Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George was born on 11 Jul 1869 in Whites Flat, near Todd River (SA) very close to where the Todd Reservoir is situated to-day, to John Innis Wishart and Jessie Wishart (nee: Barr).  He was the seventh of eleven children.  His father was a local farmer.

He went to school at Lipson - the Burrawing Mine and Hinkler’s school, near the Warratta Bridge. Parents paid the princely sum of sixpence (five cents) a week for their children to attend this school.  On completion of schooling he worked on his father’s farm at Warratta for 6 years before he won a contract for the delivery of mail on a weekly basis between Warratta Vale Station (Mortlock’s) and Port Lincoln, a distance of 40 miles on horse back!  At the completion of this contract he took a further 3 year contract traveling the same route, but this time twice weekly!

At the start of the Boer War, George and his brother Howard went to Adelaide by sailing ketch to join the South Australian contingent to serve in South Africa, but found that recruiting had been temporarily closed.  Undeterred, George paid his own fare to South Africa, arriving at Cape Town on 6 Jun 1901 and joined the British Forces as a member of the Army Service Corps.  He saw service at Middleburgh, Naauwpoort, Bloemfontein, Pochefstroom and Bethlehem.  He was presented with a very attractive engraved gold watch by the residents of Carrowdore, South Africa, but the reason for the presentation is unknown; the watch is still in the possession of the family.  He remained in country for several years after the war, before returning to Australia in Mar 1906.

On return to Australia he worked on the new Port Lincoln to Cummins railway and then on a sister’s farm, before taking the agency of the Farmers Union: he was also the Secretary of the Yaranyacka and Tumby Bay Farmers Association.  He held these positions until the outbreak of WW1, when he again enlisted.  This time he joined the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society and was posted to Egypt, where he was promoted to Lieutenant.  He returned home in 1920.

George had well and truly caught the travel bug.  He had already travelled extensively for his time, but he now commenced 10 years of world travel.  Travels which included crossing the equator on six occasions, no mean feat for this era.  On completion of these extended travels he retired to Lipson, living with his sisters Jessie and Lilias.  After the death of his sisters he lived with the Brougham family, who had purchased the family farm, for a number of years. 

He later moved to Tumby Bay and was a familiar sight driving his 1924 Model T Ford around the town, even though he was over 90 years of age.  He was a forthright man and a strong believer in the Methodist Church, which he attended regularly.

George passed away on 25 Jun 1962 at the age of 92 years and 11 months.  A memorial window was installed in the church at Lipson in 1963 in recognition of his service to the church.

Medals and Decorations                                                        

The Queen’s South Africa Medal (Cape Colony Clasp)

1914 - 15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal