George Thomas Maurice May aka Charles Henry Smith

First Name: 
George (aka Charles Henry Smith)
Middle Name: 
Thomas Maurice
Last Name: 
May
Mother's Name: 
Alice May (nee Burrell)
Father's Name: 
Thomas May
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, March 9, 1916
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
30th Battalion
Company: 
Headquarters
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Sunday, September 30, 1917
Place of Death: 
Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium
Cause of Death: 
Killed in action
Details: 

George May (Charles Smith - Service No 3892) was born in Erskineville, NSW about 1898. On his enlistment papers, George stated he was a single 23 year old miner from Bellambi, NSW. He enlisted under the name of Smith and put up his age from 19 years to 23 years.

George embarked on HMAT A68 Anchises with 9th Reinforcements, 30th Battalion on 24th August 1916. He arrived in England on 11th October,1916 and was sent to France on 29th December,1916.

George saw service on the Western Front and was in Belgium with Headquarters Company, 30th Battalion as a Battalion runner during the Messines /Passchendaele campaigns. On 30th September, 1917 at about 9pm, George was in the Polygon Wood area escorting a relief party when a shell hit and he was killed.

George is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium: Plot IXA, Row K, Grave 18.

Letters from George's parents on his National Archives of Australia file, provide the details about his true name. George's headstone carries the name Smith.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, SMITH C H