George Edward Pearce. 1909 - 1942. Uncle George R.I.P.

 I never met my Uncle George who died in the war, four years before I was born.  But I do remember how everyone talked of him as being such a lovely person, quiet, strong and family-oriented. 

My Auntie Tibbie proudly placed a wreath at every Anzac service in his honour.  I think being the oldest in the family and him the baby, his death broke her heart and she never wanted him to be forgotten.  Their father had died in 1922 and when George died his mother Isabella was in her 50s and running the orchard with the other two brothers. Tibbie the older sister became more of a mother to her brothers. Uncle George and my father looked very much alike with my father being the thinner one. George was a bigger version, my mother said. 

I am placing some photos here, which I will eventually go through and write about.  I have collected so much information about Uncle George I still have in the cupboard to sort, I need to take time to do him justice.

George on left, Sarah(Ray, Bill, Isabella (Tibbie), Jim Pearce at Peebles Scotland about 1911.

George in his first long pants, with Sandy.

George (about 14 yo) and Jim Pearce mucking about in the channel at Orrvale, Victoria.

Jim, cousin Elspeth Lumsden, Bill and George sorting fruit on the orchard.

The car chassis Jim (L) and George (R) rebuilt, pre-war.
They dug a big trench in the ground so they could stand and work on the car from underneath.

A load of Pullar peaches ready for S P C cannery.
Jim (L) & George Pearce (C), Les Tolley (R).

Uncle George before leaving Australia, with nephew Jim and niece Isobel Richards

Children of his sister Ray.

A letter from George, who was training the men at camp pre-war, to his sister Auntie Tibbie.

Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby

PEARCE, Lieutenant, GEORGE EDWARD, M C, VX52829. A.LF. 2/14 Bn. Australian Infantry. 6th December 1942. Age 33. Son of Francis George and Isabella Pearce, of Shepparton, Victoria. B 1. D. 11.

George Edward Pearce