George Fishlock

George Fishlock was born at Cordeaux River, New South Wales on 22 June, 1885, to Michael and Mary Ann Fishlock. He was a 29 year old labourer when he enlisted in the AIF on 17 August, 1914. After training he embarked on the HMAT Derflinger from Sydney with the first contingent. After training in Egypt he was part of the second wave ashore at Gallipoli, in the same boat as Corporal Alfred Shipp. While rowing ashore George had an oar shot out of his hand. He was wounded in the first few days and admitted to hospital in Alexandria on 30 April, 1915, with a gun shot wound to the chin. He returned to Gallipoli soon after and was again wounded.This time he was evacuated to a hospital in Malta with a gunshot wound to his left elbow and thumb. He returned to Gallipoli for a third time on 30 October, 1915, and remained there until the evacuation. He moved on from Egypt to France with the 3rd Battalion and in July was in the fighting at Pozieres where he was wounded for the third time on the third anniversary of his enlistment.This wound was to his right leg and was caused by shrapnel from a British shell. He was evacuated to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne and on 5 November, 1916, he returned again to B Company 3rd Battalion, as a stretcher bearer.

On 12 February, 1917, he was admitted to hospital with acute rheumatism, and discharged 8 March, 1917. He was deemed unfit to be a stretcher bearer so he became a company cook.

In September 1917 he was with the battalion at the Third Battle of Ypres. He had some leave in Paris and there attended a cookery school. In August 1918 George was given guard duty on HMAT Medic and returned to Australia. He was discharged as medically unfit on 12 December, 1918. On 26 December, 1928, he married Charlotte Herd.

The citation for George's Meritorious Service Medal reads "[d]uring the period 22/9/17 to the 24/2/18 as a company cook this man showed great devotion to duty, often under trying circumstances in the foreward area. His one aim is to provide his comrades with the best meals possible both in and out of the line and in this has been successful."

In the image above, George Fishlock is on the right.