Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served
 
The final resting place for; - 61701 & VX31423 Private George Henry Tyrrell of Richmond and Hartwell, Victoria who prior to his enlistment for War Service on the 11th of June 1918 had been employed as a French polisher. George was allocated to the 12th General Service Reinforcements 1st AIF, and was shipped to England for further training on the 31st of August.

The ‘Barambah’ on which George would sail for England on experienced an outbreak of influenza, which would see numbers of the reinforcements as well as members of the ship crew dying of illness. George himself was hospitalized whilst on board during October.

With the ‘Barambah’ still at sea, the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November, ending World War One Following his arrival and disembarkation on the 14th of November George entered into camp.

By the 14th of November, George was allocated to reinforcements for the 58th Battalion, but whilst still in training was transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps, and was taken on strength with the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Hurdcott on the 8th of February 1919.

George remained on service in England with this Unit continuously until he was detached to duty with the 1st Australian General Hospital at Sutton Veny and was taken on strength on the 12th of August. George began his repatriation back home to Australia, when he departed England on the 9th of December.
Following George’s arrival, he was granted his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 20th of February 1920.

With the outbreak of a Second World War, George again presented himself for service with the Australian Military Forces when he re-enlisted in the Army on the 11th of June 1940.

George was accepted for full-time duty within Australia, and again with the Australian Army Medical Corps. George was posted to the 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg), and would serve continuously, until he was himself admitted into hospital due to accidental injuries caused whilst on duty.

Whilst still being hospitalized, George succumbed to these injuries on the 23rd of June 1944, at the premature age of 45.

Following his passing, Private George Tyrrell who had served his country with the Australian Army Medical Corps during two world wars, was formally interred within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.