Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Sutton Hoult was born at West Gippsland Hospital on April 9th 1904 to Charles Henry Hoult and Maggie May Barr with his middle name coming from his grandmothers maiden name which was sutton and her father samuel sutton who fought in the napoleonic war. He was the third son of five children. Sometime after George was born, the family moved to Mirboo North. Charles and Maggie bred draught horses and Charles was a road contractor. After leaving school, George and his brothers worked with their father building roads around the Mirboo North area.

When George was about 17, his father sold some horses to the Buln Buln Shire and George had the job of droving the horses from Mirboo North to Drouin. When he arrived in Drouin, he was informed that his father had arranged for him to work for the Buln Buln Shire looking after the horses and building roads.

It was at this time he met and married Janet Ringin. Janet was the daughter of Jim Ringin and Isabella Kennedy. When Jim returned from WW1 after serving in the 22nd Infantry Battalion over in the Western Front he became the Works Foreman for the Buln Buln Shire and on his retirement, his son-in-law, George Hoult took over from him. Janet’s uncles, Peter and Alex Kennedy also built roads in the Buln Buln Shire. George and Janet married at Mirboo North in 1926.

in 1931 George was a patrolman and went bankrupt after spending most of his money on horsefeed the day before he was let go because they had no more work for him then in 1933 his father died at work out in Mirboo north

Their first years of married life was spent living in a tent at Drouin South before moving into the house a 7 Buln Buln Road, Drouin, which is still occupied by their daughter Beryl. George and Janet had 15 children, 10 boys and 5 girls. The house had only 3 bedrooms, so naturally it was a bit of a squash. George had to put on another bedroom as the family grew and did this himself.

George and Janet Hoult leased 15 acres from J. ringin, Snr, 20 acres below the house, and 20 acres opposite Oddy Street from Colin Wade where they milked about 35 cows.

George helped to do some roadworks at the West Gippsland Hospital with his horses. whether this was as part of his job with the Buln Buln shire or not The hospital was very grateful to George and assured him he would be well looked after in the hospital should the need ever arise.

George joined the Australian Army in 1940. He was discharged after 8 weeks for family reasons then in June of 1941 he enlisted again determined to protect his country and he shipped out for new guniea in 1943. He spent 1626 days in the War serving in the Royal Australian Engineers (8 Army Troop Company), and attained rank of Corporal in August 1944. His Army duration was spent as 709 days in Australia and 623 days in service in New Guinea and was discharged on 5th of December 1945. Janet had 11 children to look after while George served in the Army.

One of their sons drowned while he was training at Pukapanyal and Two of George and Janet’s sons also served in the Armed Forces. George Jnr served in the Australian Navy at end of WW2 and James(D.1996) joined the Air Force a few years later.

George worked for the Buln Buln Shire for approximately 48 years, starting as road patrol worker and retiring as Chief Superintendent of Works.

George passed away on 9 December 1974 aged 70 in his home at drouin. He worked hard during his life and instilled this attribute into all of his family.

Janet passed away on 26 April 1981 aged 78. She worked hard alongside George in bringing up their 15 children and making them all into responsible and respectful members of the community.


George and Isabella are buried in the Lawn Section A at the Drouin Cemetery.

Story by Shona Barwick (updated and edited by Thomas Buckingham)