NX26366 Sergeant George William Taylor
Australian Army Service Corps 8th Division
by Robert Simpson
George William Taylor was born on 20th January 1917 in Annandale, New South Wales. He was the fourth first-borne son to carry that name in his family. His Great-Grandfather was the first to have that name and was born in England (1852-1931). His Grandfather (1876-1918) served in WW1 as a Sergeant in the First Field Company Engineers and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. He was killed in October 1918. His full story is separate, and includes this George’s father, who married Beatrice Providence Flegg on 27th November 1917 in Annandale. In all, his parents had 5 boys. They were living in 13 View Street Earlwood, and his father was a motor driver. On 12th September 1934, he got a certificate of an entry in the register of births for himself, showing that George William Taylor was born on 20th January 1917 at Annandale, Sydney NSW.
George filled out an Attestation Form for Persons Voluntarily Enlisting in the Militia Forces on 1st July 1936 at Marrickville. He stated his full name was George William Taylor, born in Annandale, near Sydney NSW, a natural born British subject of 19 years and 6 months age. He stated his date of birth was 20th January 1917 (with the handwriting, it looks like 1919). He was a single clerk who had no prison record, had not served and was not serving in any military force and had not been rejected or discharged from any force. George gave his home address as 17 View Street Earlwood, and his work address as Malleable Castings of Rich Street Marrickville. He was given the army number 428127 and his unit has in pencil AASC 2nd Division, but also a stamp under it for 14th Field Brigade RAA (M). A medical examination on the same day showed George to be 5 foot 9 inches tall, chest from 34 to 36 inches, weight 140 pounds, eyesight both D6 and hearing in both ears good. He had no scars or marks and he was decided to be fit by the Medical Officer. His father was noted as the next of kin, living at the same address. George was initially allotted to MT2 Sup 1 (with the 2 changed to a 3 in blue pencil), then crossed out with 114 Field Battery written in blue pencil underneath. A stamp saying “efficiency grant paid to 2nd September 1939” was stamped in the form and initialled. A note in red pencil stated he was transferred to Regimental Reserve on 18th March 1940. His record shows he was efficient each year in 1937 to 1939 and signed by the CO. He qualified in musketry, table AP&I on 14th May 1938. A re-engagement form was filled out by George on 24th July 1939 at Marrickville, stating he would re-engage in the Militia Forces in the 14th Field Brigade for a period of 3 years from 1st July 1939. His statement of service shows he served in Divisional ASC after enlisting as a Private from 1st July 1936. From 1st September 1937, he was with Div ASC 14th Field Brigade as a Private to 1st September 1937 and he also qualified as a Gun Layer. He was promoted to Bombardier on 6th November 1939 and was transferred to 14th Field Brigade Regimental Reserve on 27th March 1940.
On 3rd June 1940, George filled out an Australian Military Forces Attestation Form for special forces raised for service in Australia or abroad. He enlisted at Addison Road Marrickville NSW and was given the Army Number NX26366 with RRD Artillery, as a Gunner. George stated he was born in Annandale as a natural born subject. He was 23 years and 5 months old (born 20th January 1917), he was single, his occupation as clerical and he had no previous service. George William Taylor of 13 View Street Earlwood (Father) was his next of kin. His address was the same and his religious denomination was Church of England. Upon a medical examination he was classed as fit for Class I by the Medical Officer, who also wrote a note that George had a left varicocele. George signed the oath on 18th June 1940 and that page of his records also included pictures of him. Identification of him stated he had brown hair and blue eyes and for distinctive marks, he had a scar over the right iliac crest.
George was taken on strength on 18th June 1940 and was appointed acting Corporal on the 21st. On 9th August 1940, he was transferred from 6th RRBn and taken on strength of AASC 8th Division. He was again appointed Acting Corporal on 16th August 1940 at Dubbo, and re-joined his unit on 25th August 1940, ex Hygiene School E.C. On 6th September 1940, he qualified at Hygiene and Saw Course. He was transferred from 8th Division Supply Colum on 18th November 1940 at Dubbo and taken on strength of 9th Division Supply Column on the same day and was also appointed Acting Sergeant.
On 27th December 1940, he embarked in Sydney for service overseas, disembarking in the Middle East on 3rd February 1941. In Palestine on 18th February 1941, his acting rank of Sergeant was confirmed. He was detached to 2/15th Battalion on 28th May 1941 in the Middle East and re-joined his unit on 5th June 1941. On 13th January 1942, he was transferred to and taken on strength of 12 Company AASC.
HAMMAN, EGYPT. 1942-08-02. LOADING FOOD AT BULK STORE OF NO. 12 COMPANY. AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS, 9TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, FOR ISSUE TO 26TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE. (AWM)
He was sent on 18th October 1942, to attend No 27 Supply NCO’s course at Middle East RASC Training School. The course actually ran from 26th October 1942 to 21st November 1942 and he qualified. He re-joined his unit from ME RASC Training School, via AIF (ME) Training Camp, on 24th November 1942. On 14th December 1942, he was evacuated to 6th Australian General Hospital with scabies and transferred to X List. He was discharged from 6th AGH on the 18th, and marched in to Services Training Company on the same day. On 20th December 1942, he was marched out to No 12 Company AASC and was taken on their strength on the 22nd. He embarked on Li in the Middle East on 24th January 1943 and disembarked at Sydney on 27th February 1943.
George had kept a copy of the Tobruk Truth, which was a daily summary from BBC broadcasts and was Volume 2 Number 49, dated Sunday 13th July 1941. He also has messages from Lieutenant-General B L Montgomery and General Honourable Sir R L G Alexander that were issued in North Africa, see below: –
In the 1943 electoral roll, George was recorded as still living at home and was listed as working as a clerk. It is not known for who, but may be the company he mentioned in his Militia papers.
On 25th March 1943, he was evacuated to 120 ASH with NYD (not yet diagnosed) and was transferred to X List. He was discharged from the hospital with scabies NV to GDD NSW on 1st April 1943, and was taken on strength of 2/12 Company AASC on the 13th. On 9th May 1943, he was transferred to 2/6 Aust. Sup. Depot Company and taken on strength on the same day.
He embarked in Cairns on E Channing on 31st July 1943 and disembarked in Milne Bay, New Guinea on 4th August 1943. On 20th January 1944, he was evacuated to 2/2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station with PUO and was transferred to X List. On 23rd January, he was discharged to his unit after having dengue. He was taken on strength of his unit on 25th January. He was again evacuated on 28th January with malaria MT to 2/3 Australian CCS and transferred to X List, and was then evacuated to 2/1 Australian General Hospital on 5th February 1944. He was discharged from 2/1 AGH to NGDD on 17th February 1944. On 25th February 1944, he embarked on Lewis Dyche at Port Moresby and disembarked at Brisbane on 1st March 1944 for leave. On 3rd April 1944, he was evacuated to 113 Australian General Hospital (with malaria?) from leave and was evacuated from there with bilateral pleural effusion to Lady Gowrie Convalescent House on 12th April. On 8th May 1944, he left there to 103 AID.
On 14th June 1944, he was taken on strength of HQ1ASRD from 2/1 ASD Company in NSW and was transferred on the same day to 176 ASD PL. George was transferred out on 19th July 1944 to District Accounts Office in NSW Line of Communication Area under authority of a memo NSW L of C Memo 196466DAAG(O) of 16.7.44. On 7th August 1944, he was evacuated sick and transferred to X List and was admitted to 113 Concord Military Hospital. He was discharged to 103 Convalescent Depot with an anxiety state on 23rd September 1944. He was admitted there on 28th September with that his record notes as arthritis and was discharged from there on 5th October 1944 (anxiety state) to General Details Depot. A Medical Board classified him as Category D on 30th September 1944. He relapsed on 7th November and was discharged from 113 AGH on the 10th, with Malaria BT to GDD. On 19th December 1944, he was discharged being medically unfit for further military service.
On 18th March 1944, George married Joan Pankhurst in Ashfield, New South Wales. Joan had been born on 19th July 1919 in Taree NSW (not confirmed). Another family tree records that they had one child, a girl named Rhonda, but no other details are available. His Repatriation files contain a note that he was working with his son, but no other details are available for his name or other information. So, they had at least two children.
As a part of the 9th Division, George served during 1941–42 in the North African campaign, at the Siege of Tobruk and both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. The 9th Division returned to Australia in 1943 and then it served in the New Guinea campaign in 1943–44. The AASC is best remembered in supporting the 9th Australian Division in the defence of Tobruk, where General Morsehead ordered them to form an infantry battalion thereby authorising its soldiers to draw bayonets. They supplied four infantry companies, one of which served on the eastern edge of the defence perimeter for six months without relief. This gave them the distinction of gaining the longest, continuous period of service on front line duty in the Siege of Tobruk. Later they distinguished themselves in the Battle of El Alamein where, performing their normal corps role, they supplied the 9th Australian Division throughout that momentous operation.
A form was filled out for particulars on discharge proceedings for NX26366 Sergeant George William Taylor of 2/6 Australian Supply Depot Company, 9th Australian Division. He enlisted for the AIF on 18th June 1940 and served on continuous war time service with the AIF from that date for a total effective period of 1646 days, including 468 days of active service in Australia and 986 days outside Australia. It also recorded that he embarked on 27th December 1940, disembarked on 27th February 1943; embarked on 31st July 1943 and disembarked on 8th February 1944. His Active Service Badge number was A55771. He was discharged from the AIF on 19th December 1944 from Sydney. His description was fair complexion, height 5 foot 7 inches, brown hair and blue eyes with no marks or scars. He was 27 years old. His discharge was authorised by GOC NSW L of C Area with authority number AAG(O) 24050 on 9th October 1944. The reason for his discharge was (D), being medically unfit for further military service. He was issued a discharge certificate number 60033 in lieu of another certificate being cancelled. George’s address was 17 View Street Earlwood.
17 View Street Earlwood
https://www.realestate.com.au/property/17-view-st-earlwood-nsw-2206
– property guide for the house with a current estimate of price.
Three registered article documents are in his service records, from NSW Echelon and Records Broadway Sydney. Two were addressed to NX 26366 Sergeant G W Taylor of 17 View Street Earlwood NSW on 23rd November 1944 and 22nd December 1944. They were signed by George on 2nd December 1944 and 23rd December 1944 and returned. The third one was sent to Mr R J Baragry of 17 Weidgong Street Mosman NSW, was signed by him with no date recorded and it was returned. One of them was probably his Certificate of Discharge, which includes the details on his discharge form of time in service and was issued in Sydney on 12th December 1944. His discharge was to take effect from 19th December 1944. His description, as noted above, was included on the form, as was his signature. He was issued with Certificate Number 60033.
R W Carswell, the Deputy Commissioner for the Repatriation Commission, wrote to George at 17 View Street Earlwood on 8th December 1944. George had asked for the acceptance of nerve trouble, arthritis in the left hand and malaria as due to war service. The diagnosis was for arthritis in the left hand, anxiety state and malaria, which they accepted as being attributable to war service and assessed as a pensionable incapacity of 5% from 20th December 1944. George had 3 months to appeal their decision and all medical treatment for those conditions would be covered by them. He was asked to show the Prince of Wales Hospital at Randwick the letter. If he had a malarial attack, he was advised to go straight to that hospital and if it affected his employment, medical sustenance would be paid. If he moved, he was to advise them so arrangements could be made for future treatment.
His gratuity was checked on 13th December 1945 and his service record reconciled on 16th July 1946. George filled out a statutory declaration on 6th September 1945 in Sydney. He gave his full name and address was 17 View Street Earlwood. He served in the Australian Military Forces as Sergeant NX26366 in the 9th Division ASC. George stated he had lost his Return from Active Service badge, numbered A55171, while he was “at Audley the badge must have been brushed off my coat when I was carrying a three year old child”. He signed the form in front of a JP, who witnessed it and also added his date of birth and his next of kin as his wife at the same address. Someone wrote at the top of the form “Applicant advised that replacement may only be made under “exceptional circumstance”.”
Some of his service records are not opened and are sealed in an envelope with the date range of 1985 to 1995.
According to a family member, “Funded by his payout, he built a picture theatre after the war.” A War Gratuity form was filled out for NX26366 G W Taylor of 17 View Street Earlwood, referring to his application for transfer of war gratuity credit to the Rural Bank of New South Wales, Sydney. The amount that was transferred was £160.8.2 on 21st November 1946, which was the full amount in the register and included interest.
In the 1949 electoral roll, they were living at Clarendon Road, Herne Bay and George was a clerk and Joan was doing home duties. The area of Herne Bay was used by the Americans in WW2 to build the 118th General Hospital for the US Army. It was the largest military hospital in Australia. After the war, the huts built there were used to ease the chronic housing shortage after being taken over by the NSW Housing Commission. Unfortunately, the suburb developed an unsavoury reputation for poverty, overcrowding and violence. They were still living there in the 1954 roll, at the same place. In the 1950’s, the area changed, with better housing replacing the military buildings and private development occurring. The name was changed to Riverwood in 1957 in an attempt to correct the reputation of the suburb. In the 1963 roll, their full address was 58 Clarendon Road Riverwood and George was still a clerk. All the details were the same in the 1968, 1972, 1977 and 1980 electoral rolls.
At some stage, he owned the Starlight Lounge in Belmore Road, Riverview. George was a member of the Royal New South Wales Bowling Association, with membership in Riverview.
A form for a pension examination by a specialist at clinic location 1 at Concord Hospital was filled out for George to visit on 24th September 1984 at 9.30am. His file number was CX37587. The form was sent to Mr G Taylor of 14 Clancy St Padstow 2211. The house was built in 1960, last sold in 2012 for $645000 and it is a 4 bedroom home. George had asked for the Repatriation Commission to increase his “pension beyond the twenty percent rate, in respect of incapacity resulting from his service-related disabilities.” George had stated that “his accepted disabilities have deteriorated since his last assessment.” Evidence included a general medical examination where his symptoms were recorded in detail on 6th August 1984, a report by a psychiatrist, Dr G A Robbie on 24th September 1984 and all the reports held by DVA for George. The department medical officer examined the records and made the following observations: –
“Arthritis left hand: The veteran has mild disability in left hand occurring periodically only with attacks of arthritis – Heberden’s nodes noted. Does not use his hands a lot now. Needs to take medication but not very helpful. Malaria: No present symptoms or signs. Anxiety state: The veteran has been seen by psychiatrist Dr. Robbie 24.9.84 and report noted. The veteran is very depressed and has cyclic reactions. There has been suicidal thoughts. Need for psychiatric help is noted. The veteran is materially handicapped by anxiety state and at present is helping his son with mobile crane business. The disability anxiety state may be helped with ongoing psychiatric assistance (see psychiatric report). The veteran is presently aged 67 years and works part-time with his son in a crane business. The veteran is not permanently unemployable. The veteran has a moderately severe lumbar spondylosis which causes pain and restriction of movement. This is not causing disability in respect to present work.”
14 Clancy Street Padstow
It was recommended that he have a pension assessment of eighty percent and “that the degree of service-related incapacity is such that the member would be restricted to work of a light stress free nature.” The Delegate of the Repatriation Commission accepted the report and increased his pension, with the date from 6th June 1984. George was given a form of that determination, signed 11th December 1984.
He had another appointment to see a specialist at Clinic 5 on Floor 5 on 23rd January 1973 at 3.45pm for an application for pension increase. The outcome is not known, as there is no other paperwork with his records about it.
George filled out a statutory declaration, for which a copy is with his documents. Unfortunately it is not dated, but although it indicates it is for the State of New South Wales, it states that “George W. Taylor (Sergeant) NX26366 of 104 Rio Vista Boulevards, Broadbeach Waters. 4218 retired, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows: I first met Captain Prothero during the Tobruk siege. I came under his command in an emergency infantry platoon, at this stage, the garrison having insufficient infantry. Later I again came under his command in a troop carrying section. Much later in September, 1942, when the 9th Australian Div. was holding the coastal sector of the El Alamein position – it was about a month prior to the great battle and the break through – I was the sergeant in charge of a mobile Water Supply section. On this particular day I had set up a water point at a given map reference to supply the units of our brigade. I saw a convoy of about ten trucks obviously carrying ammunition approach from the north from the area of the ammunition point of 9th Aust. Div. astride the main coastal road. It passed close by and then turned in a westerly direction heading for one of our artillery ammunition lines. Soon after I saw a lone enemy plane, attracted no doubt by the dust of the convoy. It dived onto the trucks dropping a salvo of bombs and machine gunning the area. As bullets were flying around us, we went to ground until the plane flew off. We ran to the scene, the trucks had escaped damage but the Utility was lying on its side. It must have been hit by the blast and had a few shrapnel holes in it. The driver was in a dazed condition and Captain Prothero, the passenger, was lying in the dust about ten feet away. He appeared to be semi-conscious and he was being attended by his sergeant. In a short time the Utility was righted and Captain Prothero seemed to have recovered for he ordered his sergeant to get the convoy moving and I returned to my Water Point. It was not until days after the now famous Battle of Alamein, in which Captain Prothero had organized and conducted the 9th Div. ammunition dumping programme, that I saw him again. The pressure of war was now off for us but we had been given the task of cleaning up the battlefield. The 8th Army had gone ahead leaving the 9th Div. behind. When I saw Captain Prothero he seemed to be walking stiffly. I asked him if he had reported to the M.O. He said that he had not done so and that he would be O.K. in a few days – or words to that effect. I remember Capt. Prothero very well. He was a well respected officer and showed great consideration for the men under his command. I think I could state that this was the opinion if all the members of our Unit.” It is not known why he made that declaration. George must have been living in the Gold Coast at that time and it would have probably been done in the 90’s.
Captain Prothero was:
| Service Record | |
| Name | PROTHERO, DONALD EDWARD |
| Service | Australian Army |
| Service Number | NX6389 |
| Date of Birth | 24 Mar 1918 |
| Place of Birth | SYDNEY, NSW |
| Date of Enlistment | 3 Nov 1939 |
| Locality on Enlistment | NEWTOWN, NSW |
| Place of Enlistment | MARRICKVILLE, NSW |
| Next of Kin | PROTHERO, GERTRUDE |
| Date of Discharge | 7 Nov 1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Posting at Discharge | 9 AUST DIV SUP COL |
| WW2 Honours and Gallantry | None for display |
| Prisoner of War | No |
This Plaque commemorates those who served with 9th Division Australian Army Service Corps & Transport during World War 2. It is situated at Kennedy Highway, Rocky Creek Memorial Park, Rocky Creek, Queensland, 4882.
There were 3 different colour patches for the 9th Australian Division Australian Army Service Corps (AASC): from 1940 to 1942, 1943 and 1942 to 1945.
George William Taylor passed away on 13th February 1995 in the Gold Coast and was cremated at Allambe Memorial Park. There is no memorial for him at the cemetery. The manager of the cemetery stated “The spouse’s name you have provided is different to our record.”, so he may have re-married. More information about that is not possible to access. The funeral notice was published in the Gold Coast Bulletin on 14th February 1995, giving his age as 78 and that he died at Allamanda Hospital and was late of Broadbeach. The Gold Coast Bulletin of 20th April 1995 also had his probate notice, saying he was late of Broadbeach. Unfortunately, no other information is accessible, this coming from the Ryerson Index only. Another family tree on Ancestry has George dying on 23rd February 1995 in Queensland, but that cannot be confirmed at the moment and is obviously an error in the date. The family tree also records that Joan passed away in Riverwood on 23rd September 1989, this is also to be confirmed. No cemetery records can be found for her.
His medals are confirmed by the list of medals which summarises the conditions of each award and has notes for guidance of order and wearing of them. A total of seven awards were awarded to NX26366 G W Taylor and include in order of wearing: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Australian Service Medal. A note on the form said that the ASM was not yet available for issue, but would be forwarded without further application as soon as possible. He also has an unofficial Siege of Tobruk medal and was a member of the Rats of Tobruk Association.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
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