Born in East Melbourne December 7th, 1896 to George and Florence Maud Gilliman (nee Deane), George was educated at Christian Brother's College, East St. Kilda, then St Patrick's College, East Melbourne. The eldest of three brothers, the next son Bernard Joseph enlisted for WW1, and the youngest David enrolled for service in World War 2. George was a skilled musician and principal basso at St Patrick's Cathedral. His father George was an accountant by profession, living in East Melbourne until around 1918 when they moved to Dandenong Road, Windsor.

Working as a clerk, George was rejected for service more than once for eyesight issues, however his persistence paid off when he was accepted to enlist on June 5th, 1915 and volunteered for the Australian Medical Corps. He completed nine months duty in Victorian military hospitals including the meningitis ward at the Alfred Hospital. On 7th March, 1916 he embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Karoola A63 and accepted by the 4th Field Ambulance Service late April 1916, initially serving in Egypt, sailing from Alexandria to Marseilles before heading to the Western Front. In August 1917, George took 10 days leave in Paris. His brother Bernard Joseph also served with the 4th Ambulance Service and was killed in action near Ypres in August 1917. Following his brother's death, George applied to transfer to No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station where he remained for the remainder of the war. In early 1919 he spent several months receiving treatment for veneral disease first in France, then Bulford, UK, before returning to Australia on 31st May, 1919 on the 'Aeneas'. He was discharged in Melbourne on 3rd Spetember 1919.

Electoral rolls indicate that George was living with his parents in Windsor until 1924, working as a clerk. His service record contains a letter written in 1956 from Maroubra, NSW, where he had been living for 7 years.
 In 1926 electoral records indicate he is living in Maroubra with his wife Eileen and brother David. His occupation is listed as Manager.  No marriage or death records have been found for George.