![OUR ANZACS: George Glover was born on January 3, 1895 in Nelson’s Bay [sic]. He was killed in action at at Messines, Belgium on June 7, 1917, his resting place.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/pHZcEtCHpLnAajcu3Rdcpx/f1a7f74c-4382-411a-bf54-d372f8de7f22.jpg/r0_0_1348_2339_w576_h298_fmax.webp "OUR ANZACS: George Glover was born on January 3, 1895 in Nelson’s Bay [sic]. He was killed in action at at Messines, Belgium on June 7, 1917, his resting place.")
A set of timber steps Walter Glover built in honour of his son George served as Nelson Bay’s first WWI memorial to the Anzacs.
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The steps were built closer to the shoreline than where the Apex Park memorial stands today.
It’s but one of the Anzac stories Port Stephens Family History Society has revealed in its Autumn journal.
“Such stories are a poignant reminder of just some of our young men from pioneering families who went away to serve their country in WWI”, society president Denise Gaudion said.
Her great uncle was Walter. The steps were “for all the boys who didn’t come home”.
Killed in action, 1917, Private George Glover’s body was never recovered. Records show he was born January 3, 1895 in Nelson Bay to parents Walter and Sarah Glover (nee Warland).
Described as a kind-hearted man, George was said to have a chiseled, handsome face, a ruddy complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair – 5’11” tall.
George enlisted at Newcastle, Service No. 440, with the 34th Battalion ‘B’ Company on January 16, 1916 just 13 days after he turned 21.
At the time of his enlistment George was working as a fisherman. His postal address was care of his sister Emma Davis (nee Glover) at Kendall Street, New Lambton.
He gave Church of England as religion and his occupation as a fisherman.
He also had a sweetheart named Lizzie whom he promised to write to when he enlisted.
George’s battalion was assigned to the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Echalon.
His unit embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A20 Hororata on May 2, 1916, disembarking at Plymouth, England on June 23, 1916.
But he was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital between November 8 and 13 during training.
He reached the Western Front on November 21, greeted by the worst European winter in 40 years.
He spent another 10 days in the 11th Casualty Clearing Station before rejoining the 34th as they readied for battle at Messines-Wytschaete, alongside the 9th Brigade.
Fighting began June 6, 1917, after which, George was reported missing in action. A court of inquiry held in the field in Belgium declared George was killed during the initial attack on June 7, 1917. His final resting place is among 6178 men from the Australian Imperial Force with “no known grave”.
The Memorial at Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium bares his name (panel No. 23). As does the Australian War Memorial, Canberra (Panel No. 123). Private Glover was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
