George Handforth (Gigs) CHANDLER

CHANDLER, George Handforth

Service Number: SX12709
Enlisted: 12 May 1941, Wayville, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 1 Field Bakery 2nd/AIF
Born: Laura, South Australia, 20 July 1917
Home Town: Laura, Northern Areas, South Australia
Schooling: Laura Primary School
Occupation: Baker/Storeman
Died: Natural causes (Pancreatic cancer), Adelaide, South Australia, 3 April 1979, aged 61 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Portion RC F, Row 12, Plot 917
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

12 May 1941: Enlisted Private, SX12709, Wayville, South Australia
12 May 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX12709
13 May 1941: Involvement Private, SX12709
13 Feb 1946: Discharged Private, SX12709, 1 Field Bakery 2nd/AIF
13 Feb 1946: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX12709

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Biography

Dad didn’t talk about the war (WW2) much. His best friends, however, were other men whom he’d shared that experience with. Dad was a regular in the marches on Anzac day in Adelaide and the reunions afterwards. I think these men lost day to day contact gradually, over time, as families took different paths and directions post WW2, but nevertheless, many turned up, to my surprise, to dad’s funeral in 1979.

Dad was from a, poor, Methodist following family from rural Laura, in South Australia. His father, Jack, did play football, however, with the poet CJ Dennis in Laura, S.A.

Dad trained as a baker initially, and pursued these talents within the army.

One thing I do remember him telling us was that he got sick in the Middle East with “boils” and was shipped, across the Red Sea, on a painful journey to New Guinea, to continue service. Evidently, after he left the Middle East, many of his contingent were killed in a battle and dad felt very guilty for having escaped this battle.

Dad was also an excellent sportsman and assisted, as a coach, within the physical education programs the army offered. He excelled at football and boxing. - Anmarie Chandler (daughter)

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