S56032
TEE, George James
| Service Number: | 3108 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tungkillo, South Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Parilla, Southern Mallee, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Circumstances of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Loxton Paruna District Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 3108, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 3108, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 3108 |
Help us honour George James Tee's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
George James Tee was born in Tungkillo, South Australia, around 1895, but before he enlisted for the war, he lived in Parilla, a small town in the eastern part of South Australia. George was single, 5’6”, and weighed 63kg. He was considered fit for enlistment, with a fair complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. (Terrace V, 2024) Raised in the Anglican tradition of the Church of England, he valued his faith. Before the war, George worked as a farmer without any involvement in any other extra activities. When George was 21 and nine months old, he enlisted in the army at Keswick, South Australia, on July 16, 1915. Shortly after his enlistment, George was accepted into the war. On September 14, 1915, George embarked from Adelaide onboard the HMAT A70 Ballarat, a part of the 3rd convoy, which carried the South Australian 10th Battalion. George’s rank on embarkment was Private.
After sailing on the HMAT A70 Ballarat, George’s first destination was Egypt, where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was formed. George spent countless weeks in training, eight hours a day preparing for the destructive battles. In training, he would learn how to use firearms such as rifles and small arms. After completing his training in Egypt, George and his unit sailed to Marseilles in April 1917, joining the continuous fight on the Western Front. Being in the 10th Battalion, George’s first military action occurred at Ypres in Belgium, where he participated in many offensives, including the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917. After countless attacks from the Germans, George and his unit fought through multiple engagements, making them retreat. (Second Battle of Bullecourt, n.d)
George fought in other significant battles, such as the Battle of Menin Road and the Battle of Polygon Wood. Many of these battles were part of the Ypres campaign, which was known for its heavy casualties. Just prior to the Battle of Menin Rd George was promoted to Driver.
After the war, George James Tee returned to Australia on April 12, 1919, after his service on the Western Front. George unfortunately passed away on July 8, 1972, at the age of 77. (Ancestry, n.d) Living a long and heartfelt life, he will be remembered after his role in one of the most substantial conflicts ever.
Bibliography:
ABMC n.d., This Day in History, November 11, 1918: World War I Ends | American Battle Monuments Commission, www.abmc.gov.
Ancestry 2024, George James Tee Ancestry Records, Ancestry, viewed 4 September 2024, <https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/george-james-tee-24-14mfkg>.
Australian War Memorial n.d., Anzac spirit | The Australian War Memorial, www.awm.gov.au.
Anzac Day 2023, Australian Army.
Battle of Polygon Wood 2016, Awm.gov.au.
George James Tee 2024a, Awm.gov.au, viewed 4 September 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1896125>.
George James Tee 2024b, Awm.gov.au, viewed 4 September 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2251103>.
Labor Party History n.d., www.alp.org.au.
Memories 2018, Memories.net, Memories, viewed 2 September 2024, <https://app.memories.net/memorials/georgejames-tee-62250>.
Second Battle of Bullecourt n.d., www.awm.gov.au.
Terrace, V 2024, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au, viewed 18 August 2024, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8099161&S=5&R=0>.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica 2019, Church of England | English national church, Encyclopædia Britannica.
UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy 2024, Details, Adfa.edu.au, viewed 18 August 2024, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=296863>.
Wikipedia Contributors 2021, 1st Machine Gun Battalion (Australia), Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, viewed 4 September 2024, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Machine_Gun_Battalion_(Australia)>