Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Alfred Whiting was born on the 12th of December 1891 in Melbourne, Victoria. He stood at 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighed around 160 pounds (72 kilograms). George had a fair complexion, light blonde hair, and blue eyes. Before the war, he worked as a warehouseman. He followed the Church of England and lived a single life both before and during his time in the army. His next of kin was listed as his father, Alfred Whiting.  At the age of 23 years and 9 months, George made the important decision to enlist in the army. He signed up for service in Morphettville, South Australia, on the 12th of September 1914.

George completed training with 16th Battalion at base and was promoted to Corporal in September 1914. On the 15th of December, George received a promotion to Sergeant. In this role, he became a senior non-commissioned officer and was now second in command of up to 40 soldiers. He reported directly to a lieutenant. On the 22nd of December his regiment left for battle aboard the HMAT Ceramic A40 from Melbourne bound for Egypt.

On the 23rd of January, their ship arrived at the port of Suez, marking their official entry into the country. Egypt was an important location during the war, and many Australian troops passed through here on their way to the front lines. As the journey continued, the ship departed Suez on the 27th of January and entered the Suez Canal. This canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and was a key route during World War I. While travelling through the canal, the ship had to stop on the 29th of January in a lake along the way, waiting for clearance to move forward. Later that day, the battalion passed the town of Kantara, a major stopping point along the canal, and continued north toward Port Said. The next day, on the 30th of January, the transport ship arrived at Port Said, located at the northern end of the canal. That evening, the ship left the harbor again and continued sailing westward along the Mediterranean coast. By the 3rd of February, the ship had reached Alexandria. Once there, the battalion disembarked and boarded a train that took them inland to Cairo. Cairo was used as a training and preparation base for soldiers before they were sent into battle.

Soon after arriving, the battalion was sent to fight in Gallipoli, Turkey.  On the 28th of April, George was injured during fighting in the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) when he received a bayonet wound to his right foot. On the 3rd of April, he was transferred to a hospital in England to receive proper treatment for his injury. On the 23rd September, he returned to Gallipoli. He became ill 15th November and was sent to hospital in Mudros. He recovered and was promoted to Second Lieutenant.

In June 1916, George and his battalion were moved to France to fight on the Western Front. This was one of the most dangerous areas of the war, with constant fighting and terrible conditions in the trenches. After some time on the front line, the 16th Battalion was given a break. On the 10th of July, they were replaced by the 32nd Battalion and left their positions. They moved to a safer village nearby where they could rest and recover from fighting. However, their rest didn’t last long. On the 11th of July, George and the rest of the battalion were ordered to move again, this time with barely any notice. They had to quickly set up temporary shelter just outside the French town of Bailleul. Only two days later, in the early hours of the 13th of July, the battalion boarded a train heading to Doullens, a town further south. This move took them away from immediate combat, giving them a short break from the dangers of the front line.

By the 11th of August, George was wounded again. This time, he suffered from gun shrapnel injuries to his face, right arm, and right leg. These types of wounds were common in trench warfare, where explosions and gunfire were constant threats. Soon after, George faced another serious problem. On the 24th of August, he was admitted to hospital for ‘shell shock’ or post-traumatic stress disorder and was sent to the 4th General Hospital in England. On the 19th of December, George was discharged from hospital to base at Perham Downs 13th December 1916. He moved to the No 1 Communication Depot at Godford and from there was transferred to the 70th Battalion in March. On the 1st of May 1917, George was seconded to the 4th Training Battalion. His he was promoted to Lieutenant 14th August 1917 while still with the 4th Training Battalion.

George proceeded overseas to France from Southampton 20 October 1917 and rejoined the 16th Battalion. In January 1918 he was detached to Lewis Gun School but became ill at the end of the month with conjunctivitis and was sent to hospital ending up in England for treatment. At the beginning of February 1918, George was diagnosed choroiditis, an eye infection that affected his vision. On the 3rd of February, he was admitted to London Hospital to receive treatment for the condition. After some time in the hospital, George was well enough to return to light duties. On the 25th of February, he was transferred to an army depot in London where he worked in the warehouse, helping to load and organize equipment. Though he was no longer on the front line, he continued to support the war in other ways. While stationed in London, George Married May Cawdrow on the 5th of June, Saint Peter’s Church in Tooting, London. May was from Chelmsford, a town just outside of London.

As the months went on, George’s eye condition did not improve enough for him to return to active duty. By the 5th of September 1918, his medical status was officially updated—he was now classed as unfit to return to battle due to his ongoing eye infection. This marked a turning point in his military service and meant his role in the war would no longer be on the battlefield. George continued to work at the army depot for several months, helping with important tasks behind the scenes while recovering from his eye condition. He stayed in this role until the 28th of October 1919, when he was officially discharged from his duties. This marked the end of his military service, after years of commitment, sacrifice, and bravery both on and off the battlefield.

After the war had ended, George began the process of returning home to Australia. On the 24th of January 1920, he was officially sent back, marking the start of his journey home after years of service. A few weeks later, on the 4th of March, he arrived in Melbourne. Over the next few months, George began to transition out of army life. On the 28th of July, his official appointment with the Australian Army came to an end, and he returned to living as a civilian.

After the war, he worked as a sales manager and lived at Fullarton. Years later, George once again stepped up to serve his country. On the 26th of March 1942, during the Second World War, he enlisted at the age of 52. This showed his strong dedication and willingness to help however he could. He remained in the army until the 27th of November 1945 after being promoted to Captain when he was discharged for the final time.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

“Details.” Adfa.edu.au, 2024, aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=322180. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

“George Alfred WHITING.” Vwma.org.au, 2025, vwma.org.au/explore/people/202761. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

“George Alfred Whiting.” Awm.gov.au, 2025, www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1819828. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

“Sergeant George Alfred Whiting.” Awm.gov.au, 2025, www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10423103. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

“Session Expired | RecordSearch | National Archives of Australia.” Naa.gov.au, 2015, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SessionTimeout.aspx.