LIEUTENANT GEORGE HENRY FAWCETT
1210 - 4th Battalion / 2nd Tunnelling Company
Anzac Provost Police Corps / Aust Intelligence Police / 3rd Divisional Headquarters
Lewisham, Eltham, London, England was the birthplace of George Henry Fawcett on December 19, 1892 the son of James Hart Fawcett. Educated at Cheltenham College to sixth form George received military experience with the Cheltenham College Cadets for one and a half years.
At sixteen years of age he arrived in Sydney, NSW on June 19, 1909 aboard the steamer Runic and later studied for one year at the Charters Towers School of Mines, Queensland to become a mining engineer.
At Kensington, Sydney, NSW on September 21, 1914 he applied to enlist with the A.I.F. for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination on October 16, 1914 forms of Attestation were completed revealing his height of 173cms (5ft 8ins) and weight 58.6kgs (129lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-96cms (34-37½ins). Dark in complexion with brown eyes and hair was black. Distinctive marks were the index toe of each foot was amputated. Church of England was his faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Mr J.H. Fawcett Esq., of 4 O’Connell Street, Sydney, NSW. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was taken and signed the following day.
Basic training commenced and assigned to the 1st Reinforcements to the 4th Battalion with the rank of Private with the regimental number 1210.
The Reinforcements embarked from Sydney, NSW on October 20, 1914 on the HMAT A14 Euripides and he disembarked with ‘H Coy,’ 4th Battalion at the Suez.
On February 12, 1915 he was admitted to Ward 1 of the No. 2 General Hospital for treatment. His statement of case reads:
Patient complains of a wound on back of right hand. Two weeks ago ran a tin opener into the palm, wound healed quite well and no discharge and little pain. Three days later the back of hand the knuckle of middle finger – a red swelling appeared with a white centre band and fingers were swollen.
A seal formed and came away leaving a clear punched out wound – about the size of the 3d exposing the tendon.
7(?) months ago had a septic finger (same one) and had joint scraped.
He was moved to Ward 22 for treatment of an Ulcer to his Hand involving loss of middle finger and discharged on February 25 to Base Details.
Private Fawcett sailed from the Suez on board H.T. A38 Ulysses on March 22, 1915 for discharge as medically unfit due to injury to finger. The ship arrived in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on April 15 and a disability pension was applied for to the address of 12 Loch Street, St Kilda but was rejected as he was deemed not incapacitated. He proceeded to Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) two days later.
Military Discharge took place in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on May 2, 1915 due to medical unfitness.
Later he was employed by the Falkner Electric Co., 103 William Street, Melbourne, as an accountant.
At twenty-three years of age on February 12, 1916 he applied to re-enlist for active service abroad in Melbourne, Vic. Three days later approval was granted as medically fit by the P.M.O. for the Brigadier-General Commandant for the 3rd Military District to join the Tunnelling Company. Two days later he passed the medical examination. Enlistment description was 169cms (5ft 6¼ins) tall and weighed 54.5kgs (120lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-89cms (32-35ins). Dark was his complexion with hazel eyes and black hair. Church of England was his religion. Distinctive marks were seven vaccination scars, an operation scar on his abdomen, 2nd toe of each foot missing and a finger missing right hand. Military Discharge certificate was provided showing he had completed 378 days with the A.I.F. and 4th Battalion. Next-of-kin was his father Mr James Hart Fawcett of Athenian Club, Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW.
He commenced training as a Sapper on March 29 at Broadmeadows camp. On April 7, 1916 he applied for a Commission with the Tunnelling Company with all relevant information the same as enlistment except his eyesight was good with glasses. The Application was not granted. On May 7, 1916 was promoted to Lance Corporal until May 11 then rose to the rank of Sergeant that day with the No. 5 Tunnelling Company. His number was 3970.
The No. 5 Company was recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania and made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.)
Early in May 1916 No. 4 company recruits embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections. At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport Warilda sailed from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Vic the No. 5 company departing on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs, set forth on their voyage the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at the Details camp at Parkhouse.
On October 10, 1916 the Reinforcements proceeded to France arriving at the Aust General Base Depot four days later.
Sergeant Fawcett was attached on December 11, 1916 to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field. The Battalion was working with the 2nd Tunnelling Company in the field.
About a month later he was admitted to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station on January 5, 1917 with a shell wound penetrating the eyeball of his left eye and transferred to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens on January 7, then conveyed on A.T.15 to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen the next day with gunshot wound II (3) left eye. He left the hospital and was transported to England on the hospital ship Aberdonian and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital on January 12 remaining as a patient until transferred to the Horton County of London with gunshot wound and loss of eye on February 13, 1917.
Base Records advised his father on January 22, 1917 that his son had received a mild gunshot wound to his eye and was in Norfolk War Hospital and the address to write to him. His father replied to Base Records on February 5, 1917 thanking them for the news of his son and hoped to receive prompt advice when it came through their office. His address was the Athenian Club, Sydney.
On March 30, 1917 was discharged to furlough returning on April 14 to the No. 2 Command Depot and was sent to the Hardening and Drafting Depot at Perham Downs. On May 3 proceeded to France from Folkstone marching in to the A.G.B.D. at Etaples. He was to return to the 2nd Tunnelling Company but went to the 1st Anzac Headquarters at Rouelles on May 27 and was transferred two days later and taken on strength of the 1st Anzac Intelligence Police.
Admitted to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford on July 22, 1917 and after 49 days curative care discharged on September 8, 1917.
On November 23, 1917 Sergeant was admitted to the 2nd Canadian C.C.S. with Necrosis (death of living cells or tissue) Bone right hand and transferred on A.T. 20 to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. Conveyed on the hospital ship St David to England entered the Berrington Hospital at Shrewsbury with necrosis metacarpal bone. He was treated for a ‘little peritonitis’ at head of third metacarpal.
Advice was sent from Base Records on December 11, 1917 informing his father that he had been admitted on November 18, 1917 to hospital with necrosis metacarpal bone right hand and the address to write to him at the Anzac Provost Police Corps.
A month later on December 29, 1917 moved to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield until January 15, 1918 when testing of both eyes took place. The right eye had very poor vision but with glasses was normal and the left eye had a prosthetic glass eye fitted. Released on furlough until January 29 he was to report to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth.
He attended the Divisional Intelligence Officer’s Course and was posted on April 28, 1918 for duty as Second Lieutenant Intelligence Officer, 3rd Aust. Division.
Proceeded back to France via Folkstone on May 1, 1918 and taken on strength with the 3rd Division in the field. On May 15 he was attached as Intelligence Officer to the 3rd Squad Flying Corps for three days and returned to his unit.
Promotion to that rank of Lieutenant was granted on July 27, 1918.
Leave to the United Kingdom was enjoyed from September 18 until October 2, 1918. Three weeks later he returned to the A.G.B.D. to attend a medical board in Havre and three days later was classified with B2 class debility for 12 months.
On November 20, 1918 the Foreign Office, London wrote to him at the New Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall Mall S.W.1 regarding his application for an appointment to His Majesty’s Consular Service and would be considered in due course with the other candidates.
After the Armistice he proceeded to join his unit on December 2, 1918 but was evacuated four days later to the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville and on to the 3rd General Hospital at Le Treport with defective vision (slight).
On December 16 he departed Treport for England and the following day entered the 3rd London General Hospital with defective vision septic left socket left eye, excised.
Transferred from the Repatriation to the 2nd Training Brigade camp at Codford on January 25, 1919 to await his return to Australia.
Two days later he resigned his appointment in consequence of being medically unfit and was discharged in England on January 27, 1919. His application stated:
Whereabouts: Care of Mrs Johnson, Springfield, St Gerard’s Cross.
Reason: Have expectation of receiving an appointment in H.M. Consular Service
Abroad and wish in the meantime to continue studies in modern languages
in Paris. Born and educated in England, one descendant in Australia and
wish to be married in England.
Next-of-kin: Resides in Australia, Father, resides at Athenian Club, Sydney.
Resident in Australia: Five and a quarter years.
Allotment payable: National Savings Bank of Victoria, Melbourne.
Dated: 23/12/18.
Advice was sent from Base Records to his father on January 13, 1919 informing him that his son had been admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on December 17, 1918 suffering defective vision, septic socket, left eye excised, actual condition not stated.
Reference Statement of Service was issued on January 27, 1919 on termination of appointment and he was issued with a Certificate (A14318) and a Silver War Badge in respect of Military Service as Lieutenant with the 3rd Aust Division, A.I.F.
Approval was granted on January 30, 1919 for termination of his appointment due to medically unfit.
On January 29, 1919 George wrote from the New Oxford and Cambridge Club, 69, Pall Mall S.W.1 for the Statement of Service sent and further request that it be mentioned he also acted as Intelligence Officer during his service and passed the languages tests in French and German at the War Office. References under the heading To Whom It May Concern, dated February 5, 1919 was issued showing all his service and appropriate dates. Confirmation of the language tests were not included on the form.
George Fawcett acknowledged receipt of The King’s Certificate of Discharge on March 18, 1919 and was also sent a Commission Form, from Base Records on July 31, 1919 informing him that his son was a Temporary-2nd/Lieutenant in the Regular Forces of the British Army but this advice related to his first appointment and not his rank at present. Receipted delivery was dated August 12, 1919.
On January 1, 1920 he was appointed to the Reserve of Officers as Lieutenant (3rd Military District) until retired on April 1, 1926.
For serving two years and 305 days in the A.I.F. for his country Lieutenant George Henry Fawcett was issued with the 1914/15 Star (9246) and the British War Medal (1007) and the Victory Medal (1007).