Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

George Wheaton was born on the 23rd August 1892 at Redhill in the Mid North of South Australia. He was the son of George Wheaton and Martha Helene Liebing.

George’s siblings were Margaret (1894) and Ralph (1898).

George Wheaton Sr was a farmer.

Schooling

George attended primary school at Redhill and in December 1905 he won a exhibition tenable at the Pupil Teachers' School, Adelaide.

While at the Pupil Teachers' School (later known as Adelaide High School) George passed Junior Examinations in English Literature, Latin, German, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Inorganic Chemistry in December 1906. He was Equal 26 on the General Honours List and Equal 7th in the Geometry Honours List.

In December 1907 he passed Senior Examinations in English Literature, Latin, German, Arithmetic & Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry with credits in both Latin and Arithmetic & Algebra. He was equal 38th on the General Honours List.
The following year he passed Higher Public Examinations in German, Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

During this period George was involved with the Archer Street Methodist Church and he sat South Australian Sunday School Union examinations passing Middle Division Section in August 1908.

Teaching

In 1909 George began his primary school teaching career teaching Third Grade Laura Primary School. The following year he was promotes to teach Fourth Grade at the same school.

While at Laura he continued his association with the Methodist Church and passed South Australian Sunday School Union examinations Senior Division B Section in August 1919 and Teachers’ Text Book Division (with credit) and Teachers Scripture Division in August 1910.

In December 1910 George passed the Higher Public Examinations in English Literature.

University

George commenced studying for a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Adelaide in 1912 and in December he passed First Year Latin, Education, Compulsory Chemistry and Second Year Pure Mathematics. He also passed the Higher Public Examinations in Inorganic Chemistry.

In 1913 he passed the Adelaide School of Arts examination in Intermediate Solid Geometry and Adelaide University examinations in Applied Mathematics, Compulsory Physics & 3rd Year Pure Mathematics.

He passed Physics II (1914) and Compulsory Physiography (sic)(1915).

The University’s Roll of Honour states the George was studying toward an Arts Degree, however in his application for a Commission in the AIF he states that he was one subject (Physics III) short of obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree when he enlisted.

Teaching

In February 1914 George was appointed an Assistant Teacher LeFevre Peninsula then on the 12th April 1914 he was appointed Assistant Teacher Unley District High School.

George had returned to Archer St Methodist Church and in 1914 he won the Gold Medal in the South Australian Sunday School Union examinations coming first in both Teachers’ Text Book Division and Teachers Scripture Division. He received 40 shillings in prize money.

In October 1914 he was appointed a Provisional Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets.
In March 1915 he became an Assistant Teacher Kingswood District High School but in February 1916 when he was granted leave from teaching until he return from AIF he was recorded as being on the staff at Adelaide High School.

Marriage

George married Hilda Lilian Keeves (b 1894), the daughter William Gill Keeves and Elizabeth Gill at the North Adelaide Methodist Church on the 31st May 1916. Hilda was a fellow member of the Archer Street Methodist Church.

World War I

It is said that George attempted to enlist six times before his enlistment was accepted.

In April 1916 George was 5’9 1/4" and weighed 160 lbs. He was a High School teacher and lived with his wife at Kyre Ave, Kingswood. George had served as a Cadet (1906-1908) and as a Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets from September 1914.

George’s enlistment date is recorded as 1 May 1916. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant with the 11th Reinforcements to the 32nd Battalion, AIF.

In September 1916, the Institute Hall at Redhill was crowded when a social was tendered to Lieut. G. Wheaton, and Ptes. P. H.Wheaton, jun and John Lister.

On the 2nd November 1916 he was present at a 32 Battalion Regimental Club event at the Co-operative Hall, Angas St, Adelaide. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for sports material and a bugle band for the 11th Reinforcements who would shortly depart for the front.

He embarked with the 11th Reinforcements from Adelaide on 7th November 1916 aboard HMAT Afric (A19) and arrived at Plymouth, England on the 9th January 1917. Initial in the UK, he was with the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, near Fovant in Wiltshire. He was ill in February 1917 and spent time in the Fovant Hospital.

Whilst with the 8th Training Battalion he attended Southern Command Bombing School at Lyndhurst, Hampshire before being attached to the 70th Bn at Wareham, Dorset and Perham Downs, Wiltshire. He was then attached to the 62 Bn at Windmill Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire. In June 1917 he was on Command at the Gas School at Wareham, Dorset.

On the 6th September he proceeded overseas via Southampton to Havre, France and joined his battalion on the Western Front near Ypres, Belgium, on 10 October 1917.

He was attached to the ANZAC Corps Bombing School in mid-October 1917 and died as a result of the accidental explosion of a bomb on 7th November 1917. He was aged 25 years.

A Court of Enquiry held on the 8th November 1917 found
“ (1) That 2/Lt Wheaton G was killed by the accidental explosion of a Mills Bomb on 7/11/17 (2) that in his keenness to obtain samples of grenades in the interests of the service he accidentally caused his own death whilst on military duty, tho’ not at the time performing a specific duty; (3) that there was no blame attachable to anyone but himself. CO.C 3rd Army directs that casualty be reported as “Killed Accidentally” and states that he was not in the performance of military duty.”

George is buried at Dernancour Communal Cemetery Extension with the inscriptions "Son of George Wheaton; husband of Hilda L. Wheaton, of Avenal Gardens, Medindie, South Australia. Native of Red Hill, South Australia. Labore et Honore."

"THE ROLL OF HONOR." The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) 19 December 1917: 8. Web. 29 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5581591

“Lieutenant George WHEATON was born at "Hydon," Redhill, on August 23, 1892. He was the elder son of the late Mr. George and M. H. Wheaton, and nephew of Mr. F. W. Liebing, of Currie-street, Adelaide. He began his education at Redhill public school, where he won a three years' scholarship at the age of 13 years 3 months. At the Adelaide High School he held his own. He was a pupil teacher at Laura public school, where, although only 17 years old, he took a leading part in literary society work, and won many prizes in debates and elocution competitions. After leaving the University he taught in Unley High School, where he won the love of his pupils, and gained the highest commendations of the department. He passed in all but one subject for the B.Sc. degree. He was one of the first education officers to offer his services in the field, and it was only after six attempts that he was accepted. He left Australia in charge of 11th Reinforcement of the 32nd Battalion. His special abilities caused the authorities in England to keep him there (much against his will) in various responsible positions. He was only in France a month before he was killed.”

"Our Sainted Dead." Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA : 1901 - 1940) 18 January 1918: 15. Web. 29 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214065669

“LIEUT. G. WHEATON.
The late Lieut. George Wheaton was born at Redhill on August 23, 1892. He began his education at the Redhill public school. At the age of thirteen he won an exhibition and went to the Adelaide High School. Entering the Education Department, he was appointed to the teaching staff at Laura. From there he went to the University. On completing his term he was appointed to the Unley High School, and had just been appointed to the Adelaide High School, when, after having volunteered several times previously, he was accepted in the A.I.F. Early in 1916 he went into the officers' training school, and on November 7 of the same year left as an officer in charge of the 11th Reinforcements of the 32nd Battalion. It was a great disappointment to him to have to spend the first part of his service abroad in England as a training officer. Eventually, however, he joined up with his battalion, which was in France, and later the sad news came that he died of wounds on November 17, 1917, a year and ten days after leaving South Australia. I knew Lieut. Wheaton in the Laura circuit, and can speak of his splendid qualities. He associated himself with the Church, was a member of the C.E. Society, and a teacher in the Sunday school. In 1909 he took the S.S. teachers' exam, and in 1914 won the gold medal for the teachers' Scripture exam. When he left Laura, Lieut. Wheaton joined the Archer Street Sunday school, and held the office of secretary. At the University he developed n interest in rowing, and held a trophy for skill in that sport. At the time of his enlistment he had only to take a part subject to complete his B.Sc. degree. A memorial service in the Redhill Institute was largely attended. S. J. MARTIN.”

In May 1918 a tree was planted in Lieut Wheaton’s honour at the Laura Public School.

Cousin

PH Wheaton who was arerwelled with Lieut Greorge Wheaton at Redhill in September 1916 is Philip Henry Wheaton, SN 1891. Trooper Wheaton served with the 3rd Light Horse in and around Eqypt. Philip and George were cousins, their father’s were brothers.


Sources
AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1257134
National Archives of Australia
George
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8383428
Philip
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8383434
GenealogySA https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
The University of Adelaide Calendars 1913-1916
National Library of Australia Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/
Trove articles tagged George Wheaton Jr

Author EE (Beth) Filmer, Adelaide, South Australia