This meaningful project allows students to connect with personal stories and develop a deeper understanding of the past through the lens of real lives and experiences.
This week we bring you the story of George Chesworth, as told by Nick Chesworth.
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George Chesworth Jnr was born on August 15, 1919, in Williamstown, NSW.
George was the son of George Snr and Elsie May Chesworth. He was also the brother of Wilfred, Leslie and Lylia.
George grew up on a farm in Williamstown. Before George enlisted in the Australian army, he worked as a farmhand on his family’s farm.
From a young age George was good with both horses and rifles, this led him to enlist in the Militia 16 (Machine Gun) Regt. Light Horse Brigade (this was the equivalent of serving with today’s Army Reserve).
Both George and his cousin Leslie Chesworth were in the Militia 16 Regt.
George enlisted in World War II with the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment in the Australian Army on May 21,1940 in Paddington, NSW at the age of 20 years, nine months.
George was about 6ft 3in (190.5cm) tall, he weighed about 11 stone 5 pounds (73kg). His chest measurement was between 35 and 39 inches (about 89 to 99 centimetres).
He had a medium complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He listed himself as part of the Methodist faith.
After George enlisted in the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment, in July of 1940 he was sent to Ingleburn, NSW for nine weeks of training before he and his unit was transferred to Cowra in September where he completed the last 14.5 weeks of training.
After George’s training in Cowra, he and his unit went aboard the HMT QX to Ceylon in mid-January of 1941 (Ceylon is now called Sri Lanka).
From Ceylon, they were transferred to Palestine on the HMT Lancashire in February of 1941. George and his regiment were going between both Palestine and Egypt.
Whilst George and his regiment were in Palestine and Egypt, they were conducting desert training; they were training in hot, dry and humid conditions that they would potentially be fighting in.
They were in Palestine and Egypt training for about 10 weeks.
George and his regiment were then transferred to Cyprus where they assisted their allies, the British helping them defend the invasion of Cyprus from the Germans.
The 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment was in Cyprus until August 16, 1941; they were there for about 15.5 weeks before going back to Palestine, where they took over from the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment from their garrison duties in Syria and Palestine.
After about 25 weeks in Syria and Palestine on duty, the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment embarked on the MS Sophocles on February 8, 1942, where they disembarked in the 4MD, this is also known as the 4th Military District, in South Australia.
The location of where the ship docked was unknown at the time, but this is thought to have been somewhere around Whyala, but it is still unknown. The unit arrived there around March 18, 1942.
From the 4MD, George and his unit made its way to Sandy Creek, which is about 63km north of Adelaide.
In Sandy Creek, George’s unit was equipped with British Bren gun carriers and vehicles.
After receiving the new British vehicles, the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment was then ordered to move to Smithfield to hand over their vehicles before being re-equipped with Australian vehicles.
From Smithfield, George and his unit travelled through Wallangara (this is on the NSW/QLD border).
After going through Wallangara the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment made their way to Landsborough before moving on to Brisbane, where they waited for 22 days before moving to near the Hamilton Wharves where they embarked on the SS Nordres to Papua (now known as Papua New Guinea).
After 20 days on the SS Nordres, the 7th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment arrived in Port Moresby Harbor on October 7, 1942.
From Port Moresby Harbor, George and his unit were stationed in a camp along Mitsubishi Lane (this was near Ward’s Lane in Port Moresby) for about six weeks before they were moved to a camp near Sanananda where George served the last four weeks of his life.
George Chesworth was killed in Sananda on December 21, 1942. He was missing, believed to have been killed.
He has his name on the Australian Imperial Force plaque at the Port Moresby War Memorial.
He also has his name engraved in the Nelson Bay war memorial cenotaph, and a plaque below his parents' graves in the Stockton Cemetery where they are buried.
