ACKROYD, George Charles
| Service Number: | 6157 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1916, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glenlusk, Hobart, Tasmania, 29 October 1883 |
| Home Town: | Glenlusk, Glenorchy, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | State School, Tasmania |
| Occupation: | Quarryman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Bullecourt, France, 4 May 1917, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6157, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6157, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6157, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney |
Help us honour George Charles Ackroyd's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
George Charles ACKROYD was born in Glenlusk, Tasmania on 29th October, 1883
His parents were George ACKROYD & Mary Jane HALL
Biography
Embarked Sydney, 22 August 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 13 October 1916.
Proceeded overseas to France, 13 February 1916; taken on strength, 3rd Bn, in the field, 19 December 1916.
Killed in action, 4 May 1917.
Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Buried in the vicinity of Maricourt Wood'.
Note, Red Cross File No 0010902C: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'
Statement, 1433 Lance Corporal S.H. SMITH, B Company, 3rd Bn (patient, King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England), 24 October 1917: 'I have seen his grave. It is near Buire (?) [.] I can't remember the name of the place.'
Second statement, Lt W.F. ELLIOTT, 3rd Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England),10 October 1917: 'He was killed in a front line trench, east of Bullecourt and buried on the spot. I have seen his grave marked with a cross. He was in my Company. The same report applies to the following: McGrath H.T.J. 2149 Lce Sgt. Killed 3.5.17; Sinclair H.R.J. 4299 Pte. Killed 5.5.17; Bean J.S. 6459 Pte. Killed 5.5.17.'
Third statement, 6083 Pte J.C. ROHAN, 3rd Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 16 October 1917: 'I saw him killed outright by a bomb at Bullecourt while we were consolidating. Marked grave extremely doubtful under the prevailing conditions. Was wounded myself just afterwards.'
Fourth statement, 4464 Pte H. ELVIN, D Company, 3rd Bn (patient, 57th General Hospital, Rouen), 6 October 1917: 'Early in the morning of May 4th, we were holding a part of the Hindenburg line [sic] when we were attacked by the Germans[.] I was close to Ackroyd at the time, and he was killed by a bomb. I saw him fall, and his death was instantaneous. He was buried with many others near the trench and during the night.'
Fifth statement, 1294 Pte A.E. LENNON, 3rd Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 5 September 1917: 'He was in D. Coy[.] Was killed at Bullecourt near [the] Hindenburg line on May 4th. He was badly knocked about by [a] shell. I saw his dead body lying there afterwards and his body was still in the trench when I left. He would be taken away and buried.'
Sixth statement, 2154 Pte R. JONES, 3rd Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 27 August 1917: 'Killed at Bullecourt[;] he was lying out on a trench near the German line wounded by a bomb. Fritz came over a second time bombing and finished him. I was near him at the time, he was in my section I knew him well. He shaved off his moustache 3 weeks before we went to Bullecourt.'
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal