George Alfred Hill

George Alfred Hill

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Bellevue, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 2 months
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 125lbs 56.699 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Salesman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Arthur H Hill
Military Information
Reg Number	34338
Date of Enlistment	7 Nov 1916
Unit/Formation	Field Artillery Brigade, March 1917 Reinforcements allocated to 37th Battery, transferred to 4th Division Ammunition Column.
Date of Embarkation	11 May 1917 ‒ 20 Jul 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A11 Ascanius
Date of Return	2 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Karmala

Pre War

Parental permission to enlist contained a request that he not serve outside Australia until after his 19th birthday. This condition was later withdrawn when he was returned to Black Boy Hill.

War Service

Three days after entering camp, George was allocated to artillery reinforcements, and from 21 Mar to 10 May 1917 he was in Victoria receiving advanced training at the Maribyrnong Camp. On his final day on the camp he was appointed a Driver. Parental permission to enlist contained a request that he not serve outside Australia until after his 19th birthday. This condition was later withdrawn when he was returned to Black Boy Hill.

George travelled to England from Victoria, and on arrival was posted to the No.3 camp at Lark Hill as part of the 3rd Training Battery. Prior to arrival, while at sea he was charged with 'Neglect of Duty' (undefined) and was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. On 18 Dec 1917 he was charged with 'Disobedience of RRO (Regimental Routine Orders) in that he was found with a lighted candle In his hut after "lights out" had sounded.' Found guilty he was awarded 5 days Field Punishment No.2.

George proceeded overseas to France through Southampton on 9 Jan 1918. On 19 Jan 1918 he was taken on strength by the 4th Division Ammunition Column. On 27 Apr 1918 he was unwell and was sent to hospital, passing through the hands of the 6th Casualty Clearing Station on 28 Apr 1918, the 7th Canadian General Hospital from 30 Apr 1918 and the 6th Convalescent Depot from 3 to 5 May 1918. George returned to duty on 6 May 1918.

From 6 Sep 1918 George was temporarily detached to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade. While with them he was wounded on 13 Oct 1918 when the 11th Field Artillery Brigade was firing in support of American troops. Three enlisted men were wounded that day when German 4.2 inch artillery fired on the Brigade HQs. George being one of these casualties. Treated by the 48th Casualty Clearing Station, he was placed aboard an ambulance train for Rouen where he was admitted to the 9th General Hospital on 15 Oct 1918. Three days later on 18 Oct 1918 he was evacuated to England aboard HMHS Guildford Castle. On arrival in England, the next day he was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital in Bristol.

Discharged to the care of the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 20 Nov 1918, he was then granted furlough from 2 - 16 Dec 1918 after which he reported to the No.1 Command Depot, and soon after began his return to Australia.

Discharged at 5th Military District on 12 May 1919.