Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

George was born at Dunedin on 29 May 1897, the son of John (born in Scotland) and Agnes Thomson. He attended the Timaru Main School from 1902 to 1904, then Timaru South School from 1904 to 1911, reaching the sixth standard. After leaving school he took up an apprenticeship with the building firm of Shillito Brothers, who operated from LeCren Street, Timaru. On 26 May 1917, at the age of 20, George enlisted at Timaru and was posted to C Company, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. Prior to enlisting he had had six months service with the territorial field ambulance and was still living at home. He was described as being 5 foot 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds (64 kg), chest measuring 33½ to 36½ inches, brown eyes and hair, and having a dark complexion. His mother, Mrs Agnes Thomson of 38 Edward Street Timaru, was nominated as his next of kin. On 15 August 1917, he left Wellington aboard HMNZT92 SS Ruahine, with the 29th Reinforcements, arriving in Glasgow, Scotland, on 2 October 1917. From Glasgow George proceeded to Sling Camp where he marched in as part of the 4th Reserve Battalion, Canterbury Regiment. He then left for France from there on 26 October 1917. On 9 November he joined 3 Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Company, who were preparing to move into the Ypres Salient in mid-November. His time was short with the battalion as he was admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance on 6 December with diarrhoea and transferred to No 10 Casulaty Clearing Station the same day. On 14 December he was sent to No 14 General Hospital. From there he was transferred to England where, on 18 December, was admitted to King George Hospital in London with debility. Further transfers followed: on 1 February 1918 to Walton on Thames; 26 March to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch; 10 July to Walton; and on 24 October, he was discharged to Torquay. Here he remained until boarding SS Tahiti on 3 December 1918 for his return to New Zealand, arriving home on 12 January 1919. After having served a total of 1 year and 305 days, he was discharged on 26 March as no longer physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service. He was later awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. George returned to his home address in Timaru and continued in his trade of carpenter/joiner. On 12 January 1921, at St Mary’s in Timaru, he married Miss Recordia McGregor Bryant (1897-1989), daughter of Margaret and Richard Bryant. In 1928 they were living at 169 Church Street Timaru. From 1949 the couple were at 78 Wai-iti Road Timaru, where George died on 27 April 1965, aged 66 years. Recordia died on 9 January 1989, aged 91 years. Both had their ashes interred in with his mother Agnes, in the General Section of the Timaru Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [September 2016]; New Zealand ANZACs in the Great War 1914-1918 (University of New South Wales) at http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=254762; Assorted records at Ancestry.com [November 2016];Timaru District Council cemetery records at https://www.timaru.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/cemetery-search [November 2016]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch, NZSG; Ted Hansen, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.