Veteran Story: George Watego (1891-1969) was born in Sydney to George Watego (1855-1904) and Mary Jane Rogers (1857-1935). George and his brother Murray 'Mick' volunteered in April 1916. After training at Enoggera, George was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements for the 26th Infantry Battalion and left Australia in October 1916, Murray had already left with the 41st Battalion in September. George joined his battalion in May 1917 and during operations in Belgium at Westhoek Ridge, was severely wounded in the head and jaw. Watego was evacuated to England and after six months treatment and recovery he was repatriated to Australia in February 1918 and medically discharged. In June 1919 he married Sierra Leone Tabitha Turner (1886-1968) and found employment on the wharves of Brisbane, until his death in 1969.
