Sunderland-born George McPhie arrived in the port of Fremantle in November 1911 and by 1913 had married his wife Beatrice. By 1914 he had relocated to Geraldton and played for Thistle club until he enlisted in August 1915.
Driver McPhie served in the Middle East briefly and the Western Front. He survived the war but his health suffered. On 31 July 1923 the Geraldton Guardian reported, “the effort promoted by a committee of the Association on behalf on Mr. G. W. McPhie, an old player of the Thistle Club, a returned soldier, who has had eight months in hospital, suffering from the after effects of being gassed at the front, achieved a gratifying success. Soccer footballers are always ready to help a colleague when the necessity arises, and as a consequence of this effort, a sum of above £20 has been raised to assist Mr. McPhie and his wife and children. It is hoped that the improvement in his health, which was noticed when he went to Perth a week ago, will be maintained.”
According to records George McPhie lived to the age of 72, passing away in Sydney in 1962.
The Geraldton Guardian published two of his letters from from France addressed to Mr J. G. Scott, hon. secretary of the Geraldton British Football Association. In the first dated 2 August 1916 he wrote,
We are having some beautiful weather now, but previously it was very wet. I can tell you after an hour’s rain here among horses, it is quite a picnic, wading up to the knees in mud and slush. I have had a few ups and downs since I left Australia. In Egypt I saw many old cobbers from Geraldton, including Bob Anderson, Duncan McColl, Bill Murray, Swan and several old footballers. They were playing a match, the only one I have seen since I left, and it was not too bad. The next day I left details for my first taste of active service. A draft of us were sent to a place called Matrouh on the Western Egyptian frontier. There we were attached to Light Horse, New Zealand, South African, and English troops. So far as I know this is the only part of the war where the AASC have had to use a rifle, but I may tell you we have not yet lost the chance. We were up in that part of the globe for about two months, and returned to Egypt again, and were fitted up for the land of frogs, where we still remain. We are several miles behind the trenches, having a bit of a spell. About a week ago our division were in the thickest of it. In fact, I feel sure hell could be no worse. The square heads got a shaking up which they have not had for a long time. I’m sorry to say Jim Wilson has been wounded, and Jos Chapman has been killed. I think the Thistle have suffered badly. Jack Lombardi, fisherman, was shot clean through the heart. The division to which Jock Douglas and Bob Anderson belong are doing their bit now, We are to relieve them in a day or two.
In the second letter dated 17 December 1916 he wrote,
I am A1, but for what there is so much talk about at present, cold feet, and I may tell you this is just the place to get them. This climate is rotten cold and wet, and we get up to our ‘places’ in mud and slush. But what’s the use of grumbling. I suppose it is worse on the other side. I was sorry to hear the clubs were not able to form this year, but we can only hope the players are spared to return, and get things going again.