Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
At least six of the 131 identified Auburn Memorial men of the First World War died before their 20th birthday. A further nine had just turned 20. Perhaps the youngest was Glasgow-born William George, who declared his age as ‘18 yrs 1 mth’ when he enlisted in December 1915. His age was confirmed by his mother’s permission note, so Private George was still 18 when he was killed in action in August 1916 in the fierce battles around Pozières.
George was a member of the Auburn Presbyterian Church and on enlistment at Casula on 7 December 1915, he declared his father was deceased and he nominated his mother, Jeanie Morgan (formerly George) of Ballachmyle Cottage, Harrow Road, Auburn, as his next-of-kin.
Sailing on the Ballarat, George arrived in Suez on 23 March 1916. He was three months in Egypt before moving on to the Western Front via the French port city of Marseilles. Arriving in the Nursery Sector in June 1916, he was allocated to the 47th Battalion in the Australian Fourth Division.
In early July 1916, the Australian 1st, 2nd and 4th divisions were moved south to the Somme to support the British offensive launched there on 1 July. The Australians were launched into the attack from 24 July and George was killed on 10 August 1916.
George's body was originally buried ‘500yds NE of Pozières’ but after the war his grave could not be found, so his name, along with 33 other missing Auburn Memorial men, was inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux when that monument was unveiled in 1938. George’s mother received her son’s medals, plaque and scroll and was granted a pension of £2 p.f.
William George is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn Presbyterian Church First World War Honour Roll
- Auburn Presbyterian Church First World War Memorial Window
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
