Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George was born in Adelaide on the 30th December 1915, the second child of Thomas and Helen Sime (Nell) Lander. His siblings included Letitia, Harry and Nancy, and later, step-siblings, Patricia, Joan David and Anne.
George had just turned five when his 35-year-old mother died on the 9th January ’21 and was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
George’s father, Thomas, was a hard-working man, who as a fourteen-year-old apprentice fitter and turner, eventually rose to become the managing director of the Union Engineering Company in 1910. The Company made boilers of varying sizes, up to seven feet in diameter. Each year, the Company organised an end of year picnic, featuring a cricket match between the foundry and the fitting and turning shop employees as well as general sports for the children. In ’21, George won the young boys’ race with young Lettie coming second in her girls’ over 10 years category.
Living in Medindie, George attended Adelaide High School. In the meantime, his father had re-married to Nora and four more children were added to the blended family. These included Patricia, Joan David and Anne.
Post school, George became a clerk, also serving with the 18th Machine Gun Regiment (Light Horse) which held camps at various sites, including Victor Harbor. However, with the outbreak of WWII 24-year-old George enlisted on the 22nd May ’40, being allocated the number SX3260 and allotted to the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment, where he was quickly promoted to Acting Sergeant. Prior to heading overseas, George married Shylie Taylor (known as ‘Paddy’) of Marryatville in a military wedding held at the Rose Park Congregational Church in September ’40. Shylie’s sister, Nancy was bridesmaid and Rex Trenerry groomsman. (Rex later rose to be Captain of the 2/27th Battalion as SX2795.)
George arrived in the Middle East in August ’41, continuing to attend various schools to improve his military expertise and resultantly being promoted to Warrant Officer status. Conditions at the time were extremely primitive. Flyers were dropped by the Germans, encouraging the men to surrender, rather than to live like rats in the dusty, hand-hewn dugouts. Rather than destroying morale, the term Rat of Tobruk immediately became an unofficial badge of honour and exceptional pride for the Australian troops.
At the time, General Mongomery, their highly respected leader, stressed to all his units that there was to be absolutely NO Withdrawals when news was gleaned that Rommel was about to attack El Alamein in ‘42. Enemy fighters began to be seen over the Allied lines, with several ‘dog-fights eventuating. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan recounted how on the 1st September, two enemy aircraft made a sneak raid over the battalion and straddled headquarters with anti-personnel bombs. Private A Watts was killed, and Private H.C. Burge was wounded. Fifteen unexploded bombs were later located and destroyed.’ This was a prelude to six days of unrelenting bombing, the heaviest ‘incessant bombing the Middle East had ever seen.’ The enemy withdrew on the 6th September, leaving behind ‘blackened, twisted vehicles and tanks.’ George had been wounded during this time with a ruptured lymph membrane, causing him to spend three weeks in hospital.
Back home the newspapers carried a report of those who were killed or wounded in action. Listed were: SX6887 Pte. Henry C. Burge, 2/48th Magill; SX7085 Cpl. James S. Knapp, Cav., Gladstone; SX3260 WO2 George Lander, 2/48th Medindie; SX12254 A/Bdr. Phillip J. Milner, Art., Evandale and SX12786 Pte. Eric C. E. Stevens, 2/43rd Lameroo.
Despite his relative youth, the countless miles of marching had a frustrating effect on George’s feet, with him developing a painful hammer toe condition by the end of ‘43.
In January ’44, George was promoted to Lieutenant, before heading to Queensland for training in the tropical conditions he would encounter in New Guinea, against a very different enemy. As did many of his fellow soldiers, George contracted malaria and an upper respiratory tract infection. However good news also arrived that month. Shylie and Lieutenant George welcomed their first child, a daughter, Helen in October ’44. Soon after, George joined the 2/48th Battalion. (Their son, Bruce was to be the next addition to the family.)
Duty still called, with George leaving Cairns, arriving in Moratai in April ’45 and thence to Tarakan. During this time, John Glenn described how, gunfire from warship, destroyers and cruisers subjected the beaches of the coastline to a terrific pounding before ‘the leading companies moved forward, against a background of billowing black smoke from the oil wells and set about the task of establishing a beachhead. At 8:38 Lieutenant Lander reported that 10 Platoon had secured the Dutch naval base, completing Phase 1, the capture of Tank Farm.’
It was the beginning of the end of the war. Four months later George was able to return to Australia. As September ’45 arrived, he returned to Brisbane and thence to South Australia. Almost inevitably his health was affected with a gastric infection and a longer-term bilateral hearing loss. He was finally discharged on the 3rd October ’45.
Despite the conditions under which he had served, George was appointed to the Commissioned Rank from January ’46, receiving the Australian Efficiency Medal in November that year.
With the war at an end, George had some time with his extended family but also undertook studies with the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, being successful in the Intermediate section in February ‘52. That year, his step-mother, Nora died in March. The following year, his 68-year-old father, Thomas died in hospital after a short illness in April. He was buried with Nora in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, survived by eight children from his two marriages.
George eventually moved to live in Victor Harbor where he became a vital and vibrant part of the Bowls Club over the ‘80’s. He undertook the roles of President, (and Senior President), and was a member of the Administrative and Facilities Committees. In ’89 he and Murray Isaacsen took out the Championship Pairs title. George was also a driving force behind the Encounter Bay Night Bowls Competition, believing these provided a breeding ground for future champions in the sport. He was also a strong supporter of visiting bowlers from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria for competitions over Easter and Christmas, knowing these also supported the town and local businesses. As President, George was also part of the organisation to support a Red Cross Day in April ’89, raising a creditable $356.00.
In the 1990’s George continued to be a very competitive bowler, being runner-up in the fours in April 1998.That decade was also a time where George decided to put together a summary of his life and involvement in the war.
71-year-old Shylie Hamilton (Paddy) died on 7th October ’91. She was buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery, Lawn 2 Path 9 Grave 2725.George died on the19th November 2002 and is remembered in the Garden of Remembrance at Centennial Park.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.