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 ; 129 lbs 58.513 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) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
4 years in the Citizens Military Forces.
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.
On 7 Jun 1918 George boarded the SS Port Darwin in Albany. This ship paused 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. He then rejoined the Port Darwin for the journey to Southampton. 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.
At the time of the Armistice the battalion was resting and rebuilding in the small village of Berteaucourt, north-west of Amiens. Soon after the Armistice the 28th Battalion and the rest of the Australian 7th Brigade was initially earmarked as part of the British 4th Army to relocate to Coblenz as part of the Army of Occupation. They began their move on 23 Nov 1918, travelling through Amiens and Peronne by train, and then marched via stops at Busigny, Ribeauville, Grand Fayt, Beaufort, and Cousolre into Belgium. At this point it was decided that the Australian troops would not proceed into Germany, but wait in Belgium for their return to Australia, with the 28th Battalion basing itself in Marcinelle, some 2 miles from the large industrial city of Charleroi.[1]
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. On 29 May 1919 he was then transferred to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford, England for treatment for Venereal Disease. He was discharged to duty on 1 Jun 1919 with total ineffective time being 30 days.
George was discharged for a second time by the 5th Military District on 14 Nov 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 Byford, brickmaker; 1928 was living in Station street, East Cannington; 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; Jul 1960 at 49 Richardson street Boulder; 1963 - 1968 at 22 Forrest street, Boulder, retired. Never married??
Obscene Language - Victor Boyle (25) and George Charles Unwin (24), brick makers, were each fined 60s ($6) for having used obscene language in Wellington-street.[2]
Workers' Compensation. George Charles Unwin v Edjudina Gold Mining Co., N.L., £59/5/2. - Judgement for the applicant.[3]
Notes
One set of attestation papers gives his name as Charles George Unwin, although each of his signatures are in the form George Charles Unwin.