George Pestorius, The Soldier
There are two parts to the life of George Pestorius, one is as a Soldier in WW1 and the other is as a well respected Teacher for the Education Department of Qld. The following is a summary of George’s life as a soldier and you can read the story of his teaching career here.
George Charles PESTORIUS, the son of Carl and Jane Ann (Harrison) PESTORIUS, was born at Maryborough on November 8th 1891. He was 25yrs old and married when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane, giving his occupation as School Teacher at the State School Imbil, via Gympie. Mrs Emily Helen PESTORIUS (wife) same address was his Next of Kin and he had two years’ experience with the Wide Bay Regiment prior to enlisting. On July 7th 1916 he was considered fit for active service when he signed his Attestation papers at Rifle Range camp Brisbane, given the No. 6834 and appointed to 20th Refits, 26 Battalion with the rank of Private. He signed up for the duration of the war, plus four months.
George Pestorius in uniform.
In December 1916 he attended the A.I.F. NCO school at 1st Military District where he was appointed Corporal. Prior to embarking on H.M.A.T. A20 ‘HORORATA’ from Sydney on June 14th 1917, George executed his will “I hereby declare that I have already executed a will and same is now lodged with The Public Curator, Treasurary Buildings, Brisbane, Queensland in the Commonweatlth of Australia. 12th September. G.C.Pestorious”.
After disembarking at Liverpool England August 26th he was appointed Act/L/Corporal in September. Proceeding overseas to France to reinforce the 25th Battalion, he arrived at Havre on January 31st 1918, reverting back to the rank of Private. During February 1918 he attended a bombing school in Belgium, re-joining his unit on March 2nd. From July 12th to 18th George was wounded, i.e. gassed several times when his wife was advised “wounded in action ‘gassed’” returning to the Battalion on August 9th. Wounded for the second time on September 9th he was admitted to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to (R) thigh (L)hand. On September 6th he was invalided to Birmingham, England for treatment with further treatment at 1st Australian Hospital, Harefield on November 20th 1918. From Harefield he was moved to Weymouth for return to Australia, medically unfit.
George Charles PESTORIUS returned to Australia on SS ‘TAKADA’ on December 24th 1918, (probably the best Christmas present he and his family would ever receive) and was discharged from 1st Military District, Brisbane March 25th 1919. On return to civilian life George PESTORIUS resumed his position as Head Teacher at Imbil, and wife Emily, who had been acting teacher in her husband’s absence, very reluctantly resigned once again from the Education department as department rules of the day made no provision for women to remain teaching once they married although she had been given permission to return to teaching whilst her husband was enlisted.
SS Takada
The pupils of Imbil State School presented George PESTORIUS with a beautiful certificate welcoming his return. The certificate with all their names on it also says that the students were grateful to Mrs. PESTORIUS for filling in. “We pleasure, at your safe return from “Duty Nobly Done”. We are both pleased & proud, to have you again with us & grateful to know that, although you have been wounded twice in fighting for your King & country, it is very pleasing to us all to know, that your wounds are not serious enough to hinder you from once more teaching us again”. “It has been a pleasure to have your wife take your place during your absence. She has, although firm in all things, been to one & all of us very kind & considerate, & it is with regret, mingled with pleasure, that she, although severing her connection with School life, will still be amongst us, & we trust her live will be one long holiday”. Maybe the words of appreciation from the school children helped alleviate some of the frustration and regret Emily HEALEY would have been feeling as she resigned from teaching for the second time. The framed Presentation was presented to the school by Mrs PRETORIUS during Golden Jubilee celebrations, June 1966.
This story was written by Val Buchanan.
Ref:
Mary Valley Sub branch R.S.L
Trove newspapers N.L.A.
Family Search
Imbil School Centenary 1897-1997
Maryborough State High School Education Dept. W.W.1 plaque
Gordon Family Tree
Ancesty.com
Nat. Archive Australia. Record Search
Qld. Dept. Public Instruction
The Rural School Experiment, creating a Queensland Yoeman. By Tony James Brady.
Imbil, Jewel of the Mary Valley by Joy King
State Library of Victoria, The Green collection
www.vwma.org.au
Australian War Memorial
.
Recent Comments