Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George, according to his birth registration was born on 29 August, though family members always celebrated his birthday as being 31 August. He was born at Buller Terrace, Yatala with his father being the informant to his registration on 19 October 1896.

He went to school at the Alberton Primary School When thirteen years old he left school and obtained employment in a bake house.

He enlisted in the army on 17 Bernard 1915 with his medical record describing him as being 5 feet 8 inches in height with fair completction, grey eyes and fair hair. He went overseas on 8 May 1915 with C Company 27th Infrantry Battilion to Gallipoli. Six weeks were spent at Gallipoli prior to the Allies stealthily pulling out unnoticed by the Turks. In April 1916 he was temporarily attached to the 4th Division Field Bakery with the transfer taking place in May 1916. He returned to Australia on the troop ship "Sardinia" in late 1918 and received his medical discharge on 24th of February. 

He married Henrietta Jackson at Martyr's Church, Dundee, Scotland on what was considered his 21st birthday. His brother, Arthur, was on leave and was there to be witness for them. They honeymooned at Pitlohry, Scotland. Henrietta (Rita) came out as First Class War Bride on the R.M.S. Ormonde, in the summer of 1919. Rita's widowed mother had scrapped together every penny she could to send her daughter 'First Class' to her new family. (The Armistice was signed while Rita was at sea.) 

George and Rita first settled in George's parent's home on Torrens Road while their house in Helen Street, Pennington was built. Whilst at Torrens Road their twin sons were born. At this stage George's occupation was given as plasterer.

Once home in Australia, George worked at Franklin's Bakehouse. During the depression years he had several 'dead end' type jobs eg. Rawlins, and in a Bakehouse at Moonta. At the time of daughter Alice Myrtle May's death, his rank or profession was given as Timber Worker. He finally obtained work with the South Australian Harbours Board where he remained till he retired at the age of 65. After his retirement he soon found he had time on his hands and obtained part time work at Sven Kalins.

George, Rita and their children were all actively involved with Yatala Methodist Church and its Christain Endeavour, Sunday School and associated activities and both George and Rita supported their children's activities. This support meant that sometimes they opened their house for fundraising activities or sometimes they were just there to cheer them on. 

During the war years when their boys were away, Rita and George opened their home to boys from all over Australia, one from England and several from America. Some kept contact with George and Rita after the war and visited them when they were near.

George had two passions; Douglas Credit ( a fairly radical political type organisation attempting to get a better deal particularly with relation to those returning from war - they wanted even more sharing of the wealth ) and Port Adelaide Football. Rita knitted stripedjumpers for all of the grand children and worked beautiful table cloths for her children and grandchildren. They both loved to travel and went all around Australia on bus tours, whic Rita continued after George's death. She even went on a helicopter ride on her 80th birthday.

IN later years George took up to playing bowls and was Chairman of the Alberton Methodist Church Club. He died in May 1967 just before their Golden Wedding Anniversary would've been celebrated. 

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George was quite a funny fellow during the First World War, getting into quite a lot of trouble with the officials. He could not cope with the war at all and tried to escape. He went missing multiple times during the course of the war, was found guilty of a false passport and even escaped from custody! His absences lasted from a day to a nigh month, and his prison sentence for commiting these crimes lasted 54 days, with 272 days of pay gone. If he was alive today he would have many a story to tell.