Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2173 Staff Sergeant Geoffrey William Hart MSM

Geoffrey was a 22 year old Clerk with the Manoora branch of the English Scottish and Australian Bank when he enlisted at Keswick on 1 June 1915. He had transferred from the Brinkworth branch a year earlier to replace Herbert Hutchinson who had transferred to the Riverton branch. Geoffrey was a keen tennis player and at Brinkworth had been secretary of the tennis club.

The son of William Alougher and Jean Annie (nee McQueen) Hart of Semaphore he was born in North Adelaide in 1893.  

Geoffrey was initially appointed to G group Base Infantry but on 25 June was posted to 4th Reinforcements 27th Battalion at Mitcham Camp. After nearly three months of training Geoffrey embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A15 Star of England and after landing in Egypt he was sent to Mudros on the island of Lemnos. Here, on 29 December, he was taken on strength of 27th Battalion.

Only twelve days after joined the Battalion he disembarked from Mudros to return to Egypt where preparations were made for deployment to France. Geoffrey disembarked from Alexandria on 16 March and landed in Marseilles on 23 March. After surviving the 27th Battalions initial engagements at Armentieres and the Somme, Geoffrey was attached to 1st Anzac Headquarters after the Battalion moved to Belgium in September. On that same day, 14 October, he was promoted to Corporal. Promotions continued for Geoffrey. On 14 January 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant and after being transferred to Headquarters AIF in France, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In July 1918 Geoffrey was again detached for duty, this time to 5th Army Headquarters in France.

With the war at an end Geoffrey, now an Extra Regimental Staff Sergeant, disembarked from France on 15 January and on the following day reported to AIF Headquarters (General Staff Officer’s staff) in London. The next day Geoffrey was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal “in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders”. On 10 February Geoffrey was attached to the Army Medical Service staff and marched out to demobilisation as the Red Cross Representative on SS Khyber. The Khyber left England on 31 March and Geoffrey disembarked in Adelaide on 9 May 1919. He was discharged from the army on 22 July 1919.

After the war Geoffrey resumed his employment with the English Scottish and Australian Bank at the Robe Branch. He married Marian Alice Coombe in 1921. Geoffrey died at Victor Harbour in 1968 and his remains were cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery. Marian died on 25 September 1987 at the age of 92.

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