LINSLEY, George
| Service Numbers: | 610, 31 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 April 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, 23 November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Moree, Moree Plains, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Parramatta Public School, New South Wales |
| Occupation: | Railway Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France., 7 April 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretoneux Memorial |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Involvement Private, 610, 1st Infantry Battalion, Naval and Military Forces - Special Tropical Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1914: | Embarked Private, 610, 1st Infantry Battalion, Naval and Military Forces - Special Tropical Corps, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 4 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 31, 20th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW | |
| 4 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 31, 20th Australian Infantry Brigade, Enlisted at Liverpool | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 31, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 31, 20th Australian Infantry Brigade, HMAT 'Berrima' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 31, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 20th Infantry Battalion, in the field | |
| 10 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 20th Infantry Battalion, In the field | |
| 7 Apr 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 31, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 31 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-04-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
George LINSLEY (Service Numbers 610 & 31) was born on 23rd November 1894 at Windsor, NSW. He served with both the Australian Naval & Expeditionary Force and the AIF, under different Service Numbers.
Linsley began work for the NSW Government Railways as an apprentice clerk at Clyde Yards on 4th July 1910. The next month he relocated to Flemington where he progressed to junior clerk on 1st January 1911. His card records that he had taken several days ‘off duty ill from 29.12.13 to 4.1.14 (8 days) suffering from sunburn whilst surf-bathing.’ The staff section record further states that ‘this is not a case for sick pay.’
On 13th August 1914 he was given leave for military duty. He had enlisted in he Australian Naval & Expeditionary Force at Sydney the day before. This force was raised to secure German occupied colonies in the Pacific region to Australia’s North East. It was distinct from the AIF – the forces which went to Europe – and was wound up in early 1915 when its work was completed. Linsley served 206 days with the AN&MEF and was discharged on 4th March 1915. This service alone entitled him to the eventual award (in 1920) of the 1914/1915,Star, as the action had been against the Central European Powers.
Within a month of discharge from the AN&MEF, Linsley enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces at Liverpool on 4h April 1915. Now his Service Number was 31. At this date his railway employment card formally records, in the standard terms, that he had been ‘released from duty to join Expeditionary Forces.’ He was allotted to the 20th Australian Infantry Battalion and being unmarried gave his father living at ‘Elouera’, Moree as his next of kin. He also claimed three years’ earlier service in the 33rd Infantry, as well as his immediately preceding service with the AN&MEF in which he had enlisted at the age of 17 years and 9 months.
He embarked on HMAT ‘Berrima’ and left Sydney on 25th June 1915. He reached Gallipoli on 16th August. He contracted enteric fever and this serious condition led to his evacuation to Mudros (on the Greek island of Lemnos), Malta, Gibraltar and on the hospital ship ‘Minneapolis’ to Beaufort Hospital, Fishponds, Bristol. After several months convalescence he was transferred to AIF Headquarters at Perham Downs and then to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.
Hemwas charged with ‘misconduct after last post’ on 21st August and incurred seven days close confinement. In December he was hospitalised with Scabies. On his return to the unit in January 1917 he was promoted to Corporal, and then in October to Sergeant. Another period with an unspecified illness followed in December. This included time at the Divisional Rest Station. The last week in January saw him on leave in Paris. In March another bout of Scabies saw him admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance.
On 7th April 1918 he was reported as missing in action. It was not until late October 1918 that a Court of Enquiry ruled that he had in fact been killed in action on that date. The action had been at Hangard Wood and involved an attack on a copse (clump of trees) about 3 am. This was briefly held about 5.30 am but lost. The reinforced company repeated the attack at 7.00 am, regained the Copse but could not hold it. The Germans were in the Wood with strong Machine Gun Posts. The Australians dug in and held, about half way back.
Pte A. McDonald reported:
‘We lost very heavily. I would say 80% of our strength. Numbers of our men were taken Prisoners of War. Several of our wounded were brought in under the White Flag, but most of them were taken prisoner of War. The Germans would bury our dead.’
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. He was still 23 when he died.
- based on the Australian War memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great sydney Central Station Honour Board.
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Frederick William and Martha Linsley od 'Wyonga', 41 Lanf Street, Croydon, NSW previously 'Eloura' Moree, NSW; brother of Darcy Linsley and Fred Linsley
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal