FENWICK, George Colbert
| Service Number: | 639 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914, An original member of D Company |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | West Melbourne State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 10 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France Plot XIV, Row D, Grave No. 7. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 639, 5th Infantry Battalion, An original member of D Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 639, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 639, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne | |
| 10 Aug 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 639, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 639 awm_unit: 5 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-08-10 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George Colbert Fenwick was the son of John and Mary Fenwick. His father had died in West Melbourne during 1902 when George was 12 years of age. His mother died during 1910. When George first enlisted, during August 1914, he gave his next of kin as his younger brother, Sydney Fenwick.
His brother, 2141 Pte. Sydney Fenwick 14th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Gallipoli on 20 August 1915, aged 19.
George was an original member of the 5th Battalion and served at the Anzac landing on 25 April 1915. He served right through the Gallipoli campaign until he was evacuated sick on 22 September 1915. He was probably aware of the death of his brother.
He was promoted to Corporal after the Pozieres battles. Aside from some time training in England during 1917 he was fighting with the 5th Battalion right through the war. He was mortally wounded on 10 August 1918, when he was hit in the back by shrapnel, and died the same day in an Australian Field Ambulance. He had been serving a few days short of four years.
His medals and other entitlements were awarded to an aunt, Elizabeth Mignon, as his only sibling Sydney Fenwick had died in 1915. George also made a will in favour of his aunt. The aunt also received all of Sydney’s medals and entitlements.
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