Lance Corporal Kevin Victor GEYER – NX47935
No 1 Independent Company AIF
Born: 13 March 1918, Tenterfield NSW
Died: 1 July 1942, on the Montevideo Maru, South China Sea
Details provided by: Ian Geyer, nephew.
Kevin’s parents were William Godfrey and Harriett Geyer (nee Whitton). There were 10 children in Kevin’s family: Will, Ray, Eric, Vern, Luke, John, Syd, Madge, Kevin and Victor. Their life was one of family fun and hard work, with a small diversified farm supporting the family (stonefruit, some beef, a small dairy herd, some pigs and later, tobacco). The farm was located on Tenterfield Creek, Homestead Road (or as it is now called, “Geyer’s Road”).
In hard times, and especially during the Great Depression, Kevin’s father had to resort to shooting possums and koalas to sell their pelts, in order to keep enough food on the family table. Youngest brother Victor had Down Syndrome – he was much loved by Kevin, his brothers and his sister. Kevin and the rest of his family walked or rode their workhorses the two miles to school each day: Homestead Public School. Life was very simple. Kevin’s prized possession was a single shot .22 Savage rifle. He was a deft shot, potting rabbits for their pelts and meat, as well as spending countless hours keeping birds off the ripening stonefruit crops (such as the Elberta peaches) for his father. The rifle is still in the family’s possession, with “KG” clearly engraved into the butt, and it is still in fine working order. Kevin had several local jobs, including Mill Hand, before he left home and moved to Tabulam, where he worked in the local grocery store. As a young man, he developed a strong Christian faith, and was a member of the local church at Tabulam.
Kevin responded to the call to defend his country, and enlisted at Casino, NSW, on 5th September 1940, aged 22. He was killed whilst a POW aboard the Montevideo Maru, on 1st July 1942, aged 24. Kevin had never married. He was fair-haired, blue-eyed, stood 178cm tall and weighed around 80kg. He was an above-average sportsman, who enjoyed playing cricket, fishing, tennis and rugby league. The Tenterfield community rallied behind the Geyer family in their loss, and a memorial plaque was presented to his family, after the news of his death was received. It reads: “Presented to Mr and Mrs WG Geyer By Homestead Friends in Memory of Kevin. Loved By All”.
The Geyer Family – Pre WWII. The persons in the photo are:
BACK ROW, L to R: Will Geyer, Ray Geyer, Eric Geyer, Vern Geyer (NX 60305), Luke Geyer, John Geyer (identical twins).
FRONT ROW, L to R: Syd Geyer, Madge Geyer, Harriett and William Godfrey Geyer, Victor Geyer and Kevin Geyer.
This photo was taken at Tabulam, in early 1940. Kevin Geyer is back row, far right. The man in the back row, second from the left, is believed to be Bernie Kelly, who also lost his life on the Montevideo Maru. The lady sitting at front right was Mrs Lottie Schubring, owner of the Tabulam Hotel. Soldiers were never charged for their meals when they came to the Hotel during WWII. This was a carry-over of a tradition set up in WWI by the Jordan family, who owned the premises.
Photos of Kevin’s prized possession – his single shot .22 Savage rifle – as it is today, still in the possession of the Geyer family and in fine working order. Kevin was a deft shot, potting rabbits for their pelts and meat, as well as spending countless hours keeping birds off the ripening stonefruit crops (such as the Elberta peaches) for his father. The initials “KG” are engraved into the butt.