Private George Washington was born near Dublin and enlisted into the 14th Regiment in June 1858, aged 20 years. Subsequently engaged in New Zealand between November 1860 and October 1866, his Service Record was endorsed with a commendation for his 'conspicuous coolness and bravery at the attack on the enemy's stronghold at Rangariri on 20 November 1863'. Promotion to Corporal was confirmed in the same month but in June 1864 he deserted, not 'rejoining' until November 1865, a subsequent Court-Martial reducing him to the ranks and sentencing him to imprisonment until early 1866. A possible explanation for Washington's desertion would be a young lady from Auckland, one Elizabeth Cormell, to whom he was married on his release. In October 1866, he sailed with the Regiment for Australia, where he remained on garrison duty until August 1870, having transferred into the 18th Regiment in March of the same year. Re-engaged at Hobart Town for a further ten years, Washington was finally discharged back at Aldershot in January 1881.