Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George was born in Kilkenny a north-west suburb of Adelaide on the 1st May 1910. He married Grace Olive and worked as a linesman’s assistant until the outbreak of WWII when, as a 30-year-old he enlisted on the 6th July 1940 at Wayville. He was allocated the number SX8165 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Following training at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, George had brief pre-embarkation leave before boarding the Stratheden on the 7th November. On the outward voyage, he spent a day in the ship’s hospital early December and just prior to arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December.
By April the following year, George was part of the intense fighting for Tobruk, whilst also facing the dust, heat flies and rats each day and the force of Rommel’s push for the strategically placed port. George was to become one of the Rats of Tobruk. Designed as a derogatory term aimed at destroying the morale of the troops, German planes had dropped leaflets urging the men to surrender rather than live ‘like rats’ in their hand-hewn dusty bunker in primitive conditions. Not unexpectedly the term was immediately claimed by the men as a badge of honour.
The fighting, however, was horrific and intense as tanks advanced on the battalion and the men were subjected to accurate mortar fire as troops attempted to take Hill 209. It was also in these conditions that the 2/48th suffered their first casualty and George was wounded in action. The horrific conditions also caused him to be diagnosed with shell shock and Anxiety Neurosis, which was not well understood in those times. George spent over a month in hospital before being discharged to the Stores Company. By October that year, George was graded a Group III Bootmaker.
A series of absenteeism followed, with each accompanied by financial fines and self-inflicted illness until finally George was en-route to Australia via Freemantle and taking on the role of Chief paymaster.
In Adelaide Feb ’43 George’s conduct attracted a further fine, just prior to being granted leave. His behaviour continued to be erratic and attracted on-going fines. Back home, George was desperate to see his wife and impulsively took a bicycle belonging to a civilian clerk who worked in a North Adelaide garage. A fellow employee saw George take off on the woman’s bike and chased in a car for about half a mile. Eventually he caught George, taking him and the woman’s bike back. Taken to court, George admitted he had been on a drinking bout and wanted to see his wife. His intention was to hire a car from the garage but instead impulsively took the bike. It was an expensive decision, costing George a fine of £2 10/. with £1 1/3 costs.
By February ’44 George again joined his original 2/48th Battalion, serving in New Guinea where health conditions continued to plague him. By July that year, George was again transferred out of the 2/48th and in October he requested to relinquish his boot-making role (which was ironic as he returned to this occupation later as a civilian). He was finally discharged on the 12th March ’45.
As a civilian, George first obtained work as a polisher, but continued to rely on alcohol, probably to cope with the effects of PTSD. However, it resulted in a further Court appearance in May ’47 when he was found guilty of driving his car at Marryatville while so much under the influence of intoxicating liquor as to be incapable of exercising effective control. It was an expensive exercise as he was fined £30 with £1/8/6 costs.

Life spiraled downwards in the ensuing years with George taking up the Army-learned skill of boot repairing. By December ’50 his wife Grace filed for divorce based on George’s habitual drunkenness and failure to maintain the couple.

George eventually moved to Queensland where he found work at Townsville, Caroona and ‘Narraburra Station’, then to the Territory at Tennant Creek before returning to Queensland.
68-year-old George died on the 11th December ’78 in Queensland. His remains were interred at the Mt Gravatt Cemetery and Crematorium in Nathan Queensland. George had paid a heavy price for his involvement in the War.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.