Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography

 George Leonard Bunn was a Sapper during World War 1. Written below is a recount of his life from birth to death.

Born in September 1893 in Jamestown, SA, George Leonard Bunn was born to mother, Emma Bunn. Records show that his family moved to Adelaide before he embarked for the military service. There is no written record of his father and his next of kin was his mother. The Bunn family lived at 6 Kensington Road in the suburb of Norwood the residence now Ken Hall Plumbing, The original house is still there, however, has undergone major renovation. He looked like an ordinary man at 5 feet 3 inches, grey eyes, 55 kilos and fair skin.

George had a carpenter apprenticeship and worked as a carpenter before enlisting. On January 17, 1916, George joined the A.I.F after receiving a medical assessment and a service number (9601) was sent to the Mitcham training camp for military training. George showed tremendous courage and mateship to simply enlist with the A.I.F, enlistment was non-compulsory so he did out of complete free-will.

He attended Mitcham training from the January 18th, 1916 until February 17th, 1916, The military training that troops received was minimal and did not entirely prepare them for war on the front. George fell under the Sapper rank in the A.I.F A Sapper is a pioneer or a combat engineer tasked with performing military engineering, repairs, field defence, road repairing and bridge-building. He most likely was a sapper due to his carpentry skill. George belonged to the 11th Engineering Unit. Engineers, also known as sappers, were essential to the running of the war. Without them, other branches of the Allied Forces would have found it difficult to cross the muddy and shell-ravaged ground of the Western Front. Their responsibilities included constructing the lines of defence, temporary bridges, tunnels and trenches, observation posts, roads, railways, communication lines, buildings of all kinds, showers and bathing facilities, and other material and mechanical solutions to the problems associated with fighting in all theatres.

On the 25th of November 1916, he departed from Australia on the HMAT Suevic inbound for the Southampton port in England. George operated as a sapper for 6 months without any serious injuries. George committed an offence in August of 1917 that being gambling which in the A.I.F was a crime.

The Engineering Unit was involved in the Battle of the Somme (taken place on the Western Front) on the river. The battle was between the French, British Empire and the German army. The battle had a casualty rate of almost 2.5 million making it one of the bloodiest battles in history. The Engineering Unit was renowned for its effectiveness in this battle. A testament to this Anzac unit was their productivity and the mateship they shared.

He spent a number of days coming in and out of dressing stations with sickness and injury from a rate of 2-4 times a month. This was common among soldiers, with poor hygiene, deployment of mustard and chlorine gas and  battle wounds leading to many cases of infection and viruses. Casualty records indicate he was gassed (again) in June.

Another battle that the 11 ER was involved was the Hindenburg Line where the Germans were being exhausted financially and physically. The unit once again proved to be a valuable asset to ensure the advancement of the Allies. The unit was revered for ingenuity and invitation according to the war diaries of the Engineers.

On November 17th, 1917 He rejoined his Engineering Unit after being released from the hospital. His unit spent most of 1917 and 1918 operating along the Western Front. The war would have been a grim and harsh environment to survive in, with inadequate living conditions and enemy threats having severe toll on mental and physical wellbeing of the average soldier.

George was gassed again in November with Mustard gas. Mustard gas was made with sulfur and sometimes chlorine and when inhaled corroded the inside of the lungs adn often severely affected eyesight. George survived being gassed again. November 1918 the allies won the war and George returned home on the on the ARMAGH.

George was one of a many who returned home. He showed incredible courage and ingenuity and was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.