George enlisted at Inverell in April 1917 when he was nineteen. He was the son of Thomas and Jane Halliday of Brodies Plains, near Inverell. They gave permission for their son to serve overseas.
George joined the 33rd Battalion, 8th Reinforcement and left Australia on HMAT A16 Port Melbourne in July. He arrived at Liverpool, England in September where further training took place until he went to France in January 1918.
During April 1918 George was gassed and invalided back to England for treatment. He returned to France in September. Following the end of the War George returned to Australia and was discharged in March 1920. Upon his return to Brodies Plains residents organised a Welcome Home function for him during which an inscribed gold medal was pinned on him by his sister. George was the last of the Brodies Plains soldiers to return home.
George married and lived at Inverell with his wife and family until his death in 1962. His name is recorded on the Brodies Plains Honor Roll, the Delungra Roll of Honor and at the new Anzac memorial gate at Delungra.