IMLAY, Norman George
| Service Numbers: | 3568, Officer, N76139 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 October 1915, Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Croydon, New South Wales, 11 January 1887 |
| Home Town: | Glebe, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Crown Street Superior Public School, Sydney |
| Occupation: | Civil servant |
| Died: | Natural causes, Balgowlah, New South Wales, 18 August 1973, aged 86 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Glebe Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3568, Holsworthy, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3568, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3568, 20th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 12th Machine Gun Company | |
| 23 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Machine Gun Company | |
| 19 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 12th Machine Gun Company | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 48th Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux, GSW (left thorax/chest) | |
| 18 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 48th Infantry Battalion, Rejoined Battalion | |
| 17 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 48th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Jul 1940: | Enlisted N76139 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Captain, N76139, Sydney, New South Wales |
Dernancourt 1918 - the Australian line breaks.............................................
George Mitchell's account of Dernancourt, from 'Backs to the Wall' 1937
"From the right rear, a new sound – insignificant to the untrained ear – but it was the slow, irregular tack-tack-tack of a German heavy machine gun. Sent information to Imlay, his return note was just a terse comment, ‘Hold your position’. So the line was broken somewhere!
At 1.15pm a bunch of men suddenly burst over the hill, some were wounded, some fell as they ran, I went out to meet them. Asked one man what had happened, he pointed to his face, rags of flesh were all that was left of his lower jaw.
Questioned others – 47th men, “Fritz swamped the 52nd, then pushed artillery into the gap and firing directly into our line, blew us to pieces.” “You are being surrounded, you will be captured if you don’t get back.”
Then came the last survivors of the front line garrison, bitterly they fought, as though their lives were already forfeit, stopping to swap shots with their pursuers. They fired and moved in a desperate heroic gesture, hard-faced, they passed into security beyond my trench. The world had fallen, the Australian line had been broken, not even pride was left. Tears of grief ran down my face."
George Mitchell, MC, DCM, "Backs to the Wall", 1937
Submitted 7 September 2015 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Paul Trevor
The three enlisted children of Alexander William Imlay and Emma Carbery (née Woodlands) Imlay of Glebe, Port Sydney, New South Wales:-
Lt. Col. Alexander Peter Imlay DSO & Bar (/explore/people/116644) - returned to Australia;
Sister Ellen Jean Imlay (/explore/people/126706) - returned to Australia;
Capt. Norman George Imlay MC - returned to Australia.
Awarded the Military Cross (www.awm.gov.au)
'At Bullecourt on 11th April 1917 for his inspiring example and devotion to duty during the attack and occupation of the Hindenburg Line. As Lewis Gun Officer he was untiring in his efforts to see his guns placed in positions that would afford the greatest protection to his Battalion. He by his splendid example and cheerful bearing put fresh spirits into his men, when it was impossible to hold the objective any longer through an overwhelming enemy counter attack, he withdrew his men and himself remained behind with other Officers covered the retirement of the men.' SOURCE: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169 Date: 4 October 1917.
'Norman, like his older brother Alexander showed an early interest in military affairs. They both served in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles, Alexander in 1901-08 and Norman in 1904-06. Norman served in Papua from October 1914 with the European Armed Constabulary and joined the 20th Battalion, A.I.F., on 8 October 1915.
Norman Imlay left Australia for Egypt with the 8th Reinforcements for the 20th Battalion on 17 December 1915. He joined the 12th Brigade Machine Gun Company on 27 March 1916, was promoted corporal on 23 May and arrived in France on 11 June 1916.
On 19 August at Pozières Norman was commissioned second lieutenant and four days later transferred to Alexander's battalion (the 48th) as a platoon commander. On 8 December he was promoted lieutenant. He received the Military Cross in June 1917, probably for his splendid efforts during the 1st battle of Bullecourt when he was in charge of a bomb and ammunition carrying party.
After promotion to captain on 12 July 1917 Imlay served with the 12th Training Battalion from August until January 1918 when he returned to the 48th Battalion. Severely wounded in the assault on Monument Wood on 2-3 May when he commanded the left front company (and deliberately ignored orders he deemed foolish), he rejoined his unit on 18 September but saw no further action. He returned to Australia in November 1919.
In 1920 Imlay resumed his career in the New Guinea Customs Department as collector of customs at Samarai. On 31 March 1927 at the Pitt Street Congregational Church, Sydney, he married Jessie Mildred McMaster. After various New Guinea postings he moved in 1930 to Port Moresby as Treasury accountant and in 1934 became acting treasurer and member of the Executive Council. On his retirement in 1937 he returned to Australia to work until 1957 as postmaster at Willoughby, New South Wales. During World War II he saw further service in a training role but this was of a limited nature, his wound from May 1918 having resulted in the loss of a lung. He died on 18 August 1973 at Balgowlah, survived by his wife and son, and was cremated.' SOURCE (adb.anu.edu.au)
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