The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Rouse
- First Name:
- George Robert
- Nick Name:
- George
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7656
- Company:
- ‘D‘ Company, 15 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 10.08.1940
- DOB:
- 30.12.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Pingelly, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- George Henry Rouse
- Mothers's Name:
- Harriet Lucy Rouse
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 27.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- Tanjong Murai, west coast of Singapore
- Date of Death:
- 8.02.1942
General Description
George enlisted AIF 1940 later joining 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company, No. 15 Platoon.
During the fighting on the west coast of Singapore Rouse was captured by the Japanese and shot and killed whilst attempting to escape at 2300 hours on 8/2/1942. He was 27 years old. ‘D’ Coy were quickly overrun by the Japanese and men were caught behind the ‘frontline’.
George married 1940 Northam to Hannah Jemina Nora Neale who was born Northampton ay 1917.
Hannah is sister to Stanley Edward Neale WX9260 attached to 2/4th MGB as member of 88 Light Aid Detachment. Stan enlisted October 1940. He was taken with ‘B’ Force to Borneo from Singapore July 1942 and died 1945 – one of the brave men from Sandakan who lost their lives.
Please read further
Below: Stan Neale
George (Jnr) died aged 27 years leaving a young widow and son Robert.
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Above: George’s father George Henry died Feb 1921 aged 44 years. He was father to eight children. George Henry Rouse married 1907 to Harriet ‘Lucy’ Gill. Both parents were born in South Australia. George (Jnr) would have been about 7 years old when his father died.
Harriet Lucy Rouse remarried 1934 Beverley to William Millwood. The Millwoods initially resided in Pingelly. William Millwood died 1949 Bayswater. Harriett Lucy died 1965 Bayswater.
Harriet’s second youngest son Arthur, drowned in 1932.
WX7656 ROUSE, George Robert fighting with ‘D’ Force, was KIA Singapore 8 Feb 1942 aged 27 years. Was captured by fast advancing Japanese – and shot whilst trying to escape. Married about 1940 Northam to Hannah Jemina Nora Neale eldest daughter of Mr. & Mrs Edward NEALE, Maddington.
WX9260 NEALE, Stanley Edward (Stan) b 1914 Northampton d. Sandakan 28 Feb 1945 aged 30 years.
HANNAH J.N. NEALE is SISTER to WX9260 STAN NEALE
Hannah and Stanley Neale’s mother is AINSWORTH, Ruby Elizabeth who married Edward NEALE. The Neale family farmed at Naroling between 1912 – 1916 (near Northampton). Previously Edward Neale farmed at Mt Erin. The Ainsworth family farmed at Ajana.
WX15967 SUTHERLAND, Donald Elias was KIA Singapore 15 Feb 1945 aged 20 years. Son of William James Sutherland and Amelia (Millie) Victoria Georgina Ainsworth – daughter of William AINSWORTH of Ajana.
Don Sutherland is first cousin to Stan Neale (d. Sandakan) and Hannah Rouse (nee Neale).
SISTERS
AINSWORTH, RUBY ELIZABETH NEALE (nee Ainsworth)
And
AMELIA (MILLIE) VICTORIA GEORGINA SUTHERLAND (nee Ainsworth)
They are daughters of English born WILLIAM AINSWORTH (1857 – 1933) m. 1883 in Victoria to MUIR, JEMINA ANN (d. Victoria 1897)
Jemina AINSWORTH (nee Muir) was mother to seven children:
Robert William (b. 1884)
James Herbert (1885-1885)
Hilda Winnifred (b.1887)
RUBY ELIZABETH NEALE (1888 – 1953)
Violet May (1890) married 1909 SA to William Barker. Their son Arthur Barker VX34993 2/40th Btn. Died 29 November 1943, Thailand aged 29 years. Buried Kanchanaburi War Cemetery 10. L. 15.Thailand.
Selina Mina (b. 1892)
Herbert James (b. 1894 d. 1916 KIA Pozieres France) ** Enlisted with 28th Battalion, KIA aged 20 years.
AINSWORTH, WILLIAM remarried in Victoria to 1899 FRANCES ALICE MEGERGNEY (nee SHORT) Widow and mother of one child:
Elias Megerney ‘Jack’ Ainsworth 1894-1915 KIA Gallipoli.
(1872 – 1954) Francis AINSWORTH (nee Short) had 8 children with Wlm Ainsworth.
Altogether there were nine boys and seven girls in the family and they resided at Graham Street, Port Melbourne. Jack attended Graham Street primary school.
The family came to Perth in 1905 and lived in the Maylands area until 1911 when they took up land at Ajana, north of Northampton. Jack worked as a teamster before enlisting at Blackboy Hill Military Camp in November 1914.
In February 1915, after finishing training, he sailed from Fremantle aboard HMAT Itonus bound for Gallipoli via Egypt arriving there in April.
Private Jack Ainsworth, service number 1451 of 16th Battalion was killed in action at Gallipoli on 2 May 1915. He was twenty-one years of age.
His plaque at Kings Park Honour Avenue is located alongside that of his step brother, Private Herbert James Ainsworth of 28th Battalion **
PLEASE READ ABOUT AINSWORTH FAMILY
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Below: George Rouse is bestman for his brother’s wedding 1940. Norman is two years older than George. He also enlisted WW2 – in RAAF, his service No. 427730.
