Veteran Story: John Geary (1894-1953) was born near Bundaberg to William Geary and Rosie Broom and was working as a stockman on Tantitha Station when he enlisted in August 1917. Geary was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements for the 11th Light Horse regiment and took the opportunity to marry sweetheart Alice Bond in a joint service with fellow soldier James Lingwoodock and his bride Daisy Roberts, before embarking for overseas. These reinforcements became known as the 'Queensland Black Watch' as all but three of the unit were of Aboriginal heritage. Geary joined the regiment in the field in April 1918 where they were deployed near the village of Selmeh near Jaffa. On 7 May 1918 Geary was severely wounded during an early morning air-raid and was evacuated to hospital in Egypt where he was treated for a wound to the head. Although he made a good recovery, he was discharged from any further service and left Egypt in July 1918 returning to his family at Tantitha Station. His son John Robert was born a year later. In 1921, his wife, mother and son passed away, and in 1925 John Geary married Warri Adelaide Drumley, they and their family lived and worked in the Beaudesert area, John Geary died in 1953 aged 60.
