ANZAC Centenary 2014-2018: Sharing Victoria's Stories

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WWI Stories – George Dean

Tasmania

Robert Dean tells the story of his grandfather, George Dean.

George Dean

My Grandfather George Dean first saw war service in the Boer War. When World War I started, George enlisted again. By this time George was 32 years of age. His registered number was 230.

He joined the 5th Battalion and sailed on the HMAT Orvieto on the 21st of October 1914, bound for parts unknown.

George was at Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915. From here he was sent on to France with the 57th Battalion, where he served until the end of the war – although he did have some time off from a gunshot wound to the head, but on recovering he was sent back to France once again.

George passed away in 1966 at the age of 84 years. At that time I was 15 years of age. I remember my grandfather as a quiet, caring person who never spoke of his service, but on many a night he would play the squeeze box singing old Aussie songs.

Embarkation Record