Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Two Auburn Memorial men, Trooper George Campbell Gear and Private Henry James Bartlett, served in the Palestine theatre of the Great War. Both embarked on the Commonwealth in October 1917, arriving at Port Said in December of that year but otherwise, they had different backgrounds and different records of service.
Trooper George Gear, one of the older Auburn Memorial men at ’33 years and 8 months’, was a Wagon Builder by trade. He had completed a 5-year apprenticeship with Foster and Co. in Ipswich, Qld. He was married to Mary Jane Gear of Edgar Street, Auburn.
George enlisted in Sydney on 12 May 1917, remaining in Australia more than five months before embarkation on the Commonwealth. During this time, the following offences are listed in his service record: 11 August 1917, Soliciting alms, Obscene langcode, Threatening langcode to an NCO.
Upon arriving in Egypt, he was admitted to hospital with Bronchitis. He was taken on strength of the 6th Australian Light Horse on 1 January 1918, after British forces had driven the Turks out of Jerusalem. He was a bandsman and stretcher bearer.
Gear died of wounds (gunshot wounds to abdomen, buttocks and ankle) three months later on 29 March 1918. He was originally buried at Jericho West Side in the Jordan valley, but was later reinterred in the Jerusalem War Cemetery. For his gravestone, his wife chose the inscription THY WILL BE DONE.
Mary Jane Gear was awarded a pension of ￡2 p.f. and she received her husband’s medals, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll. She also received pensions for her children: George Henry (￡1 p.f.), Jean Wingrove (15s p.f.) and Hazel Mary (10s p.f.).
George Gear is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal