The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Reay
- First Name:
- George Linton
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX16281
- Classification:
- Stretcher Bearer
- Company:
- Battalion Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 1.09.1941
- Discharged:
- 4.01.1946
- DOB:
- 9.05.1904
- Place of Birth:
- Newcastle, England
- Father's Name:
- William Reay
- Mothers's Name:
- Esther Reay (nee Hogg)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi; Changi Gaol Camp
- POW#:
- 1/9060
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa; Sydney-Melbourne by troop train; Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore
General Description
George enlisted AIF in September 1941, was a reinforcement for 2/4th, joining the Battalion at Fremantle on 15 & 16 January 1942. He became a Stretcher Bearer with Battalion Headquarters. He remained in Singapore throughout the war and was recovered from Changi.
The following note was removed from this George Reay’s paybook and is now held by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
‘It is with pleasure that I express my appreciation to you on the completion of one year’s duty with the Forestry Company of the A.I.F. Prisoner’s of War Camp Changi. Your duties have been arduous and at times very irksome but you have continued despite the adverse conditions to perform the essential duties of procuring firewood. Without your continued loyalty and devotion to the special work the health and comfort of the A.I.F. would not have been so good as it was. My thanks to each one of you and I hope the period of duty will soon draw to a close.’
Signed
Brigadier General Callaghan
George L Reay departed England on 22 April 1926 on board SS Baradine at 21 years of age. His occupation was recorded as ploughman and his last known address was Birney Hill Farm, Ponteland.
About 1932 he married at Katanning to Agnes Alice Young, believed to be known as Alice. In 1936 Electoral Roll George and Alice are residing Brookton, he is working as a farmhand. In 1954 they are both residing at Brookton, and George is contractor.
Below: Daughter Patricia Ann Reay is born 7 May 1933. George and Alice have three daughters – Pat, Norma and Vylma.
We believe Patricia Ann Reay married in 1953 to Raymond J Seaman at Beverley.
Below: George’s Cattle prices which indicates he had land or leased land. 
Below: from Western Mail – ‘Sons of the Empire’
Below: 1941 George Reay and Allen Davis pay a return visit to Brookton. Davis died on 15 Feb 1942 during the fighting in Singapore.
In 1977 and 1980 Electoral Rolls he was residing 73 Bennett Street, Lake Grace and working as a truck driver.
He passed away on 18th April 1988 and was buried at Lake Grace aged 83 years.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
