George William Sims was a Londoner, son of a train driver, who worked as a grocery manager. He married in Norfolk in 1918 and by 1943 was living in Chelmsford. He was killed with his wife in May 1943 during the 'Chelmsford Blitz' when their home in Goldlay Road was destroyed by a  German bomb.

George was born in Islington, London around 1896, the son of George Sims and Rose Sims. George's siblings included Florence Louisa Sims (born 1894), Lily May Sims (1898-1982), Rose Sims (born c1898), Bertie Sims (born c1900), Henry Arthur Sims (born 1902), and Frederick Albert Sims (1906-1988).

The 1901 census recorded five year-old George living with his parents and four siblings at 22 Marshall Street in Islington. At the time his father was a locomotive engine driver. In 1911 the census found 15 year-old George living with his parents and six siblings at 67 Bury Road in Wood Green, Edmonton in Middlesex. He was a grocer's assistant and his father worked for the Great Northern Railway as an engine driver.

In 1918 George married Florence 'Florrie' E. M. Shaul in Norfolk in 1918.

By 1943 George and his wife were living at 45 Goldlay Road in Chelmsford and George was working as a grocery manager. In the early hours of 14th May that year Chelmsford experienced what was to prove to be its heaviest air raid of the war. In a sharp attack that lasted for just over an hour, the German air force, the Luftwaffe, dropped a large number of high explosive, incendiaries and parachute landmines which caused extensive damage to residential, commercial and industrial properties in the town, and led to the deaths of more than 50 people.

Among the dead was 47 year-old George who was killed there along with his 53 year-old wife and Lily Harriet Lidbetter when a 500 kg high explosive scored a direct hit on 45 & 46 Goldlay Road. Two widows were killed by the bomb at number 46 Goldlay Road; Alice Snow and her daughter Elsie Ida Gledstone,

On 20th May 1943 George and Florrie were buried in an unmarked grave (number 5530) at Chelmsford Borough Cemetery. Their funeral service was conducted by Rev. W. S. Brownless of St. John's Church, Moulsham.

George left an estate valued at £766 13s. 6.

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George William SIMS, Civilian

Killed during an air raid in Goldlay Road, Chelmsford. Aged 47