SKINNER, George Tasman (1900-1979)
SKINNER, George Tasman (1900-1979)
Born on 20 August 1900 at My Lyell, Tasmania, George Tasman Skinner was the son of Dr George Henry Skinner and Sarah Margaret nee Kenny (-1931) who married on 7 May 1895. His father, Dr Skinner, was reported to have been the first medical man in Tasmania to use a motor vehicle for professional work.
He was educated at Hamilton College, and then enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College on 14 February 1917. He left in December 1917. His entry address was 'The Gables', Casterton, Victoria.
Listed in Pegasus as having served during World War I, his military service was not researched in Geelong Collegians' at the Great War. The Casterton Free Press of 21 October 1918 however reported: 'The two latest enlistments for active service in the Casterton District are George Tasman Skinner, and Donald Ian Arnott Smith, of Casterton. Both young men left for camp on Saturday morning.'
His World War I attestation record indicates that he enlisted (No. V81187) on 22 October 1918. He recorded that he was a chemist's apprentice with W F B Gough of Casterton and had served 4 years in the Senior Cadets at Hamilton College and 9 months at Geelong College. His attestation paper is stamped Cancelled'.
As the armistice was signed a few weeks later it seems likely that George Skinner was demobilized before completing his training and never left Australia. His enlistment papers suggest his service was terminated on 17 December 1918.
After the war he became a chemist and in 1937 was in business in Carlisle St, St Kilda.
During World War II he again enlisted (No. VX 23952) on 7 June 1940. He served with 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station (pharmacist) in the Middle East (June 1941 - March 1942). He was discharged on 29 December 1942.
George died in November 1979.
George Tasman Skinner's father's obituary was published in The Argus newspaper on 28 June 1939:
'Dr. George Henry Skinner, JP., M.R.C.S. (Eng.), and L.R.C.P. London, 1888, who died yesterday at North Brighton aged 74 years, was the first medical man in Tasmania to use the motor-car for professional work. Dr. Skinner, who is survived by a family of two sons and four daughters, was a member of a distinguished family in the west of England, in which there were medical men for several generations.
His parents came to Australia in 1864 and settled in Brisbane, where Dr. Skinner was bom in 1865. He was educated in England. On his return to Australia he practised at Broadford, Wangaratta, Launceston, Casterton, and North Brighton, He was a leading Freemason. His wife, who died in August, 1931, was a daughter of the late Mr. P. Kenny, J P.
The funeral, arrangements for which are being made by John Allison, Albert
Park, will leave St. Luke's Church of England, North Brighton, at 2 p.m. today for the St. Kilda Cemetery.'
Born on 20 August 1900 at My Lyell, Tasmania, George Tasman Skinner was the son of Dr George Henry Skinner and Sarah Margaret nee Kenny (-1931) who married on 7 May 1895. His father, Dr Skinner, was reported to have been the first medical man in Tasmania to use a motor vehicle for professional work.
He was educated at Hamilton College, and then enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College on 14 February 1917. He left in December 1917. His entry address was 'The Gables', Casterton, Victoria.
Listed in Pegasus as having served during World War I, his military service was not researched in Geelong Collegians' at the Great War. The Casterton Free Press of 21 October 1918 however reported: 'The two latest enlistments for active service in the Casterton District are George Tasman Skinner, and Donald Ian Arnott Smith, of Casterton. Both young men left for camp on Saturday morning.'
His World War I attestation record indicates that he enlisted (No. V81187) on 22 October 1918. He recorded that he was a chemist's apprentice with W F B Gough of Casterton and had served 4 years in the Senior Cadets at Hamilton College and 9 months at Geelong College. His attestation paper is stamped Cancelled'.
As the armistice was signed a few weeks later it seems likely that George Skinner was demobilized before completing his training and never left Australia. His enlistment papers suggest his service was terminated on 17 December 1918.
After the war he became a chemist and in 1937 was in business in Carlisle St, St Kilda.
During World War II he again enlisted (No. VX 23952) on 7 June 1940. He served with 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station (pharmacist) in the Middle East (June 1941 - March 1942). He was discharged on 29 December 1942.
George died in November 1979.
George Tasman Skinner's father's obituary was published in The Argus newspaper on 28 June 1939:
'Dr. George Henry Skinner, JP., M.R.C.S. (Eng.), and L.R.C.P. London, 1888, who died yesterday at North Brighton aged 74 years, was the first medical man in Tasmania to use the motor-car for professional work. Dr. Skinner, who is survived by a family of two sons and four daughters, was a member of a distinguished family in the west of England, in which there were medical men for several generations.
His parents came to Australia in 1864 and settled in Brisbane, where Dr. Skinner was bom in 1865. He was educated in England. On his return to Australia he practised at Broadford, Wangaratta, Launceston, Casterton, and North Brighton, He was a leading Freemason. His wife, who died in August, 1931, was a daughter of the late Mr. P. Kenny, J P.
The funeral, arrangements for which are being made by John Allison, Albert
Park, will leave St. Luke's Church of England, North Brighton, at 2 p.m. today for the St. Kilda Cemetery.'
Source
'Casterton Free Press and Glenelg Shire Advertiser' 21 October 1918 p3; 'The Argus' (Melb) 13 April 1937 p12; 'The Argus' 28 June 1939 p2; ‘Geelong Collegians at the Great War’ compiled by James Affleck. p311 (citing The Pegasus).