George Brushmeyer

George Brushmeyer

Personal Information
Date of Birth	27 May 1914
Place of Birth	London, England
Death	16 Oct 1943
Place of Death	Finschhafen, New Guinea
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 3 months
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Ethel Brushmeyer
Military Information
Reg Number	WX20085
Date of Enlistment	1 Oct 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	6 Sep 1942 ‒ 8 Oct 1942
Transport Details	P3 Fremantle to Middle East
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	24 Jan 1943 ‒ 18 Feb 1943
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Middle East to Fremantle
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	4 Aug 1943 ‒ 11 Aug 1943
Transport Details	USAT Van der Lijn Cairns to Milne Bay, PNG
Post War Details
Fate	Died of wounds New Guinea
Monument(s)	WA State War Memorial
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

George enlisted in the AIF at Claremont on 1 Oct 1941. On 20 Oct he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital to receive treatment for Varicos veins. On 23 October he was transferred to the Camp Hospital Northam and on 6 Nov 1941 he was released to the No 3 Training Battalion. On 8 Dec 1941 George transferred to the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 17 Mar 1942, George moved again, this time to the 10th Australian Reconnaissance Battalion at Wanneroo, but on 8 May 1942 he was back at Notham with the Recruit Training Battalion. From 26 May until 3 Jun 1942 he was detached to the Subiaco Guard, and after returning to the training battalion he was on 14 Jun 1942 admitted to the Merredin Hospital until the 16th. From 22 Jun 1942 he was detached to the East Perth Guard, remaining with them until he joined the 2/28th Battalion reinforcements with whom he travelled to the Midle East, embarking on 'P3' of Convoy US16 in Fremantle on 6 Sep 1942, and disembarking in Egypt on 8 Oct 1942.

George joined the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion proper on 1 Jan 1943, just as they were making prepartions to return home. On 24 January he and his new unit boarded the HMT Queen Mary at Port Tewfik for Fremantle via the Massawa & Maldive Islands. On 18 Feb 1943 they disembarked in Gage Roads and were ferried ashore in lighters where they were given leave. Following leave the battalion re-assembled on the Atherton tablelands in north Queensland where they underwent prepatory training for a role in New Guinea.

On 4 Aug 1943 George embarked in Cairns on the USAT Van der Lijn (departed 7 Aug 1943) for Milne Bay in New Guinea where he disembarked on 11 Aug 1943. George participated in the landing at Red Beach and the capture of Lae in September 1943. On 11 October the battalion landed on Scarlet Beach as part of the battle to capture Finchhafen, but it wasn't until after George's death that they suffered casualties in battle. Therefore it might have been at Lae that George was wounded in the manner that caused his death on 16 Oct 1943 from wounds received in action.

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  Lae War Cemetery
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  Grave location

Death date given as 16 Oct 1943. The battalion history book does not list him as a casualty, but does record that a Japanese plane scored a direct hit on 'A' Company HQs at Scarlet Beach near Finschhafen. On 5 Apr 1944 George was reburied in the Finschhafen War Cemetery. However, on 1 May 1946 George's remains were again exhumed and reburied at Lae.

Notes

Although married his wife had remained in the UK.