George Martin Whitcombe

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 28/01/2017 - 14:09

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

Martin

Last Name:

Whitcombe

Mother's Name:

Martha Whitcombe nee Keast

Father's Name:

William Whitcombe

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, January 11, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

3rd Light Rail Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Manly, N.S.W.

Details:

George Martin Whitcombe (Service No 5788), was born in Penryn, Cornwall, England around 1885.

The 1891 census, in England, lists him as an adopted son. George arrived in Australia in 1912.

At enlistment, he was single, 30 years old, worked as a stonemason and lived in Thirroul, N.S.W. He listed his brother William, who was serving with the Royal Navy, as his next of kin.

George embarked on HMAT A55 Kyarra, with 4th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement, on 3rd June 1916. He arrived in England on 3rd August 1916, and went to France, on 23rd September 1916. He was posted to the depleted 54th Battalion, on 12th October 1916. George was transferred to the Light Rail Company, on 11th June 1917. It was during this period, he was sent to hospital for the treatment of alcoholism.

George was promoted to corporal, on 24th February 1919. He returned to Australia in May 1919, and was discharged on 14th August 1919.

There is a letter on file from his brother, written in 1942, asking for George's location or if indeed, he had survived the war, as the family had not had any contact with him. The army advised they had discharged, him in Sydney, N.S.W., but had no idea where he was.

George died in Manly, N.S.W., in 1956.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WHITCOMBE GEORGE MARTIN