George served in the Senior Cadets 1915-1918, joined the Citizen Military Force (Reserve) 39th Battalion 1931, promoted Corporal on 13 Oct 1931, Sergeant on 1 oct 1932 and Lieutenant on 6 Oct 1933. He transferred to 37/39 Infantry Battalion on 1 Dec 1936, to 24/39 Infantry Battalion on 24 Aug 1939 and promoted to Captain on 10 Sept 1939. He was transferred to the A.I.F on 24 Jun 1940 and posted to Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Brigade on 1 Jul 1940. He transferred to Headquarters, Sparrow Force and flew to Koepang on 10 Feb 1942. George joined the unit on Timor as a Captain from Sparrow Force Headquarters, after the fall of Koepang, in about March 1942. He embarked at SUAI on 8 July 1942 aboard "KURU", as a Captain for Australia.
He was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 25 May 1943 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 119-3 Jun 1943. These are the two Gazettes for the Timor Campaign. See photo below.
He was posted to Army Headquarters and promoted Temporary Major on 21 Jul 1942 and Major on 1 Sept 1942.
He was awarded a Commander in Chief Commendation Card for service in Timor, Authority, Army Order 69/43, on 31 Aug 1943.
He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant Colonel on 16 Mar 1944 and flew to HOLLANDIA, West New Guinea on 29 Nov 1944. He relinquished the Temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 Dec 1944.
He was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division, London Gazette, 8 June 1944. See photo below.
He embarked for the LEYTE, PHILLIPINES aboard "EMPIRE SPEARHEAD" on 12 Feb 1945, embarked for MANILLA aboard Landing Ship Troops (LST) 635 on 8 Apr 1945, flew to MOROTAI on 4 Aug 1945, flew to Australia on 8 Aug 1945, flew back to MOROTAI on 20 Aug 1945, flew to MANILLA on 24 Aug 1945 and flew back to Australia on 8 Sept 1945.
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 22 Feb 1946 and was awarded an Australian Efficiency Decoration (ED) on 14 Nov 1946. See photo below.
He was discharged on 9 Dec 1947.
He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.
Citation for Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division.
Major Arnold has given continuous voluntary service as an Officer in the C.M.F. from the 6th Oct 1933, until 1 Jul 1940, when he enlisted in the A.I.F. for overseas service.
He was appointed Staff Captain 23rd Aust. Inf. Bde. during 1940-42 whilst that formation was in the Darwin Ares, and then served with distinction in a special force despatched to Timor early in 1942. he was Mentioned in Despatches for his services therewith.
On 21 July 1942, he was appointed Admin L.O. at Adv L.H.Q.. and later in the year was transferred to the Appointment of D.A.A.G. (Org) "A" Br. L.H.Q.
His work throughout this later period, during which the A.M.F. has undergone considerable expansion and reorganisation, has been outstanding, in-as-much as he has been entrusted with the difficult problem of detailed maintenance of personnel throughout the A.M.F. In this work he has devoted himself unsparingly and at all times his work has been of an exceptionally high standard, he has set an outstanding example by his devotion to duty, efficiency, and loyalty, and a ready acceptance of responsibility in matters beyond those normally associated with his rank and appointment.
It is considered that for his unselfish devotion he is well worthy of recognition.
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