George, William 2007 (1897 - 1916)

Private, 47th Bn. Australian Infantry

Buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Commemorated at

Private William George was born in Glasgow, Scotland before moving to Australia at the age of 15 years and enlisting with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in November 1915 at the age of 18 years.

Private George embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 18 February 1916 with the 3rd reinforcements of the 31st Battalion. He transferred to the 47th Battalion in Egypt.

He embarked from Alexandria, Egypt to Marseilles, France in June 1916. William died of wounds two months later on 10 August 1916 at Pozieres. According to eyewitness accounts, he received a severe stomach wound while in his dug out and was carried to a Dressing Station, where he died later that day. Private George was buried near the Dressing Station, but his grave was later lost. As he has no known grave, his name is recorded on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial in France.

William was the son of Jeanie Morgan (formerly George), of Harrow Rd., Auburn, New South Wales, and the late William George.

Taken from the collection of the Australian War Memorial - www.awm.gov.au