George William Carpenter (1885 - 1949)

Born 1885 in Rodden, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Died 11 Mar 1949 at about age 64 in Pialba, Queensland, Australia

Biography

George claimed he was born in 1889 in Somerset, England, the son of William Carpenter and his wife Elizabeth Hester Pierce, nee Dunn. In fact, he was born in 1885. He was baptised at Rodden on 26 Jul 1885. At the time his parents were on Conigor Farm, Rodden with his fater described as a Yeoman.^[1].

In the 1891 Census he is living with his parents and older sister in Corsley, Wiltshire, where his father is a farmer.^[2] He is still living with his family in Corsley (at Mill Farm) in 1901. His occupation, aged 15, is given as farmer's son.^[3]

Goerge migrated to Queensland, Australia, probably arriving in Brisbane, QLD on the "Demosthenes" on 25 Feb 1912.^[4]

George had been a storekeeper at Dingo, QLD in Jan 1914 hen he was adjudicated to be insolvent and a meeting of creditors was arranged. At the time he was living in Yeppoon, QLD.^[5] The Official Trustee was appointed as trustee of his estate by the creditors.^[6] However, in Mar 1914, George was sent to Rockhampton jail for 3 months for giving unsatisfactory answers about a cheque butt for 50 Pounds. He had lied to the Supreme Court, apparently it was to cover gambling losses.^[7] He was from Duaringa, QLD at the time.

On 05 Nov 1915 George enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service in Brisbane, QLD as a Private. He gave his occupation as labourer and his mother as next of kin - at the time she was living in Evercreech, Somerset. He was 5 ft 8 in tall with fair complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. George was allocated to 15th Reinforcements, 5th Light Horse Regt as a Trooper (No.2251). On 05 May 1916 he was taken on strength with 2nd Light Horse Training Regt at Tel-le-Kebir in Egypt. Within a few days he was admitted to hospital with a deformity of the feet (flat feet) and was returned to Australia, departing Suez, Egypt on 10 Jul 1916 on the "Clan MacGillivray", disembarking in Sydney. He was medically discharged in Brisbane on 07 Sep 1916.

He married Agnes Jane King in Queensland in 1917.

In 1917 George applied to become an Australian War Worker under a joint Australian government/ British government scheme to supply labourers and navvys for the War effort in the UK. At the time he was living in Brisbane. He was accepted and his agreement was signed on 05 May 1917 (the same day he got married). George was issued with Australian War Worker Badge No. 831 and embarked on the "Clan McGillivray" at Fremantle, Western Australia on 22 May 1917, arriving at Plymouth, England on 27 Jul 1917. It must have been a strange feeling for George, as this was the same ship he'd been returned from Egypt on less than a year before.

He commenced work on 01 Aug 1917 for Vickers Ltd at Sheffield as a labourer working in the munitions plant. His wife wrote to authorities in Oct 1917 asking for him to be repatriated to Australia as his health had completely broken down.

In Nov 1917 he requested a transfer due to ill-health while working in Sheffield. He found the wages poor, being paid 8 & 1/2 pence/ hour, or less than 2 Pounds/week. Authorities offered him navvy work in the South of England but he advised he was not capable of it due to his health. His wife continued to request his repatriation.

In Jun 1918 he was still working at Vickers, Sheffield when a Mrs. F Corbridge of Sheffield wrote on his behalf asking if he could be repatriated. She enclosed a medical certificate showing he had pre-tubercular chest symptoms. Things moved quickly from there. he was summoned to London to be examined by the AIF Medical Officer who reported he was suffering from persistent cough, loss of weight and Tuberculosis was suspected. He was recommended for repatriation.

He was repatriated to Australia on the SS "Homeward", departing from Plymouth, England on 31 Jul 1918 and arriving in Australia on 08 Oct 1918. His agreement was terminated the same day as complete. He continued to receive hospital treatment in Australia until 04 Jan 1919.

In 1930, he was living at Warenda Station, via Winton, QLD.

His wife died at Urangan, QLD on the Hervey Bay coast in 1942.^[8]

He died at his home at Gataker's Bay, near Pialba, QLD on the Hervey Bay coast in 1949.

Sources

1. ↑ George William Carpenter in the Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 - Source Citation: Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Reference Number: D\P\rdn/2/1/5; Source Information: Ancestry.com. Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.; Original data: Anglican Parish Registers. Somerset Archives & Local Studies, South West Heritage Trust, Taunton, England.
2. ↑ George Carpenter in the 1891 England Census - Source Citation: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 1609; Folio: 26; Page: 10; GSU roll: 6096719; Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1891 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
3. ↑ George Wm Carpenter in the 1901 England Census - Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 1941; Folio: 17; Page: 7; Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.; Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901.
4. ↑ G Carpenter in the Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923 - Source Citation: Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports) [Microfiche Copy of VPRS 947]; Series: VPRS 7666; Source Information: Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009.; Original data: Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports). Microfiche VPRS 7666, copy of VRPS 947. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria.; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (Foreign Ports). Microfiche VPRS 7667, copy of VRPS 947. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria.; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (New Zealand Ports). Microfiche VPRS 13439, copy of VRPS 947. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria.; Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kingdom. Microfiche VPRS 14. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria.
5. ↑ INSOLVENCY MATTERS. (1914, January 31). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1929), p. 19. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71935824
6. ↑ MEETING OF CREDITORS. (1914, February 14). The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1929), p. 27. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71937368
7. ↑ SUPREME COURT. (1914, March 6). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53320400
8. ↑ Death of wife - Family Notices (1942, December 24). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151380937

• Birth - UK GRO BDM Birth index - CARPENTER, GEORGE WILLIAM; DUNN; GRO Reference: 1885 S Quarter in FROME Volume 05C Page 452

• WW1 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - Carpenter George William : SERN 2251 : POB Somersetshire England : POE Brisbane QLD : NOK M Carpenter Elizabeth Hester Pierce - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=3207358

• Marriage - Queensland BDM Marriage index - George William Carpenter; Event date: 05/05/1917; Event type: Marriage registration; Registration details: 1917/B/20197; Spouse: Agnes Jane King

• WW1 Australian War Worker Service File - National Archives of Australia - CARPENTER George William - Munitions Worker Number 831 - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6448344

• Death - Queensland BDM Death index - George William Carpenter; Event date: 11/03/1949; Event type: Death registration; Registration details: 1949/C/841; Mother: Elizabeth Ester Pearse Dann; Father/parent: William

• Death Notice - Family Notices (1949, March 14). Maryborough Chronicle (Qld. : 1947 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147546259