Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gil was a stockman, drover, soldier and father. Born in Broken Hill, NSW. Dad had 5 sisters, Vivian (deceased), Pamela (deceased), Fern, Gillian and Kris.

Gil began working as a stockman in the late 1940s as teenager in the Northern Territory. He also worked around north western QLD near Mt. Isa, Julia Creek and Nelia and was one of the last few Drovers to ride the Murranji track ( the ghost road of the drovers) on horseback.

In 1953 he was drafted into National Service, only narrowly missing being sent to Korea. He served under his step fathers name, Rawle. After his National Service had finished he went back to the Northern Territory and back to working around cattle stations and driving taxis in Darwin, which is where he met the love of his life, Janet. Gil began fulltime service in 1962 and was a member of the Royal Australian Engineers.

He married Janet O'Connor in Brisbane (at St. Joseph's Catholic church, Kangaroo Point) 16th February 1963. They have 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren and counting.

In 1968 Gil was deployed to South Vietnam for 12 months.

Then in 1970 Gil was posted to Singapore as part of the Far East logistics Force. Gil and Janet along with 3 kids loved their time in "Singas". Their 4th child was born in Singapore in 1971.

Gil retired from the Army in 1974 and finished his working life after many years of service to the Australian Taxation Office in 1993. His 2 youngest children were both born in Townsville.

Gil loved his family, cars and horses.