Gerald was born June 1925 in Holborn, London to Harris (Harry) and Esther nee Hirshberg and he had an older brother Edward (Adolph). Their mother Esther died in 1939 and their father Harry, who worked as a taxi driver, remarried in 1943 to Rebecca Levenstein and they had one son Michael born in 1944.

Gerald attended the Davenant Foundation school in London and he was a member of the Brady, Oxford and St Georges clubs. He was six feet four and was said to have a magnificent physique playing many sports for the Brady club. After enlisting he was sent for training in America and Canada and came top in his final examinations and gained his commission. On 2 December 1944 he sent a letter to relatives from Ontario where he was training and this can be found in the gallery.

After six months training Gerald returned home for six days leave to the family home at Hughes Mansions in Stepney. He was there to celebrate Passover and was alone with his father as his step mother and step brother were staying with family friends. On Tuesday 27 March at 7.20am the last V2 rocket to land on London landed on Hughes Mansions. Gerald and his father Harry were killed outright. Father and son are buried near to each other in East Ham Jewish cemetery.