2nd CORPORAL GEORGE PAUL th TUNNELLING COMPANY. From a Sydney Paper dated August 7, 1918 (AWM File: 2DRL/1029)

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1 2nd CORPORAL GEORGE PAUL th TUNNELLING COMPANY From a Sydney Paper dated August 7, 1918 (AWM File: 2DRL/1029) Cpl G W PAUL There are few soldiers of the A.I.F possessing as long a record of soldiering as Corporal George PAUL, now living at Wallabadah, a little township 10 miles from Quirindi. He must have surely been born under the planet Mars, for he has fought in all the principle British campaigns during the last half century. Corporal PAUL served first in the Ashanti war in under Sir Garnet WOLSELEY and afterwards in the Zulu War of 1879, under Lord CHELMSFORD, father of the one time popular Governor of New South Wales and Queensland, and now Viceroy of India. He fought again at Telel-Kebir under Sir Garnet Wolseley in 1882 and went twice to the Boer War of under Sir Ian Hamilton and Lord Methuen. He holds the Ashanti, Zulu, Egyptian and King and Queens South African medals. Finally, the most remarkable of all, he enlisted in the A.I.F. and fought in France with the Tunnelling Company. He was then 69 years of age and how he came to be enlisted for both the Boer War and the present is a long story. It proved that when a man is keen enough, or when fighting is in the blood, nothing will stop him. It is an open secret, locally, that his official age was a year younger when he enlisted in the Boer War than when he joined the A.I.F. When the first March to Freedom arrived at Quirindi last May, the veteran Corporal was there to meet it and instantly he picked up the step and marched with the boys, keen on joining up again. With all his half century of soldiering the years lie lightly upon him, and with his easy carriage, alertness and bronze face, Old George would pass easily amongst strangers as a man of fifty. The story of his life deals with adventure and events which, together make up some of the most stirring chapters in the history of the expansion and consolidation of the British Empire. Our illustration shows Corporal PAUL in his A.I.F. uniform. What an example for young Australians who have not answered the call. Cpl G W PAUL

2 For downright grit and determination in connection with the war there are not many who will lick George PAUL of Wallabadah. But then he is a Scotchman. We had heard that he enlisted, but couldn t believe it. However proof beyond doubt was forthcoming when he stepped into our office last week as straight as a gunbarrel and wearing with a proud martial air the uniform of the A.I.F. On his arm were Corporal s stripes and on his breast the ribbons of several memorable campaigns. Ashanti under Sir Garnet WOLSELEY: Zulu War, 1879 under Lord CHELMSFORD; Egypt 1882 under Sir Garnet WOLSELEY; then through the Boer War (Color Sergeant Major) for which he wears both the Kings and Queens Medals. Born at Dornock in Scotland in 1846, he succeeded in getting into the A.I.F. about two years ago when he gave his age as 46. He was attached to the 4th Tunnelling Company and assisted to put the tunnel in Hill 60 which was recently blown up in France, but after 1yr, 230 days service he was discharged through medical unfitness. His conduct being good, a grateful country has awarded him nothing further than an honorable discharge. George PAUL signed his name G W Paul when he enlisted in the AIF on 18th October 1915, attesting that he was a 48 year old labourer who had previously served with the 42nd Royal Highlanders (time expired) and the 6th Imperial Bushmen. Born in Dornock, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, George and his wife Mary Anne, named as his next-of-kin, lived at Wallabadah, near Quirindi, NSW. 5ft 6in tall with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and iron grey hair, George must have carried his 157lbs very lightly indeed for the recruiters not to notice the 21 year disparity between his stated age of 48, and his true age of 69. From 18th October 1915 to 15th March 1916, George held the rank of Acting Sergeant at various Depot Battalions, before being transferred to the Tunnelling Details with the rank of Sapper on 16th March 1916, his promotion to 2nd Corporal being confirmed on 16th May. George embarked from Sydney on HMAT A69 Warilda on 22nd May 1916, arriving at Plymouth, England, on 18th July that year. After training in

3 England at Perham Downs, George marched-in to the Reinforcements 4th Tunnelling Company on 28th August, proceeding overseas to the Australian General Base Depot in France on 15th October 1916 as part of the Aust. Tunnelling Coy Details. His records show that on 7th December he was admitted to 26 General Hospital at Etaples with debility, and on the 13th of that month was transferred to England on HS Brighton. After a short stay in Dover Hospital, he rostered for return to home for discharge, reason senility, leaving Plymouth on 17th March 1917 per HS Beltana and arriving back in Australia on 15th May. George was discharged on 14th June 1917 in 2MD with entitlement to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In October 1937 his documents were forwarded to Repatriation, Sydney. George served 2 months in France before he was returned to Australia for discharge; his records marked Medically Unfit Senility. During this time he may well have worked with the 1st Aust. Tunn Coy, as claimed in the

4 above articles, as did many others without that work being noted on their records. Sergeant George PAUL, Service No. 1123, served with the 6th Imperial Bushmen during the Boer War. The NSW BDMs record the death of a George PAUL, son of James and Kate, at Quirindi in If this is our George he would have been 91 years old. The death of a Mary Ann PAUL is also recorded at Stockton, NSW, in 1945, aged 98 years. We believe George may have been the oldest person to enlist for WW1. Ashantee Medal ( ) All ranks who took part in operations against King Kalkali of Ashantee, Gold Coast, were awarded this medal, approved in June The campaign lasted only four weeks but was fought with great ferocity and resulted in the award of four VCs. There was also a very high incidence of sickness and disease among the troops, notably the naval contingent. Unusually the medals are named in engraved capitals filled in with black. South Africa Medal ( ) The campaign began in 1877 with an attack on the Fingoes by the Galeka and Gaika tribes and culminated in the showdown between the Zulus and the British when Lord Chelmsford s column was annihilated at Isandhlwana. When 300 Zulus advanced on Rorke s Drift, however, they were checked with heavy losses by a tiny garrison of 139 men. During the defence no fewer than eleven VCs were won a very large number for a single action. The campaign concluded with the defeat of Dininzulu and his warriors at Ulundi. Egypt Medal ( ) British involvement in Egypt deepened after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, many British officers being seconded to the Khedive s Army. When the Army mutinied in 1882 and triggered of a general anti-european uprising, an Anglo-French expedition was mounted. Subsequently the French withdrew before a landing was effected. Trouble erupted in the Sudan (under Anglo-Egyptian administration) in 1884 where General Gordon was besieged at Khartoum. Further campaigns aimed at the overthrow of the Mahdi and the reconquest of the Sudan. These prolonged operations created immense logistical problems. Nile transportation in particular was a matter resolved only when Canadian voyagers were recruited to handle river-boats. In addition, a contingent of

5 troops from New South Wales answered the Empire s call and medals awarded to them for the Suakin campaign of 1885 are much sought after. Khedive s Star (1882) This star was conferred by Khedive Tewfik of Egypt on those who qualified for the Egypt medal. King s South Africa Medal ( ) The medal was never issued without the Queen s medal and was awarded to all personnel engaged in operations in South Africa in when fighting was actually confined to numerous skirmishes with isolated guerrilla bands. Donna Baldey