George Victor O'Connor enlisted at Repton, NSW on 24 July 1915, aged 20 years and five months, stating he was a Labourer. He was initially a Private into the 12th Reinforcements of the15th Battalion. Proceeding to Egypt, he was first taken on strength of the 46th Battalion and then transferred to the 47th Battalion on 14 March 1916. He was then deployed to the Western Front in early 1916. O'Connor was commissioned in the field as a 2nd Lieutenant on 8 February 1917 and then promoted Lieutenant on 11 May 1917. He was twice wounded.
O'Connor was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Villers-Bretonneux on 1 May 1918. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as liaison officer, when he was most helpful along the line in spite of very heavy enemy fire. He was then severely wounded and crawled out to a neighbouring telephone and gave full particulars of the situation to battalion headquarters, refusing to be evacuated until he had dictated a report and made a sketch map which proved of great value.
O'Connor embarked to return to Australia aboard the "City of Exeter" on 15 January 1919 and arrived in Melbourne on 21 March 1919. He then proceeded to Brisbane where he was discharged from the AIF in 1st Military District on 23 April 1919.
O'Connor died in 1964, aged 69, and is buried in Urunga Cemetery, NSW.