George R. Emmett was born in Liverpool, England in early 1921. After leaving school and working in a bank he was called up to the RAF during World War Two; he was commissioned as a Navigator/Wireless and was seconded to the South African Air Force. His squadron was flying Beaufighters and was incorporated in the Balkan Air Force. With SAAF he saw service in the Middle East and Southern Europe. After VE Day he spent some time in Greece before being posted to Austria towards the end of 1945. It was here that he met his wife and in 1950 he left the RAF and settled in Vienna. Subsequently he became involved in the manufacture of corsetry and ladies´ swimwear and later in selling behind the Iron Curtain diverse products including industrial gases, welding and wire manufacturing equipment. He retired in the early 1990s. Widowed in 1992, he lives mostly in Vienna. He has two sons and two granddaughters. Since composing his first poem, written on his 24th birthday in a freezing tent in Southern Italy, he has pursued his hobby through a very active business life of travel and interesting occupations. |
