George Weston Firns

Western Mail 24 Dec 1915 page 23
Personal Information
Date of Birth	2 Feb 1894
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	25 Nov 1976, aged 82
Place of Death	Mandurah, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 4 months
Description	5'5½" (1.66m) tall; weight 139 lbs (63kg); fair hair, grey eyes, fair hair.
Occupation	mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Serpentine, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Charles Firns
Military Information
Reg Number	2291
Date of Enlistment	2 Jun 1915
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 6th reinforcement transferred to 48th Battalion / 12th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	25 Jun 1915 - 18 Jul 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A62 Wandilla
Date of Return	28 Feb 1919 - 7 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A68 Anchises
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Mundijong Serpentine
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

George appears on the 1905 roll for the Buckingham Siding school

War Service

Initially allocated to the 8th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, on 15 Jun 1915 George was re-allocated to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. He joined them on 2 Aug 1915 at Gallipoli.

On 4 Sep 1915 he was evacuated from Gallipoli and placed on HMHS Salta for Alexandria. On arrival he was admitted on 9 Sep 1915 to 2nd Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis, before being transferred to Mean House Hospital on 16 Oct 1915.

Transferred to the 48th Battalion on 3 Mar 1916 and soon after appointed a Driver. Embarked on the HMT Caledonia on 2 Aug 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles on 9 Aug 1916, before n late Sep 1917 he was detached to the 4th Division Train as a Driver.

On 10 Nov 1917 George was admitted to the Dover Military hospital while he was on leave in England, with VD. On the 15th he was transferred to Bulford Hospital and remained there until discharged on 14 Jan 1918. Readmitted on the 18th, this time he remained in hospital until 16 Feb 1918. Total time with VD for both occasions was 96 days (deemed to be ineffective service and therefore no pay received).

On 9 Apr 1918 George proceeded overseas again from Southampton on the HS Ville de Liege, and on 19 Apr 1918 he was admitted to hospital again until 7 May 1918. This time suffering from mumps. Another spell in hospital followed, passing through the hands of the 12th Australian Filed Ambulance, and the 41st Stationary Hospital before being placed on an ambulance Train to Rouen on 16 Oct 1918.

From 11 Oct 1918 until 21 Feb 1919 he received treatment for influenza, before being released to the Australian Infantry Base Depot on 17 Oct 1918.

Discharged by 5th Military District on 3 Jun 1919.

Post War

In 1921 George married Hilda May Smith. Hila died 10 Jul 1988 in Mandurah. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 Group 47, Serpentine, foreman; 1949 - 1954 Ewing street, Welshpool, labourer; 1958 - 1968 Fremantle road, Mandurah

Sons George Weston junior (27 Sep 1921 - 5 Apr 2008), Ronald Douglas (2 Aug 1924 - 1998), Gerald Keith (1926 - 26 Jun 2015), daughters Josephine Mabel / Iris May (1927 - 24 Jul 2004?)/ Dorothy Evelyn ((1928 - 15 Jun 2008)

Notes

George Weston Firns (Snr) served during WW2 in the Citizens Military Forces, 10th garrison Battalion from 22 Nov 1939 until 3 Feb 1944 George Weston (Jnr) served with the 2nd AIF during WW2 with Regimental No. WX16614. His posting at the time of his discharge was the Northern Territory Area Workshop. Ronald Douglas served in he Royal Australian Air Force as a Flight Sergeant from 16 Oct 1942 until 30 Sep 1944. At the time of his discharge he was with the 2nd Air Observers School, Mt Gambier.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial