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George Todd, MM & Bar, (1889-1991) World Wars I & II veteran. Recorded 23 January 1982. Part 1/3
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SummaryGEORGE TODD
Recorded 23 January 1982
Part 1/3
George moved to Cessnock, 1922
0:43
He was born at Rylstone near Mudgee in 1889. He first moved to Tea Gardens and then Gloucester
0:58
He served time as a butcher's apprentice.
1:13
Worked at Stroud General Store. Garlands had the garage.
1:28
Matt Gooch.
1:48
George sat for his Post Office exams. He then moved to Sydney in 1910 to work for Postal Department.
2:08
He served in WWI in 1914
2:13
Returned from service WWI, 1918
2:14
Returned working for Post Office 1919 in the Registration Branch near the railway station.
2:44
He then went into a partnership in a grocery business in Gladesville for 2 ½ years.
3:06
On holiday in Karuah - Pat Simpson used to have a barber shop in Cessnock.
3:21
Next door to Pat’s shop he opened a drapery business in Cessnock until the Lock Out. He went broke.
3:53
He became agent for insurance broker. He worked with The Metropolitan Insurance Co. House, fire and personal insurance.
4:33
He also collected hospital medical benefits. It was collected out of the workers' pay. He covered Pokolbin, Bellbird and Ellalong.
5:19
John Brown was the secretary.
5:23
Madge Brown was John's secretary.
5:58
George did this for 42 years. Jim Durie - put George on to reading the meters.
6:30
Recalls reading Caledonian meters. He did this for 23 years.
6:53
Charlie Fullick
8:01
Officers reserve listed, WWII 1941
8:41
Formation of Garrison Battalion, 1941 - to protect the Newcastle beaches. George had to get a platoon together. He did an officer's course in Warwick Farm for 6 weeks. In July 1941 they were called in at Broadmeadow to form the battalion.
9:59
Frank Coburn, sergeant, was Joe Coburn's father.
10:13
Andy McCallum, corporal
11:56
Recalls entering camp at Newcastle, 1941
12:19
8th Garrison Battalion - the beach from Newcastle to Swansea was unprotected and that became their job.
12:40
Recalls shelling of Fort Scratchley - their headquarters were at Adamstown near the Rifle Range. They began patrolling at Bar Beach where the car park is today.
13:40
Location of trench mortar placements
13:57
Location of Battalion HQ, Merewether Hill Glenrock Scout camp. Another camp between Glenrock and Dudley and at Redhead, also at Swansea South.
14:31
The headquarters were at the football ground at Merewether Beach. He had a machine guns and mortar placements. Alan Davidson worked for the Swansea Water Board - George patrolled with
him.
15:08
Recalls patrolling coast on horseback.
15:58
Disbanded 8th Battalion, 1942
16:45
Location of 18 pound gun placements - the 9 Mile Beach. One was placed at Redhead and another at Swansea South. The one at Swansea South fired north and the one at Redhead fired south. They fired 300 rounds of ammunition - (because they had the ammunition and had never had a chance to fire any of it).
19:22
He joined 18th Works Company, Sydney - he was loading the ordinance stores and on the wharves, loading and unloading ships for the troops.
20:14
He oversaw the Bathurst camp, 1943-44. George was a Lieutenant.
21:28
Returned to Sydney
21:56
Joined volunteer militia, 1911-14 he was 21 years old. He was a "one stripe man" - a bombardier.
22:10
Entered militia as "gunner"- he trained at the Victoria Barracks. General Rosenthal was their Major.
22:34
George was born in 1889. Work duties for Postal Department 1910-14 - started as a postman then on the counter, then in registration.
24:38
Ralph Scobie - 1915.
24:55
Sailed on first ship from Sydney, WWI on the 18th October.
24:57
"Argyllshire" docked at Egypt in December
26:34
Total of 44 ships in naval convoy - Australian and New Zealand troops.
27:42
Recollection of sea voyage
28:46
"Argyllshire" docked in Alexandria
28:50
Recalls camping near pyramids, Cairo until March.
29:58
Recalls leading horses 10 miles to Meina camp - leading because one couldn't ride them as they'd been 6 weeks on ship.
30:26
Travelled by ship called "The Indian" to Lemnos in Greece.
30:41
They left for Gallipoli, 24 April 1915.
31:29
Recollection of Gallipoli landing
31:48
Recalls using 5" Howitzer guns
32:04
Redeployed to the northern end of Gallipoli. Recalls landing at Gulf of Cyrus - the troops were lowered over the edge of the boat and if fired on, they were reloaded and the destroyers were sent back to "blow them out".
33:11
Recalls landing of British 29th Division.
33:11
Moved from Anzac Cove to backup 29th
33:55
Arrival of French artillery troops who replaced the 29th Division
34:08
Recalls evacuation of troops
37:33
Recalls slaughter of 1400 British troops
38:17
Recalls leaving Egypt in April for Marseille - then by train up north of France.
39:40
Member of 2nd Battalion 1st Artillery Brigade in France
40:14
Upgraded to rank of Lieutenant
40:35
Spent time in England with blood poisoning
41:09
Recollection of 3 month leave, 1918
41:14
Returned to Australia, Dec. 1918 - taking 6 weeks to travel either way. He arrived back in Australia Christmas Eve 1918.
42:36
He was discharged and on leave, being paid by the army. He married in 1919.
43:18
Recollection of commanding officers - he went to Gallipoli under the command of General Christian - under General Hobbs in France
44:04
Recalls dining with General Birdwood
44:56
Recall General Bridges early casualty. Recalls close proximity of opposing troops
45:54
Recalls lucky escapes in battle - a bullet through his haversack.
Tape duration: 46:24
Todd, George Herbert, 1889-1991PersonJack DelaneyCollectionFortress Newcastle CollectionVoices of the HunterIdentifier287A
Recorded 23 January 1982
Part 1/3
George moved to Cessnock, 1922
0:43
He was born at Rylstone near Mudgee in 1889. He first moved to Tea Gardens and then Gloucester
0:58
He served time as a butcher's apprentice.
1:13
Worked at Stroud General Store. Garlands had the garage.
1:28
Matt Gooch.
1:48
George sat for his Post Office exams. He then moved to Sydney in 1910 to work for Postal Department.
2:08
He served in WWI in 1914
2:13
Returned from service WWI, 1918
2:14
Returned working for Post Office 1919 in the Registration Branch near the railway station.
2:44
He then went into a partnership in a grocery business in Gladesville for 2 ½ years.
3:06
On holiday in Karuah - Pat Simpson used to have a barber shop in Cessnock.
3:21
Next door to Pat’s shop he opened a drapery business in Cessnock until the Lock Out. He went broke.
3:53
He became agent for insurance broker. He worked with The Metropolitan Insurance Co. House, fire and personal insurance.
4:33
He also collected hospital medical benefits. It was collected out of the workers' pay. He covered Pokolbin, Bellbird and Ellalong.
5:19
John Brown was the secretary.
5:23
Madge Brown was John's secretary.
5:58
George did this for 42 years. Jim Durie - put George on to reading the meters.
6:30
Recalls reading Caledonian meters. He did this for 23 years.
6:53
Charlie Fullick
8:01
Officers reserve listed, WWII 1941
8:41
Formation of Garrison Battalion, 1941 - to protect the Newcastle beaches. George had to get a platoon together. He did an officer's course in Warwick Farm for 6 weeks. In July 1941 they were called in at Broadmeadow to form the battalion.
9:59
Frank Coburn, sergeant, was Joe Coburn's father.
10:13
Andy McCallum, corporal
11:56
Recalls entering camp at Newcastle, 1941
12:19
8th Garrison Battalion - the beach from Newcastle to Swansea was unprotected and that became their job.
12:40
Recalls shelling of Fort Scratchley - their headquarters were at Adamstown near the Rifle Range. They began patrolling at Bar Beach where the car park is today.
13:40
Location of trench mortar placements
13:57
Location of Battalion HQ, Merewether Hill Glenrock Scout camp. Another camp between Glenrock and Dudley and at Redhead, also at Swansea South.
14:31
The headquarters were at the football ground at Merewether Beach. He had a machine guns and mortar placements. Alan Davidson worked for the Swansea Water Board - George patrolled with
him.
15:08
Recalls patrolling coast on horseback.
15:58
Disbanded 8th Battalion, 1942
16:45
Location of 18 pound gun placements - the 9 Mile Beach. One was placed at Redhead and another at Swansea South. The one at Swansea South fired north and the one at Redhead fired south. They fired 300 rounds of ammunition - (because they had the ammunition and had never had a chance to fire any of it).
19:22
He joined 18th Works Company, Sydney - he was loading the ordinance stores and on the wharves, loading and unloading ships for the troops.
20:14
He oversaw the Bathurst camp, 1943-44. George was a Lieutenant.
21:28
Returned to Sydney
21:56
Joined volunteer militia, 1911-14 he was 21 years old. He was a "one stripe man" - a bombardier.
22:10
Entered militia as "gunner"- he trained at the Victoria Barracks. General Rosenthal was their Major.
22:34
George was born in 1889. Work duties for Postal Department 1910-14 - started as a postman then on the counter, then in registration.
24:38
Ralph Scobie - 1915.
24:55
Sailed on first ship from Sydney, WWI on the 18th October.
24:57
"Argyllshire" docked at Egypt in December
26:34
Total of 44 ships in naval convoy - Australian and New Zealand troops.
27:42
Recollection of sea voyage
28:46
"Argyllshire" docked in Alexandria
28:50
Recalls camping near pyramids, Cairo until March.
29:58
Recalls leading horses 10 miles to Meina camp - leading because one couldn't ride them as they'd been 6 weeks on ship.
30:26
Travelled by ship called "The Indian" to Lemnos in Greece.
30:41
They left for Gallipoli, 24 April 1915.
31:29
Recollection of Gallipoli landing
31:48
Recalls using 5" Howitzer guns
32:04
Redeployed to the northern end of Gallipoli. Recalls landing at Gulf of Cyrus - the troops were lowered over the edge of the boat and if fired on, they were reloaded and the destroyers were sent back to "blow them out".
33:11
Recalls landing of British 29th Division.
33:11
Moved from Anzac Cove to backup 29th
33:55
Arrival of French artillery troops who replaced the 29th Division
34:08
Recalls evacuation of troops
37:33
Recalls slaughter of 1400 British troops
38:17
Recalls leaving Egypt in April for Marseille - then by train up north of France.
39:40
Member of 2nd Battalion 1st Artillery Brigade in France
40:14
Upgraded to rank of Lieutenant
40:35
Spent time in England with blood poisoning
41:09
Recollection of 3 month leave, 1918
41:14
Returned to Australia, Dec. 1918 - taking 6 weeks to travel either way. He arrived back in Australia Christmas Eve 1918.
42:36
He was discharged and on leave, being paid by the army. He married in 1919.
43:18
Recollection of commanding officers - he went to Gallipoli under the command of General Christian - under General Hobbs in France
44:04
Recalls dining with General Birdwood
44:56
Recall General Bridges early casualty. Recalls close proximity of opposing troops
45:54
Recalls lucky escapes in battle - a bullet through his haversack.
Tape duration: 46:24
Todd, George Herbert, 1889-1991PersonJack DelaneyCollectionFortress Newcastle CollectionVoices of the HunterIdentifier287Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, George Todd, MM & Bar, (1889-1991) World Wars I & II veteran. Recorded 23 January 1982. Part 1/3, [287A]. Living Histories, accessed 06/06/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/55962