TRUE, George Haviland
| Service Number: | 58 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1914, An original member of F Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 1 April 1894 |
| Home Town: | Ulverstone, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Ulverstone State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bicycle mechanic |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 20 May 1915, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula Artillery Road Plot 13. ONE OF THE BEST |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ulverstone Primary School War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 58, 12th Infantry Battalion, An original member of F Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1914: | Involvement Private, 58, 12th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 58, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George True was the son of Thomas Charles True, of Ulverstone, Tasmania, and the late Charlotte True. His mother had passed away in 1903, when he was seven years of age. His brother, 1193 Pte. Charles Thomas True 26th Battalion AIF was later killed in action at Pozieres in France on 29 July 1916, aged 19.
George was born and raised in Ulverstone, Tasmania and was reported to be very popular in the town, and was one of the first batch to enlist at Ulverstone. He had just turned 21 when he died and was a prominent member of the Ulverstone Football Club. He was also a member of the Ulverstone militia.
He proved to be a brilliant soldier and the on his death several letters were published in the North West Post under the heading AN ULVERSTONE HERO, A COURAGEOUS SOLDIER.
In connection, with the death of Private George True of Ulverstone, his father has received the following letter from Archdeacon Richard, chaplain to the 3rd Brigade. “Ere this reaches you will have heard the sad news that your dear son was shot on May 20, and was buried on the 21st. He was a courageous soldier, and beloved by his comrades. He died as it valiant soldier would wish to die, in discharge of his duty for the honour of his country….. “
In a letter from Private F. Sharp to an Ulverstone resident, the following appears, “As a friend of my late comrade, George True, I thought perhaps you would like to know how the brave chap died. He was working a machine gun last evening in the trenches, and was shot dead at 9 p.m. on May 20. He was a brave fellow, and showed no fear. He was buried at 11.30 o'clock next morning, alongside other Tasmanian comrades.”
In another letter from the Gallipoli Peninsula, dated May 23, Captain R. A. Rafferty who was in command of the company in which George True was serving when killed, says “Ever since leaving Tasmania I have been in touch with George. He turned out a first-class soldier, and a cheerful and happy worker. Since our landing at this place, whenever I have occasion to go out on any little enterprise, I always selected George as one to accompany me, such was my faith in him. He was killed by a shrapnel bullet and his death was, I believe, instantaneous. You have my sympathy, but the fact that your boy did his duty, and did it well, should be some recompense for his loss.”
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