Histories

Biographical Information: JOHN HARRY ROBERT PURVIS (HARRY), born 20th April 1927 posthumously in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. As a baby he lived with his mother first in St Andrews and then in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, but was adopted (23rd March 1936) and brought up by his grandfather Robert Walter Purvis (Robin) (see 1.1.3.6.1.10. above) and grandmother Henrietta Walton Gilmour or Purvis (Netta) (see OA.750 – 1.3.2.2.3.) at Gilmerton, near St Andrews. Served on active duty with the Scots Guards in North Italy, including Trieste and the demarcation of the Italo-Jugoslav frontier (1945-46), and (1948) in Malaya. In 1949 he transferred to the Queen's Own Hussars in Malaya, (1949-50) on the Hong Kong/China frontier, and (1950-52) again in Malaya for active service against the Communist insurgency. Emigrated (1954) to Queensland, Australia, and purchased the farm of Correndock, near Southbrook, Queensland, which he sold in 1964. He then purchased (1965) the farm of Minna Murra, near Wandoan, Queensland, developing it to 2,000 acres, on which he fattened cattle and grew seed wheat (gaining 1st prize for seed Flinders wheat in the Wandoan Wheat Competition (1983)), and sold this (1989) due to his wife's illness. Australian Post Mail Contractor and Trained Volunteer Rural Fireman (2003). Living (2011) in Kingsthorpe, Queensland. He married (3rd May 1957 in St Andrews Church of England, South Brisbane, Queensland) Judith Dell Cameron (Dell) (born 24th February 1935 at St George, Queensland, died 4th November 1990 at St Vincent's Hospital, Toowoomba, Queensland), physiotherapist, daughter of Richard Dugald Cameron (died before 1994) and Ann Austin (died before 1994) of Cooyar Homestead, Cooyar, Queensland, having four children:-