Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Harrold Bonney

Adelaide born clerk, George had turned 28 when he enlisted in July 1940 to serve in WWII. At that stage he was single but by September 7th he had rectified this and married Dora Nettie Edith Terrace (Nettie). Their time together was relatively short before he marched out as SX8126, part of the 2/48th Battalion, heading overseas on the Stratheden. By November he had been appointed as Acting Lance Corporal and by April of 1942 had risen to become Sergeant.

John Glenn’s ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ includes a humorous recounting of an incident where a ‘certain high ranking Axis officer’ was captured but on arrival at camp complained about some thieving Australian soldier who had the nerve to ‘clifti’ his watch; receiving ‘a sympathetic hearing from those who sit and fight at base’ escalated to an order that the 2/48th immediately restore the watch. Despite kit inspections over several days the elusive watch was never found and the men resented being ‘mucked about’. George Bonney and Co printed the original issue of the Khamseen Kronicle when in the ‘I’ section on 17th August 1942. It included a poem by Lofty Whait titled ‘The Watch’ which clearly captured the resentment of the Battalion including the lines:

‘For I don’t suppose they questioned him or looked in his valise

I don’t suppose they asked him who took our comrades’ lives

Took away those good Australians, leaving sorrowing kids and wives,

No, they’ll see that he is comfortable and treat him like a toff

While the people at home are paying us to kill the blighters off.’

Orderly room Sergeant George was amongst the first to leave the unit from Ravenshoe in 1944. By his efficiency and high standard of work George had earned the respect of all who knew him. In a show of his appreciation and high regard for George, Captain Basil King, arranged a farewell dinner at the Millaa Millaa Hotel followed by an evening at the local cinema. George was then detached to Warwick as the unit’s representative at Areas Records to relieve Sergeant Rupert Scott, another original 2/48th.

For George, fatigue preceded several bouts of Malaria in September ‘43 and April ‘44 before his final discharge to live in Prospect with Dora. They had two children, Christine and Robert and enjoyed welcoming five grandchildren. George continued to be an active supporter of the Rats of Tobruk and in particular, the Khamseen Kronicle. His wry contribution in the June 1990 issue summarised the quirks of being in the army at Tobruk:

Day of the Week

Now we’re in the Army,

Every Day’s the same,

So here we have some verses

Which give each one a name.

Sunday now for instance

Is known as Sausage Day

Snags and onion gravy!

Sure, mysteries are OK.

Wednesday’s the day of days,

For smokers young and old.

Ciggs and baccy are on issue,

Worth far more than gold.

On each and every Thursday

The pay book takes a rise

And here we’re in the dessert –

We know you’ll sympathise.

On Friday the old tin opener

Plays havoc with the tins

Of various shapes and sizes –

Salmon and sardines.

And then we have an issue

Of canteen goods or such.

We soon forget the flies,

Fleas, and worries of Tobruk.

But best of all is Mail Day

Which can’t be specified.

Thank God we have a navy

Which keeps us well supplied.

George and Dora both lived to see the 21st Century. Dora lived to be 90 and died on the 18th June 2002 then George died aged 92 on 15th June 2004. Both are buried at Enfield Memorial Park.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.

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