Early Life
Geoffrey Jonas aged 18 years
Geoffrey Allan Jonas was born in Sheffield in July 1923. His grandfather was Joseph Jonas who had immigrated from Germany and risen to become both Master Cutler and Lord Mayor of Sheffield.
He was one of three children of Robert and Mary Jonas. Both his siblings were teenagers when he was born. The family lived at No. 18 Oakholme Road, Broomhill.
He went to Uppingham School between 1937 and 1942. The school noted that he worked hard but he was not a high-flying academic although he won a school prize for Maths in 1939. He was in the Commercial Sixth Form.
After war was declared be led the “Public Works Committee” where he showed considerable capacity as the boy primarily responsible for the school’s agricultural activities, organising student labour for the school’s contribution to the Dig for Victory campaign.
Joining the RAF
He was accepted for The Royal Air Force University Short Course, leaving school in April 1942. The course lasted 6 months. We don’t know which university he attended. Geoffrey was assigned to Coastal Command and was at the 31 Operational Training Unit (OTU) about January 1944.
31 OTU was based in Nova Scotia, Canada. It had a dual role of providing final training for pilots and crew whilst being capable of operational activities when required. The location was chosen for its rugged coastline.
Geoffrey was in a four man crew of an Lockheed Hudson coastal patrol aircraft when it went missing on 21st February 1944.
Hudson V
Commemorations
Geoffrey Jonas is commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial. The Memorial names almost 800 men and women of the Air Forces of the Commonwealth who lost their lives while serving in units operating from bases in Canada, the British West Indies and the United States of America, or while training in Canada and the U.S.A., and who have no known graves.
He is also listed on the Memorial Stone at Fulwood Church and on the Memorial in the Chapel of Uppingham School.
(His parents moved from Broomhill to Slayleigh Lane in 1942)
Notes
For a detailed history of 31 OTU see https://www.madiganstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/The-Story-Of-Operational-Training-Unit-31-Debert.pdf
Thanks to J Rudman, the archivist at Uppingham School.