George McIlhoney

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 03/10/2016 - 13:47

First Name:

George

Last Name:

McIlhoney

Mother's Name:

Mary McIlhoney nee Brady

Father's Name:

Charles McIlhoney

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, April 15, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

George McIlhoney (Service No 1564) was born in Glasgow around 1893 and arrived in Australia in 1914.

George was a single 22 year old miner from Corrimal, NSW when he enlisted. He embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT A32 Themistocles with 1st Reinforcements, 19th Battalion on 12th May 1915.

George joined C Company 19th Battalion in Gallipoli on 31st August 1915. Correspondance from his brother Patrick in Corrimal in late 1915 indicates that he had been told George had been killed at Gallipoli, though records show he arrived in France on 25th March 1916.

George went missing on 1st June 1916 and turned up on 8th June 1917 admitting to being AWOL, Absent Without Leave.

He joined his unit in France on 4th January 1918.

On 23rd October 1918, following a Court Martial, George was sentenced to two years hard labour for desertion.

He was due to return to Australia in July 1919, but again went missing, later returning in August 1919.

George was discharged from the AIF on 17th September 1919.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, MCILHONEY G