‘ By George ‘ is an expression of surprise or emotional exclamation. It is typically an English expression and the beginning of an avowed oath from the Middle Ages up to World War One. Shakespeare in fact wrote of it in his play of Henry referring to St George patron Saint of England.
It is of course the Red Cross of St George on the white background that is the flag of England and the colours that the Crusader soldiers used circa 1190 when they besieged Jerusalem in the name of God, King and Country.
The real George died in 303 and legend has it that he slayed the dragon symbolising good winning over evil. The Dragon preyed upon English villagers demanding to eat their animals until the farmers ran out of Iivestock then began to devour their little children. When the dragon demanded a local Princess that was considered a life too far and George came out to slay him once and for all. The mound in the photograph above is where George did this and the white mark is the blood stain of the dragon. The site of this is just below the Uffington Horse in Oxfordshire, which is a limestone horse drawn some 3000 years ago on the side of a hill.
St George’s day is April 23rd and has been since the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 celebrated as the Patron Saint of England. It is likely to have been the date of his martyrdom. Good will always win over evil and though this takes time the dragon gets slayed. We all have slayed a few dragons in our lifetime and more will appear no doubt , but for now we can safely say ‘ By George we did it ‘
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