George Robert MAWSON

MAWSON, George Robert

Service Number: 7193
Enlisted: 4 November 1916
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 5th Infantry Battalion
Born: Caniambo, 1891
Home Town: Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria
Schooling: Upotipotpon State School
Occupation: Book Keeper
Died: Ashburton, 1968, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Euroa Telegraph Park, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

4 Nov 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, 7193
19 Feb 1917: Involvement Private, 7193, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: ''
19 Feb 1917: Embarked Private, 7193, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Melbourne

Help us honour George Robert Mawson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

MAWSON George 7193 PTE
5th Battalion
1891-1968

George Robert was the eldest son of George and Margaret (née Crilly) Mawson. George senior’s occupation is listed in the electoral rolls as a miner. There were two more sons who were born at Caniambo and five daughters born in Violet Town. George was educated at the Upotipotpon South Sate School.

He was working as a book keeper, when on 4 November 1916, at the age of 25 years, he enlisted at Royal Park, Melbourne 

After initial training at Seymour he embarked on HMAT Ballarat , arriving in England on 26 April 1917. He was sent to a Signallers School at Sutton Veny, then travelled to France on 21 November where he was taken on strength of the 5th Battalion for active service.

Ten months later on 22 September 1918 George was wounded in action and admitted to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance suffering from gunshot wounds to his right shoulder and left knee.  He was eventually sent to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Southall where his left leg was amputated above the knee and he was fitted with an artificial limb.

On 16 March 1919 he was invalided home aboard the HT Dunluce Castle. He spent the next two years being treated at the Caulfield repatriation Hospital until he was discharged on 8 February 1921.

Returning to civilian life, he married Elizabeth Anderson Brown in 1922, had a daughter Evelyn Lorraine who was born in 1924 and died in 2012. There was also another daughter.

George returned to his former employment as a book keeper. Electoral Rolls reveal that he and his family lived at Waverley and Glen Iris.  He may have worked as a lift attendant for a time.  It was quite common to see WW1 amputees driving lifts in the big department stores in Sydney and Melbourne. He retired a few years before his death in 1968 at Ashburton..

Medals:  British War Medal     Victory Medal

Tree No 18 was planted in 1917 by Mr Norris.

In 2013 a Callistemon - ‘King’s Park Special’- was planted by the Mawson families.

© 2016 Sheila Burnell

Read more...