George Thomas EASTHER MM and Bar

EASTHER, George Thomas

Service Number: 2860
Enlisted: 14 June 1915, Enlisted at Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 10th Infantry Battalion
Born: Orroroo, South Australia, Australia, 1896
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: State School, South Australia
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Killed in Action, France, 18 September 1918
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Orroroo Public School Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
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World War 1 Service

14 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2860, Enlisted at Keswick, South Australia
21 Sep 1915: Involvement Private, 2860, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
21 Sep 1915: Embarked Private, 2860, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide
1 Mar 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal
20 Nov 1917: Honoured Military Medal and bar, Citations read: During operations of September 30th to Oct. 10th, 1917 near ZONNEBEKE east of YPRES L/Cpl. EASTHER displayed exceptional bravery and coolness throughout the whole of the operations. On the morning of the 9th October, after the Battalion had made a raid on the enemy in fron he observed one of our wounded lying out about 50 yards in front. He moved out in daylight under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and after applying first aid proceeded to carry the man in. Despite heavy sniping he managed to get the man to within a few yards of our trench before he himself was wounded. This act was observed by nearly all of his company and his example greatly cheered the men.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 120 Date: 7 August 1918 Bar to Military Medal Work near Warneton on 3 January 1918. Recommendation date: 20 January 1918
1 Jan 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal
18 Sep 1918: Involvement Corporal, 2860, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2860 awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-18

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of Mrs Susan Easther of 183 Gawler Place, Adelaide; husband of Olivia Anderson Easther of 50 Lady Lawson Street, Edniburgh, Scotland

7 June 1915 - his mother wrote at letter of consent for him to enlist and serve overseas

Medals: Military Medal and Bar, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Raid on Celtic Wood

 ‘During operations of Sept 30th to Oct. 10th 1917 near ZONNEBEKE east of YPRES L/Cpl EASTHER displayed exceptional bravery and coolness throughout the whole of the operations. On the morning of the 9th Oct., after the battalion had made a raid on the enemy in front he observed one of our wounded lying out about 50 yards in front. He moved out in daylight under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and after applying first aid proceeded to carry the man in. Despite heavy sniping, he managed to get the man to within a few yards of our trench before he himself was wounded. This act was observed by nearly all of his company and his example greatly cheered the men.’

 

In August 1918, for his bravery during the fighting at Warneton, George Easther received a bar to his MM but was killed in action on 18 September near Jeancourt; he was buried, but like so many others, his grave was lost.

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