Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Ernest Anderson BENNETT, (Service Number 2587A) was born on 13 January 1891 in Wagga Wagga, NSW. He went to school in Temora. On 23 August 1907 he joined the NSWGR&T as a probationer in the Junee District of the Traffic Branch. On 30 June 1908 he transferred to the Sydney District as a junior porter and this was changed to the position of porter on his 21st birthday, 13 January 1912. On 8 May 1913 his position changed to clerk, based at Auburn.
On 14 December 1915 George enlisted in the AIF, although it was not until 6 February 1916 that the NSWGR&T officially gave him leave to do so. He was posted to the 5th Reinforcements to the 30th Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private (Service No. 2587A). For his next of kin, he nominated his mother, Mrs Eliza Kate Bennett; by this time the family was living at Ashfield in Sydney.
George embarked aboard HMAT A71 ‘Nestor’ in Sydney for Egypt on 9 April 1916. On embarkation he was temporarily promoted to VO [Voyage Only] Corporal. After a period in Egypt he embarked at Alexandria on 6 June 1916, bound for Plymouth in England where he arrived on 16 June 1916. On 9 August 1916 his rank reverted to Private, only to be promoted to EDP [Extra Duties Pay] Corporal the following day. On 5 September he left England for France where he was attached to the 5th Australian Divisional Brigade Depot at Etaples until he was taken on strength of the 30th Infantry Battalion on 26 September 1916. At Etaples his rank reverted to Private on arrival on 6 September 1916, before being promoted to RDP [Restricted Duties Pay?] Corporal the following day, and then reverting again to Private on 24 September 1916 when he left there to join the 30th Infantry Battalion.
At the same time, he was taken on strength at the 30th Infantry Battalion, on 26 September 1916, he was admitted to hospital for three days with Influenza, while on 15 January 1917 he reported sick with bronchitis, this time spending 10 days in hospital. On 23 March 1917 he was finally promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On 9 October 1917 he was wounded in action at Passchendaele, with injuries to his foot and chest, which required him to be evacuated to England. He was sent to the Beaufort War Hospital at Bristol and stayed there until Christmas Eve 1917, when he went on furlough. From 7 January 1918 he was on duty in England until 7 March 1918 when he was sent back to France, where he re-joined the 30th Infantry Battalion on 13 March 1918. On 15 May 1918 he was transferred to the 20th Infantry Battalion where he was promoted to Corporal on 27 May 1918. On 11 July 1918 he was killed in action near Villers-Bretonneux. His grave is in Crucifix Corner Military Cemetery, which is south of Villers-Bretonneux, near Amiens, Picardie, France.
(NAA B2455-3077738)