Donovan, George Henry

George was born in Gerringong on 4 February 1895 and was one of eleven siblings. His eldest brother, Denis, was caretaker of Gerringong Beach, living in a shanty there.

George enlisted on 7 June 1915 as a Private in the 4th Battalion, eventually rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. Just over a month later, on 14 July 1915, he embarked aboard the HMAT A67 Orsova.

In 1918, George was machine-gunned while fighting in France and suffered thirteen bullet and shrapnel wounds, including one to his head, and another that shot off part of an elbow. He was eventually transported to a hospital in Birmingham, where he spent the remainder of the war convalescing.

George’s brother, John, died at Lone Pine, Gallipoli.

George returned from the war on 16 May 1919. According to the Kiama Independent (24 May 1919), a number of speakers, including the Mayor, were lined up ready to meet the train and welcome George home on behalf of the citizens of Gerringong. However, '... Lance Corporal Donovan simply said Thank you, and with his relatives hastily quitted the scene, the arrival, and meeting with home folk, the number of people, and memories of his brother Jack killed in action at Lone Pine proving too much, so the tributes of the intending speakers to his bravery and loyalty remained unsaid, but there will be another opportunity at a public social later on. The Band struck up "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and "God Save the King." Three cheers were heartily given for the brave soldier.'

In 1926, George married a Salvation Army lass, Annie Quick. She was born in Montana, USA, of English and Brazilian parents, and she died in 2002, aged 96.

George's war wounds caused him ongoing pain throughout his life. Nonetheless, he was a good provider, and in spite of the pain he suffered he worked hard as the bacon curer for Sylvester Brothers in Redfern, where the family lived until 1936. To be a bacon curer, one had to be very strong in order to lift, stack, soak, hang and reverse sides of pork. He had his own recipe of herbs and spices, which was closely guarded. Each year he would enter his hams and bacons at the Royal Easter Show, and in his last working year he won the coveted 'Bacon Curer of the Show'. His son Dennis still has the cup.     

George had very little to say about the war years. He did make mention of the Marseilles Mademoiselles, but did not elaborate. He spoke of Lone Pine. He praised the Sallies (Salvation Army). He said that whenever they freed a new town the Sallies were always set up to provide cups of hot tea to the troops. He said at times the war was stopped to enable the Turks and the Aussies to collect their dead. George said the Turks were men just like they were.

At his first ANZAC Day after the war his mates asked, 'Blue why aren't you wearing your Military Medal?' George said he knew nothing of it. They told him that he had been awarded a Battlefield Military Medal on their first parade after the battle. (According to the AIF, he was apparently awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.)

To George, ANZAC Day was the most important day of the year, rain, hale or shine. If he could not afford a new suit, he would dry clean an old one for the occasion. He would send his son, Dennis, to a service station with 2/6 to buy a gallon of petrol. George would come home from a Dawn Service, have a good breakfast and be gone for the rest of the day. His son, Dennis, remembers marching with him one year, and many times cheering him on.

There was always a dog around George. Rumour has it that his dog farewelled him at the station when he went to war, and then every day for the next four years his dog went to meet the train. The day George returned from the war, his dog was there to greet him.        

Although George rarely went on holidays, he did spend his long service leave (three months) in Gerringong, enjoying fishing off the rocks, as he did when he was a boy. George's last dog was a kelpie named Skipper, whom he took with him on holidays. The dog died in Gerringong. In 1954, George and Annie moved from Belmore to Narrabeen, where he died.

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