BEARD, George Howard
| Service Number: | F4036 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 October 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Engine Room Artificer III |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Torrens (Depot) / HMAS Encounter (Shore) |
| Born: | Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 26 July 1919 |
| Home Town: | Kalgoorlie, Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | fitter and turner |
| Died: | Lewy body dementia, Prostate cancer, diabetes type 2, celebro vascular accidents, Walkerville Residential Care Facility, Walkerville, Adelaide, South Australia, 22 June 2007, aged 87 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 25 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Engine Room Artificer V, F4036, HMAS Cerberus (Shore) | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, F4036 | |
| 20 Feb 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Engine Room Artificer III, F4036, HMAS Torrens (Depot) / HMAS Encounter (Shore) | |
| 20 Feb 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, F4036 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Engine Room Artificer V, F4036 |
Hmas Whyalla experiences in war and peace
George joined the newly commissioned corvette HMAS Whyalla J153 on 11 March 1942 and was on board for only a month initially departing on 20 April. However a second stint was much longer extending from 17 December 1942 until 15 September 1943.
The Whyalla took part in operations around New Guinea operating as a survey ship. George had clear memories of the attack by Japanese dive bombers and fighters in January of 1943 at Cape Nelson as this was the first time that he and the ship had really been attacked in force. Fortunately the ship was not damaged in the attack. The survey work continued along the coast until the Whyalla again was under fire at Milne Bay in April of 1943. This attack was by a larger force of Japanese aircraft but once again there was no serious damage. The ship returned to Australian waters and Dad departed the ship at HMAS Moreton (Depot).
George was part of the celebration on 29 October 1988 when the Whyalla, long since retired from service was relocated at the Whyalla Maritime Museum and the ship is now the centrepiece of that museum. Some photos of this event with former shipmates and their wives are part of this record.
Submitted 8 May 2020 by Kent Beard
Biography contributed by Kent Beard
George volunteered to join the Royal Australian Navy Reserve on 25 October 1941 for three years. At that time he was resident in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. He was employed as a fitter at the Kalgoorlie Foundry, Boulder Road, Kalgoorlie. He is described as being of stature 5 foot 7 and a half inches, brown hair, green eyes and of fresh complexion. He is listed as having scars on his left knee and elbow. His special ration book number was S12275.
He was mobilised for war service with the Royal Australian Navy for the duration of hostilities on 30 October 1941.
His initial rank was Engine Room Artificer 1V class.
His initial pay was 11 pounds 3 shillings a fortnight.
George began service on HMAS Cerberus (depot), and then was on HMAS Torrens (depot) and then to his first ship HMAS Whyalla which was a minesweeper. Most of his time was spent on minesweepers. The others were HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Woolongong, HMAS Burnie, HMAS Warramunga, HMAS Springdale, HMAS Strahan, HMAS Gippsland. An exception was seven months in 1944 on HMAS Adelaide which was a light cruiser. HMAS Kiama was his last ship where he served most of 1945. He had advanced to ERA 111 class (CPO) on 9 November 1944 and this was the role he served on HMAS Kiama.
On 14 September 1944 George was "issued four chevrons".
George served on ships that were in the Pacific theatre of war. these ships were located at various times near Madang, Rabaul and the Buna Passage.
At the conclusion of the war George was demobilised on 20 February 1946.
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