Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Aaron Harding was born at Julia Creek, South Australia on 16 May 1874. He was the second of ten children of Aaron and Margaret Harding. The State Library of South Australia also has a photograph of Aaron and Margaret Harding in its collection (Image number B 33024). George's parents were early farmers in the mid-north of South Australia. In March 1880, the family acquired the original leases to three sections of land in the Hundred of Wonna at Franklyn near Terowie in marginal farming country. They built their home there and George attended school at Franklyn. In 1900 George Harding, then an insurance agent and living at Mildura in Victoria, applied for and was selected for service with the Fourth Victorian Contingent in the Boer War. Not long after his 26th birthday, Trooper George Harding arrived in South Africa on the 'Victorian' to begin his war service and just over a year later he returned to Melbourne on 'The Orient' having survived his adventures. He was discharged from the Army on 31 July 1901. In 1908, he married a South Australian, Elsie Mabel Bensch, at Belmont in Western Australia. In 1911, they returned to South Australia and made their home in Unley where they raised four daughters - Trixie, Melva, Gwenda and Una. George Harding died on 26 July 1970 at the age of 96 while Elsie died on 4 June 1976 at the age of 95 years. [information supplied by descendant].