George Graham Pike

George Graham Pike

Personal Information
Date of Birth	20 Mar 1924 (11 Jul 1926)
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Description	5'11½" (1.82m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; hazel eyes ; fair hair ; tattoo right forearm
Religion	Church of England
Address	13 Patricia street, Victoria Park, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Holland Pike
Military Information
Reg Number	W69563 & 32840
Date of Enlistment	26 Apr 1942
Rank	Private & Assistant Cook
Unit/Formation	3rd Training Battalion & Naval ships
Ships Served On
Ship Name	HMAS Adelaide
Tour Dates	18 Oct 1944 ‒ 26 Feb 1945
Ship Name	HMAS Koala
Tour Dates	10 Nov 1946 ‒ 14 Mar 1947
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia

War Service

Enlisted on 26 Apr 1942 in the CMF, giving his birth date as 20 Mar 1924 (subsequently found to be 20 Mar 1926), so he was only 16 years old. He gave his mother Stella as NOK. His date of discharge was 24 Nov 1942 so he had served on a part time basis for 213 days with his last unit being the 3rd (Swan) VDC Battalion.

On 28 Mar 1944 (aged 18) George enlisted to serve in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve with Number F5233. However, his father refused to give his consent. Authorities determined that he could be retained until the age of 21 when he would be given the opportunity to continue with his engagement or take his discharge. Sent to HMAS Cerberus on the Mornington peninsula in Victoria, he was rated initially as an Assistant Cook. George transferred to the RAN on 24 Oct 1944 for a 2 year term and his first sea posting was to HMAS Adelaide from 18 Oct 1944 until 26 Feb 1945 when she paid off in Sydney.

George's records are indistinct for March to early July 1945, but on 11 Jul 1945 he was rated as Cook at HMAS Melville in Darwin. He had signed on for another two years in the RAN at age 21 as earlier agreed. From 11 Feb 1946 until 9 Nov 1946 George was posted to HMAS Leeuwin, before joining the crew of HMAS Koala on 19 Nov 1946. He was still a member of her crew on 14 Mar 1947. George was discharged on 4 Sep 1947.

Post War

During 1947 George married Roma Joyce Gale.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 46 George street, Midland Junction; 1954 at 37 Ewart street, Midland Junction, fireman;