Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Max was born at Tumby Bay hospital on 8 Jun 16 to George Henry Giles and Ethel Maude Giles (nee Brown) of Lipson. His father was the rabbit inspector for the area. He attended school at Lipson, leaving at completion of grade 7 to work on the local farms. He became a shearer supplemented by wheat lumping, bag sewing and builders labouring – he helped build the Port Neill Uniting church.
Max enlisted at Warradale (SA) in 1941 and undertook his basic training in that location, before being posted to 27 Battalion, a Militia battalion, later known as the 27 Scottish Regiment. He then served in Darwin 1941 – 43, Lae/Wau/Bulolo (New Guinea) 1944 and Bouganville (New Guinea) 1945. It was during this latter posting that he was wounded in the leg and back when he stepped on a booby trap; he carried shrapnel from this trap for the rest of his life.
After the war and his convalescence he returned to Adelaide and took discharge, before becoming engaged to Audrey Lutz in Mar 46. He then returned to Tumby Bay, but 3 months later made the not inconsiderable journey back to Adelaide to marry Audrey on 8 Jun 46.
The couple then settled in Lipson and Max resumed shearing, again supplemented by additional jobs, including working at the Talc mines; whilst Audrey became acquainted with the duties of housewife and later mother. They had 2 children, a boy and girl (Allan Geoffrey and Heather Faye). Geoff still resides in Tumby.
In 1952 Max bought a house at Lipson and worked as a share farmer for Colin Stringer. This was a very bad year for farming so Max, like many other men, came into Tumby to gain additional income by helping to unload the weekly boat.
In 1953 Max became a “commission agent”, firstly at Mareenia siding and later at Butler siding. Max organized the buying and stacking, Audrey operated the weighbridge and young Geoff would brand the bags. The family camped at the sidings in a caravan during the week and returned home of a weekend.
In 1961 Max and family moved to Whyalla. He was the Agent for New Zealand Insurance Company, a position he retained until 1976, when he retired aged 60. Max and Audrey remained in Whyalla for a total of 31 years.
In 1992 they returned to Tumby Bay after Max had been diagnosed with cancer. After successful treatment, Max had remission until early 1999, when the cancer returned. Max passed away in Aug 99 and is buried in the Tumby Bay cemetery.
Max was a keen sportsman throughout his life, having played tennis and footy in his younger days for Lipson: and then enjoying lawn bowls at Whyalla during his latter years. Max was also the greenkeeper for the club at Whyalla.