George William Havelock Vidal

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 11/10/2016 - 14:11

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

William Havelock

Last Name:

Vidal

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, March 30, 1886

Mother's Name:

Ada Vidal nee Copley

Father's Name:

Henry Vidal

Date Enlisted:

Monday, November 30, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

Australian Army Service Corps

Company:

26th Company

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, June 3, 1929

Place of Death:

Moree, N.S.W.

Details:

George William Havelock Vidal (Service No 1337), was born in Sydney, N.S.W.

His father, Henry Havelock Vidal, was paymaster at the Wollongong Public Works, and an alderman on Wollongong Council.

At enlistment, he was single, 29 years old, worked as a wool cleaner and lived in Wollongong, N.S.W.

George embarked on HMAT A39 Port Macquarie, with Infantry Brigade Train 4, on 21st December 1914. He arrived in Egypt, and was sent to Gallipoli, Turkey, where he served until admitted to hospital, on 27th July 1915, with shell shock. George was evacuated from Gallipoli, on 30th October 1915.

On 1st March 1916, George was promoted to Corporal, and transferred to 26th Company. He arrived in France, on 10th June 1916, and saw service on the Western Front and in England. On 25th April 1918, he was admitted to hospital with a severe dislocated right hip, as a result of an accident. He was promoted to Sergeant on 24th April 1919.

On 2nd January 1919, he married Dorothy Brookman, at Swindon, England and they returned to Australia, in June 1919. He was discharged on 11th August 1919.

George and Dorothy had 5 children, and he was working in railway construction at Moree, N.S.W., when he died in 1929.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, VIDAL GEORGE WILLIAM HAVELOCK