George William Piesley

George William Piesley

Personal Information
Date of Birth	6 May 1898
Place of Birth	Fulham, London, England
Death	27 Oct 1976, aged 78
Place of Death	Inglewood, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 2 months
Description	5'10½" (1. tall ; 156lbs 70.76 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Clerk
Religion	Church of England
Address	Post Office Kenwick, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George William Piesley
Military Information
Reg Number	2610
Date of Enlistment	14 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	43rd Battalion 5th reinforcement transferred to 4th Machine Gun Battalion
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	21 Jun 1919 ‒ 2 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Königin Luise England to Fremantle
Fate	WIA 6 Jul 1917 Messines Returned to Australia
Monument	none as yet
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

One years service in the militia.

Electoral Roll entry: 1916 at 'Kenwick', East Cannington, horse driver

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 14 Aug 1916 and after a month's basic training was allocated to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 43rd Battalion travelling with them to England. On arrival in England he was sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington, arriving there on 5 Feb 1917. (There is nothing in George's records to indicate where he was between 10 Jan and 5 Feb 1917). Following additional training he proceeded overseas to France on 25 Apr 1917 via Folkestone, and on 1 May 1917 he was taken on strength by the 43rd Battalion which was on the move by route march from Armentiers to a training area near St Omer.

At Messines on 6 Jul 1917, George was wounded in action, receiving a wound to his left thigh. The battalion had just come out of the line and was providing support working parties to those who had replaced it. One soldier was killed during this time, and seventeen including George were wounded. Seen by the 9th Field Ambulance and the 11th Casualty Clearing Station on the day he was wounded, George was placed aboard Ambulance Train No. 22 for Boulogne where he entered the 54th General Hospital on 8 Jul 1917.

On 13 Jul 1917 George was discharged from the 54th General Hospital, and evacuated to England on HMHS St Patrick where he was admitted the next day to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley. Discharged 24 Jul 1917 to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital and on 15 Aug 1917 he was granted furlough until 29 Aug 1917. Following his leave he reported to the No 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth, building his strength until 27 Oct 1917 when he was sent to the 3rd Command Depot at Hurdcott. There he was medically assessed several times until it was felt that he could return to combat, but not as a member of the infantry.

Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps at Grantham on 7 Jan 1918, he then proceeded overseas on 9 Apr 1918 to France to join the 4th Machine Gun Battalion via their Base Depot in Camiers. He joined up with them on 17 Apr 1918 and remained with them until he began the return journey to Australia. He enjoyed another period of leave from 11 Feb until 27 Feb 1919. On 13 Apr 1919 his draft for Australia left France for England and pre discharge processing. George was discharged by the 5th Military District on 10 Sep 1919.

Post War

On 25 Aug 1926 George married Kathleen Phyllis Shaw. Kathleen who was born in 1900 died on 5 Sep 1986 aged 86 at Scarborough. A daughter ?

Electoral Roll entries: 1921 - 1931 at 'Kenwick' East Cannington, horse driver; 1936 at Canning Vale horse driver moving to 1936 - 1972 at 170 Ninth avenue, Maylands, motor mechanic