PURDEY, George Rising

George Rising Purdey was born on 4 June 1887.  He was the elder son of James Purdey (1852-1924) and Jessie Carrick Maver (1852-1927).  He stated in his enlistment papers that he was born in Melbourne.  However this was probably a loose interpretation as his brother, Joseph Ernest Purdey, stated his birth place as East Melbourne, and the 1892 Sands & McDougall Post Office directory lists J. Purdy as caretaker of the Friendly Society Gardens, Yarra Park, East Melbourne (now the site of AAMI Stadium).  Mr. Purdy was caretaker as early as 1882 when a murder victim was found in the gardens.  The spelling is consistent with the 1903 electoral rolls when James was living at Warburton working as a farmer; and again in 1909 when he had moved to Euroa.  In 1914 he was farming in Tongala and listed with the name spelt, Purdey.  The family was still there when George enlisted.

George enlisted on 14 February 1916, the same day as his brother, Joseph.  He was just over 6ft, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.  His occupation was given as farmer.  He was appointed to the 18/4 Light Horse Reinforcements at Seymour as a private on 1 March.  On 28 March he was appointed as a driver with the 10th Field Company Engineers at Seymour.

He embarked on 20 June 1916 aboard the Runic and arrived at Plymouth on 10 August. He proceeded overseas to France on 23 November 1916.  He was appointed lance corporal on 17 January 1917 and on 6 June 1917 it was noted that he had two blue chevrons due.  He was wounded in action on 4 October 1917 with a gunshot wound to the biceps and rejoined his unit three weeks later.  He had two weeks leave in England in January 1918. On 11 April 1918 he became sick with diarrhoea and was admitted to hospital first in France and then taken to Norfolk War Hospital on 22 April. After time in training depots he returned to France on 15 September 1918.

He returned to England on 13 February 1919 and embarked for Australia on 2 March.  He was discharged on 6 June 1919.

After the war he returned to Tongala to farm.  On 2 December 1926 he married Sister Beatrice Mary Rolfe who had recently arrived in Tongala to take charge of the new hospital.

He died in Moorabbin in 1957.