George Luke PRENDERGAST DCM

PRENDERGAST, George Luke

    Service Number: 5181
    Enlisted: 10 September 1915, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
    Last Rank: Sergeant
    Last Unit: 59th Infantry Battalion
    Born: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 15 August 1879
    Home Town: Oakleigh, Monash, Victoria
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Schoolmaster
    Died: South Perth, Western Australia, 31 December 1931, aged 52 years, cause of death not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
    Anglican Portion, Section WA, Grave 0196. Grant number K0023733 expiry date unknown
    Memorials:
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    World War 1 Service

    10 Sep 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5181, 5th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
    1 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 5181, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
    1 Apr 1916: Embarked Private, 5181, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne
    19 May 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 57th Infantry Battalion, From 5th Battalion at Tel-el-Lebir
    22 Jan 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion, At Etaples
    1 Feb 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 59th Infantry Battalion
    5 Mar 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 59th Infantry Battalion, In France
    24 Mar 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 5181, Wounds to the back and knee
    19 Sep 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 59th Infantry Battalion
    3 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5181, 59th Infantry Battalion, Second occasion. Shell wounds to the right arm and leg latter wound classed as severe
    31 Oct 1917: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, October date was the day of recommendation For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in charge of a reserve platoon and when the line in front had advanced he saw an enemy machine gun post open up heavy fire. He rushed the post and captured seventeen prisoners and three machine guns. His work throughout the operations was of the highest standard, and he set a fine example to his men by his coolness and contempt of danger under heavy fire.' London Gazette on 6 February 1918, page 1751, position 11 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 June 1918, page 1397, position 15
    4 Jul 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5181, 59th Infantry Battalion, Third occasion. Remained on duty
    13 Jun 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5181, 59th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 5th Military District as medically unfit

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    Biography contributed by Carol Foster

    Son of George Michael Prendergast and Mary Prendergast nee Larrad of Ballarat, Victoria

    Husband of Mary Fisher Prendergast nee Betheras of Canterbury Street, Oakleigh, Victoria. George and Mary married in Victoria during 1909c

    Commenced return to Australia on 2 January 1919 aboard HT Karamala

    Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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