Private George Leonard Farrell Bliss

Private
GEORGE LEONARD FARRELL BLISS
N244163
Service Australian Army
Place of Birth YASS, NSW
Date of Enlistment 2 December 1941
Locality on Enlistment SPRING VALLEY
Place of Enlistment YASS, NSW
Next of Kin BLISS, REBECCA
Date of Death 19 October 1942
Posting on Death 3 Australian Infantry Battalion

BLISS, Private, GEORGE LEONARD FARRELL, N244163. A.C.M.F. 3 Bn.
Australian Infantry. 19th October 1942. Age 20. Son of Farrell and
Rebecca Bliss (nee Privett), of Yass, New South Wales. C7. E. 10.

George Leonard Farrell Bliss was born on the property known as "Spring
Valley" - the same property his grandfather, George Henry Bliss,
convict, was granted when given a Ticket of Leave in 1839.

He was called up in 1942 into the Militia and drafted into the Third
Australian Infantry Battalion. He was not tall and was slightly built
but quite used to hard farm work and sleeping rough, whilst out rounding
up cattle.

Following his call-up and brief training, he was sent to New Guinea and
Kokoda. He was amongst A.I.F. returned volunteers.

His rural background made him keenly observant of things around him and
he was used to using a gun.

George and another young soldier were sent as scouts by their Unit
Lieutenant, who was later demoted for sending out inexperienced
youngsters in this role.

Both youngsters were killed on the track and cannibalised

There is a memorial to George and others killed on the Kokoda Track in
Concord, NSW.