FURNELL, Gilbert James
| Service Number: | 269 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Brighton, Bayside, Victoria |
| Schooling: | North Williamstown State School |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 19 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
The Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium Plot VI, Row B, Grave no. 14 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Apr 1915: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, 269, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1915: | Involvement Chief Petty Officer, 269, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '24' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Macquarie embarkation_ship_number: A39 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Jun 1915: | Embarked Chief Petty Officer, 269, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, HMAT Port Macquarie, Melbourne | |
| 19 Sep 1917: | Involvement Lieutenant, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 2 Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-09-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Lieutenant Gilbert James Furnell, a fine build of a man standing 6 foot tall, served at Gallipoli with the Australian Naval Bridging Train, before he transferred to the 2nd Australian Pioneers. Furnell, recommended for a Military Medal in 1916, was mentioned in orders by General Birdwood. “Set splendid example by his courage and coolness during operations at Gird Trench.” Gilbert Furnell was wounded in May 1917 and shortly after returning to his unit suffered terrible wounds when he was badly hit on the 19 September 1917. On that date, a shell exploding in the garden at Swan Chateau, headquarters of the 2nd Pioneers, killed Major Hockley (Maryborough, Queensland), mortally wounded Lieutenant Furnell and his brother, Corporal Frederick Furnell, 15th Railway Company, AIF.
Gilbert’s father gave the following information after the war.
“At 18 he joined the 8th Field Company Engineers, and although he had no previous experience he progressed quickly and became a Lance Corporal before he got his first uniform. In 1915, he was then a Sergeant; he enlisted with the Naval Bridging Train as a Chief Petty Officer and was with from their landing at Suvla Bay until the evacuation. When the 2nd Pioneers were formed in Egypt he transferred to them and as the war progressed served with them until the end in the meantime having gained his commission. He was mentioned in despatches on one occasion for going out into no man’s land and bringing in a wounded comrade. His brother Frederick (married), a Corporal in the Railway Unit, was visiting him, they in company with others were having dinner in a shack, all that was left of Swan Chateau Ypres, when a 9.5 inch shell struck a tree, exploded and killed 8 of them, including a Major; Frederick died in 20 minutes; Gilbert lived for four hours, dying in a dressing station.”
Gilbert Furnell, 26 years old, was buried in The Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium. Frederick Furnell, 30 years of age, who left a widow and two small children, was buried in the Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery Ypres, Belgium.
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