George MCQUAY ... A soldier lost and found...
Pre war photo of George McQuay "...with fine determined face and almost sartorial fastidiousness just before he enlisted from Auckland with the Fifth Contingent." We have such a better understanding of the impacts of post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] nowadays. One of the tragedies of World War 1 was that of course mental illness was not perceived as an illness per se. The impact on men suffering after witnessing horrific sights and/or battle shocks has become well known now. The angst caused to many families with men arriving back home having to recuperate, changed forever can't be imagined in some cases - very few support systems in place at that time. I have recently found the story of a Kiwi soldier who appears to have suffered much. After absenting without leave, he was considered a deserter, only to have that status rescinded in 1928 when he was identified in a 'mental hospital' in Sydney, Australia, a decade after disappea