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George John Kershaw Tyson - Information

George John Kershaw Tyson was born in Liverpool in 1893, a son of Campbelltown native Harriet Elizabeth (nee Dunk) and her husband George Tyson. Sadly, George and his family soon lost Harriet, when she passed away in 1899. George Jr. was only 6 years old at the time. Unthinkably, he then lost his father two years later in 1901. George's older sisters then became responsible for the family, taking care of him and his younger brother, Walter. When George was older, he was living on Crown St in Sydney and worked as a labourer. A month and a half after war with Germany was announced; George decided to enlist in the AIF. He signed up in Marrickville on the 28th of September 1914, aged 21. George was made a Driver with the Australian Army Service Corps. He was then shipped out four days before Christmas 1914, steaming out of Sydney Harbour on the HMAT Port Macquarie.

George arrived in Egypt in early 1915, however, was taken to hospital with the measles in March. After he recovered, he was sent to Gallipoli. In early June, George was wounded in action, hit in his left thigh. He was evacuated to hospital in Malta and then to Alexandria in Egypt. On the 1st of August, he was transported back to the Dardanelles, in time for the devastating August Offensive. He had proved to be a capable soldier, and was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 12th of October. After the Gallipoli Campaign ended, George and his mates were transported back to Egypt. He was stationed at Maadi, before being transferred to the 6th Light Horse Regiment as a Driver. In late April, George was detached for duty with the Division Transport Depot. However, the desert conditions would consistently affect his health, and he was in and out of hospital. He reported sick with diarrhoea in October. After a lengthy recuperation, he returned to duty with the Division Transport Depot in June 1917. However, the following month, he was once again struck ill, admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital with debility. Resting at the Convalescence Depot in Abbassia, he was then taken on strength to the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment in mid October. By May 1918, he was despatched to the ANZAC Division Train, 32nd Company Army Service Corps. On the 15th of July, George again reported sick at Tel-el-Kebir. He was experiencing pain at the back of his head running down to his spine. He was concurrently admitted to hospital with influenza and a temperature of 104 degrees (40° Celsius). He felt very tired, and was consistently badgered by headaches and back pain. His medical report also stated that throughout his service in Egypt, he had felt incredibly debilitated, lost a large amount of weight, had tachycardia and suffered tremulous movements of his limbs and tongue. George was subsequently diagnosed with neurasthenia (shell shock) and was invalided home from Suez on the Wiltshire in late August.

Unfortunately, George would have been scarred by his war experience for most of his life. Luckily, when he returned home George met and fell in love with Myrtle Olive McFarlane. George and Myrtle got married on the 2nd of April 1924 in Parkes. They then began their family, before George passed away in 1963.