McGregor, George

George Raymond McGregor (1905-1976) was born in Hastwell near Eketāhuna on 21 November 1905, the youngest of twelve children of James Trevilian Vercoe McGregor (1862-1947) and his Danish wife Jenny Henrietta McGregor (nee Gunderson) (1869-1934). Being the baby of such a large brood, George was always known as Sonny.

Sonny was working as a farm hand in Okau when he married Elsie Jane Bell (1911-1996) in 1932. The couple took up dairy farms of their own in Urutī then Tikorangi and had five children: Ian, Malcolm, Stewart, Janet and Roderic.

Sonny was a member of the Uruti Collie Club and competed in local dog trials as well as axemen’s carnivals. He was also in the Okau Settlers Club and served on the Okau School committee.

As a married man with children, needed on the land, Sonny was not called to fight in the Second World War until September 1942. He then served as a Private with the Infantry Brigade in N Force, also known as Norfolk Force. Stationed on Norfolk Island, hence the name, N Force was tasked with maintaining the cable station linking Australia and New Zealand until responsibility for the island was given to the RNZAF in 1944.

Upon returning home, Sonny was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal. He and Elsie continued farming until the 1960s when they retired and moved to Waitara.

George “Sonny” McGregor died on 30 June 1976 at the age of 70 and has a plaque alongside his wife in the Services Area of Waitara Cemetery.