing... Ptes Jackson, Kamara, Wainwright, Darcy and Pearson are to be congratulated on reaching the finals"

Kamara boxed in the Inter-Company Novice Tournament in 1979 as a light-weight and won his bout by knockout in the second round. A year later in 1980, Kamara in HQ Company Team won the Most Spirited Performance Trophy in the Inter-Company Boxing Tournament. On 19 January 1981, the battalion faced the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's in the final of the Nedist Championship, with Kamara winning the Best Boxer Award, fighting in the light-middleweight category. He returned to the boxing ring in 1982, again winning his bout against the 2nd Light Infantry Regiment in the Intermediate Northern Final and subsequently won the Tripoli Trophy as the best middleweight of the battalion.

Aside from his boxing career, Kamara married a second time to Veronica Elizabeth Pickering on 23 April 1987 in York register office and later, he married a third time. He died from a sudden heart attack on 28 May 2010. His obituary published in The Green Howard reads as follows:

George Kamara was one of the unforgettable characters of his generation of Green Howards. The turnout at his funeral bears testament to the genuine affection in which George was held. Growing up in Park End, Middlesborough, he was quickly identified as an outstanding athlete. Whether boxing, running, gymnastics or just plain "fitness to fight" George Kamara took some beating.

Like all such characters George Kamara had his brushes with authority, but he was never known to have a grudge. Indeed, having been arrested by an NCO for alleged misbehaviour and received his Company Commander's "award", the same NCO needed help and Kamara rushed to his (successful) assistance. They became firm friends thereafter - such was the character and loyalty of George Kamara. He ended his service with the Green Howards as a full Corporal. He died on 28 May 2010.

To his wife Anne, his family and his many friends the regiment offers its thanks for his service and extends its deepest sympathies.

Sold with copied research.



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