George Allan Vasey was born March 29 1895 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia to George Brinsden and Alice Isabel (McCutcheon) Vasey. He married Jessie Mary Halbert in 1921 and had two sons.

George Vasey was one of the most renowned Australian generals of the Second World War. He fought in the First World War at the Somme with the 2nd Divisional Artillery rising to the ranks of Brigade-Major and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.

In 1939 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.

Lieutenant-Colonel Vasey was appointed General Blameys’ Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General when World War Two commenced.  He served in Palestine, the Greek campaign and then commanded the Australian forces in Crete.

He was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order and returned to Australia, promoted to temporary Major-General.  In 1942 served in Port Moresby where his men fought in the battles for Gona, and Sanananda.  In 1943 he was involved in the successful capture of Lae.  He became ill and was evacuated to Australia.

Major-General Vasey was killed at Machans Beach, Queensland, Australia. He was on board a Hudson Aircraft, travelling from Archerfield, Brisbane, to Cairns when it crashed into the sea, near Cairns. Also killed were Major-General R M Downes CMG, VC, MD, Lieutenant-Colonel G A Bertram, Flight Lieutenant J W Newell, Flying Officer D J Bassett, Flying Officer F B Frieze, Flying officer G Thompson, Corporal R L James and LAC J D Moore.

Major-General Vasey was on his way to New Guinea to take up his command.