McPHERSON George
farm hand and professional soldier 1911-unk

Dave (Desert Head) McPherson, starting as a farm hand, joined the Permanent Military Forces in 1934 in Sydney and was allotted to RAA. He was transferred to AASC and posted to RMC Duntroon as a supply clerk on its relocation back to Canberra in 1937, being promoted to corporal the following year.

Then employed as G Branch clerk he was promoted to sergeant in 1939. And as was the case with most of the then-small RMC staff he was given extra duties – in his case his musical talent led him to appointment as bugler to sound reveille and morning parade.

He occupied the married quarter nearest to the parade ground, and if he was not dressed in time for Reveille, was known to take advantage of this proximity by leaning out the bedroom window and sounding it from there.

Promoted staff sergeant he temporarily filled the role of Chief Clerk when the incumbent departed, until relieved by Grace Befty (who later married RSM G.J. Watson) when males were progressively replaced by AWAS. He was transferred to the Reserve in 1943.

He married Mona Sylvia Meek in 1936: they adopted a daughter.