George White

Story

George Robert White was born 13Aug1912 at 45 Red Lion Square, Clerkenwell to parents Thomas William & Clara White. His father had served in the British Army during the Boer War in 1901/02 then operated a confectionary shop. In 1914 he rejoined the British Army. On the 6Aug1915 he landed at Gallipoli. In Dec1915 Sergeant Thomas White was withdrawn to Egypt then France. Sadly, he (3/16603) was killed near Thiepval Ridge, Somme, France on the 29Sept1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial & was awarded Military Medal. Meanwhile 4yo George with his brother & sisters, Lily Mary, Connie Victoria, Winifred Grace & Leslie were being bought up by mother Clara. Clara operated the confectionary business until 1918. Tragically, Clara contracted Tuberculosis in 1918 & died on the 5Aug1921. The children were split up & placed in orphanages. In 1918, George was placed in the care of the War Pensions Committee & never saw his mother again. From 1918 to 1928 George\’s guardian was Lilian J Yates of Aysgarth, Surbiton. His adopted home was at 7 Victoria Street, Englefield Green, Egham, London. He attended church (C of E) at St Mark\’s Church, St Marks Hill, Surbiton, Surrey & was an active member of the Church Lad\’s Boys Brigade. From 1917 to 1925, George attended Englefield Green Elementary School. Following his school years in Sept 1926, George worked as a general hand in the Lagonda Motor Works factory in Egham but left in Feb1927. He took up a Grocery Assistant position with ‘JW Marshall Grocery’ at Egham Hill until he left for Australia in 1928.

In Feb1928, George was summoned to the War Pensions Committee, it was agreed he should immigrate to Australia or Canada. George suffered chilblains so Australia was decided. On the 13Feb1928, George submitted a C of A ‘Lad\’s Application Form for Migration’ under the Empire Settlement Act assisted passage scheme between the Govt of Australia & the British Govt. So on the 11Apr1928 George became Commonwealth of Australia Queensland & immigrant file number 574/7/55. (Qld Archives microfilm Z4563 IMM/103) On the 28Apr1928 George boarded the 14000 ton ex-troop ship ‘SS Orvieto’ at Tilbury Docks for his journey to Qld. The Orvieto arrived in Fremantle on the 29May1928 for Customs Clearance. It arrived in Brisbane on Monday 11Jun1928. He was taken to the Immigration Department, Kangaroo Point & shown to a dormitory where he waited for two days when he was given a working position on 13June. George\’s states;

‘I cannot recall my journey from the Immigration Department to Maryborough. I know I was put on a train, in a new country, on my own, just told when I get to Maryborough catch another train to Pialba & get off at Nikenbah. Charley Grimstead was waiting for me; his farm consisted of cane, a small dairy & piggery. I worked from early morning to dark for seventeen shillings & sixpence per week. Two thirds was sent to the Immigration Department. I stayed two & a half years then went back to Brisbane & made my way to the Immigration Department. They found me another job. I then went to the other side of Chinchilla, a siding called “Baking-Board.” My place of abode was an old tin shed. It was a very rough life, rough living & rough tucker. That’s life, but it wasn’t too bad. Things went on, I stayed about two years, & then a chap from Gin Gin won a selection next to ours & wanted someone to help him knock some scrub over. He took me on & I done my first lesson in scrub falling, Brigalow Trees & Balia. I stayed there until he said he would leave it for a while & burn off. I came back to Brisbane to the Immigration Department & they found me another job ring barking at Wallumbilla just this side of Roma. The chap that had the contract was ring barking the scrub for two shillings & sixpence an acre, meat supplied by the homestead. There were four of us ring barking about 2000 acres. I stayed there for eighteen months. I came back to Brisbane & got another job at Samford. It was a dairy farm half way between Brisbane & Dayboro. I stayed there about nine months then returned to Brisbane. The second war broke out & employment began to increase. The fire brigade were putting on men so I put an application in. A month later I went for an interview & was put on a short time later which lead to 36.5 years’ service. I studied & further educated myself in my spare time & became a First Class Station Officer after eight years’ service. I spent most of my time from then on at Headquarters. I retired in 1977.’

From a humble & tragic early life George can be proud of his life & Australia proud to have him immigrate. George died in Brisbane on the 6 June 1992 & is buried at the Albany Creek Crematorium, Albany Creek, Brisbane.

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