Edwin George Duchesne

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 17/09/2014 - 15:21

First Name:

Edwin

Middle Name:

George

Last Name:

Duchesne

Alternate Spelling:

George Duchesne

Date of Birth:

Sunday, September 27, 1896

Mother's Name:

Edith Rachel Duschesne

Father's Name:

Edwin James Duschesne

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, May 30, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Driver

Unit:

3 Divisional Train

Company:

22-25 Companies, Army Service Corps and 1 Reinforcements

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, January 28, 1980

Details:

Edwin George Duchesne was born on 27 September 1896. He is the younger brother of William Sydney Duchesne; their father owned Crown St Newsagency (opposite NAB today), where George worked prior to enlisting.

He enlisted on 2 February 1916 in Sydney and joined as a Driver. George embarked from Sydney for England on 30 May 1916 with the 3rd Divisional Train, 24th Company, Australian Army Service Corps on the HMAT Persic. He disembarked at Plymouth on 25 July, 1916 and proceeded to France later that year. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 2 February 1919 and later appointed temporary corporal (2 April 1919).

He was discharged at Sydney on 11 October 1919 and received the British War and Victory Medals in honour of his service.

He married Nellie Cutherbert (nee) Kershaw; they had five children, but only two lived to adulthood: Helene Margaret and David George.

George Duchesne was the treasurer of Wollongong RSL and was given a Tea Service. As treasurer on 25 April 1941, George attended an Anzac Day commemoration at Wollongong. It commended upon the success of its achievement and organisation in the South Coast Times.

He is incorrectly named G.E. Duchesne on the Honour Roll at the Wollonong Cenotaph.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DUCHESNE G

'Men of Anzac', South Coast Times, 25 April 1941, p.18.