NUMBER:

Trooper 701

PLACE OF BIRTH:

Richmond, Victoria 1872

NEXT OF KIN:

Miss Emma Watterson of Pitfield Plains Victoria, later Mrs. Mary Alexander wife of Chelsea London

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:

Meeniyan, Victoria 12/10/1914

PHYSICAL DETAILS ON ENLISTMENT:

Age 42, 5'9 ½", 10 stone 7 pounds, brownish eyes and dark brown hair

RELIGION:

Presbyterian

OCCUPATION:

Bush labourer and engine driver

PLACE OF DEATH:

He was killed in an explosion at Bapaume, France on the night of the 25 or 26/3/1917

LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:

He is named on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France

RELATIONSHIP TO THE WOORYAL SHIRE:

He appears to have a connection to the Meeniyan area

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:

◈ 12/10/1914 He enlisted in Meeniyan

◈ 3/2/1915 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Katuna

◈ 12/5/1915 He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary force in Alexandria and went to Gallipoli

◈ 14/9/1915 He had dysentery and went to hospital at Anzac then on to Mudros.

◈ 18/9/1915 He was transferred to hospital in Gibraltar

◈ 2/10/1915 He was moved to Bristol

◈ 14/7/1916 He was released from hospital and rejoined his unit and proceeded to France on 29/8/1916

◈ 15/9/1916 He rejoined the 1st Anzac Army Corps 13th Light Horse

◈ 21/9/1916 He was assigned to transport duty

◈ 19/12/1916 He rejoined his unit

◈ 26/3/1917 He was reported missing after an explosion in Bapaume.

◈ 4/12/1917 A court of enquiry declared that he was killed in action

◈ At the enquiry it was stated that George Alexander was sleeping in the Bapaume Town Hall (a YMCA facility) when it was destroyed by a mine explosion. He was never seen again.

◈ In 1916 he married Annie Mary Pickford at St Georges Hanover Square London.