George Charles Unwin
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 Jul 1898 |
| Place of Birth | Bayswater, Western Australia |
| Death | 12 Feb 1972 |
| Place of Death | Boulder, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 4 months |
| Description | 5'6" (1.68m) tall; weight 129 lbs (58.5 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Coulthard Bros, Cardup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Charles Unwin |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 52177 |
| Date of Enlistment | 6 Aug 1917 & 16 Nov 1917 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | WA General Service Reinforcements, allocated to 28th Battalion / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 8 May 1918 - 16 Jul 1918 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Port Darwin |
| Date of Return | 3 Sep 1919 - 17 Oct 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A37 Barambah |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Original enlistment 6 Aug 1917 was with the Australian Army Service Corps, but he was discharged 3 Sep 1917 as permanently unfit with irritable dilated heart.
Not to be denied, George re-enlisted on 16 Nov 1917 and was accepted due to the poor number of men volunteering at this time.
SS Port Darwin broke its journey at Suez from 7 Jun 1918 to 3 Jul 1918, and during the stop over, George was transferred to the Australian camp in Suez, from where he travelled by train to Alexandria.
On arrival in England he was sent to the 5th Training Battalion in Fovant, where on 16 Jul 1918 he was allocated to the 28th Battalion.
George proceeded to France from Dover on 4 Oct 1918, and was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 10 Oct 1918 at Bertincourt south east of Bapaume. The battalion had been released from the front line shortly before and did not re-enter it before the Armistice.
On 3 May 1919 George sought treatment at the 3rd Division Field Ambulance before being sent via 56th Casualty Clearing Station to the 56th General Hospital, and was then transferred to hospital in Bulford, England for treatment for VD.
Discharged the second time at 5th Military District on 14 Nov 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 Byford, brickmaker; 1936 with mother Rachel at Lalor road, Kenwick, labourer; 1937 at GM Edjudina (near Mount Magnet), labourer; 1943 - 1958 at 33 Johnston street, Hannans, watchman; 1963 - 1968 at 22 Forrest street, Boulder, retired. Never married??
Notes