90395
HESELTINE, George Nyren
| Service Number: | 3350 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 July 1915, Enlisted into army |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 11 April 1889 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Rose Park Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Machinist. |
| Memorials: | Rose Park Public School WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted into army | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3350, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3350, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 26 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 10th Infantry Battalion, Transferred from 10th Battalion to 50th Battalion | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3350, 50th Infantry Battalion, Embarked 'Arcadian' from Alexandria, Egypt and disembarked in Marseilles, France | |
| 27 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 50th Infantry Battalion, Promoted to Corporal | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3350, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 May 1919: | Embarked 50th Infantry Battalion, Embarked “Leicestershire” in England and disembarked in Adelaide on the 18th of June | |
| 19 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 50th Infantry Battalion, Discharged by 4th Military District TPE (Terminate Period of Enlistment/Employment) |
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George Nyren Heseltine was born on the 11th of April 1889 in North Adelaide, South Australia. He grew up living in Hewitt Avenue, Rose Park and attended the local primary school ‘Rose Park Primary’. Before enlisting in the army George worked as a machinist.
On the 12th of July 1915, just a few months after the Gallipoli landing, George decided to nominate for the army. He travelled to the army base in Keswick, South Australia and filled in his attestation forms. He underwent a medical examination and was considered fit for active service. On the 22nd of July, 10 days after he nominated, George was accepted into the army. Having had no previous experience, George was enlisted in the lowest rank ‘Private’. He was given a service number of 3350 and was assigned to the 10th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement. He was presented with his Australian uniform and Rising Sun Badge, which signified his service to Australia. A patch denoting the 10th Battalion was sown onto his shirt sleeve.
At the time of enlistment George was 25 and single. He had a petite frame, with a height of 5 foot 4 inches and weight of just over 60kg. He had a dark complexion with dark hair, which highlighted his blue eyes.
After just one month of basic training George embarked on the “HMAT A24 Benalla”. Leaving Adelaide on the 27th of August, this boat transported him and his fellow South Australian recruits to Egypt.
In Egypt, George undertook more intensive training with the 10th Battalion for around 3 months before being transferred to the 50th Battalion on the 26th of February 1916. This transfer occurred when the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) split existing battalions and formed new ones in a process known as ‘doubling of the AIF’. Half of George’s new 50th Battalion was comprised of fellow 10th Battalion members while the other half was made up with fresh reinforcements from South Australia. Subsequently the patch on George’s uniform was changed to reflect his new battalion.
On the 5th of June 1916 George and his fellow 50th Battalion members embarked on the ship “Arcadian” that transported them from Alexandria, Egypt to the French coastal city of Marseilles. From Marseilles, they then caught a train to their allocated position on the Western Front. The first major battle the 50th Battalion fought was at Mouquet Farm between the 12th and 15th of August. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties although George was not injured.
Weeks later, on the 27th of August George was promoted to Corporal. In order to have received this promotion George must have demonstrated a high level of leadership qualities. On this day seven other officers were also promoted to higher ranks. During this time George’s battalion was not on front line duty but spent their days training and preparing themselves for future battle.
Late 1917 George and his Battalion relocated to Belgium where they fought in the Battle of Messines. During this battle 19 underground mines were successfully detonated and the objectives of the Allies were captured within hours.
By early 1918 George had returned to fight in France. On the 5th of April in Dernancourt, France he, alongside the rest of the 50th Battalion, helped hold off the largest German attack directed at Australian troops in the war.
On the 1st of February 1919 George marched out of action for return to Australia. He moved to England and stayed at the army base in Hurdcott before embarking the boat “Leicestershire” on the 3rd of May 1919. 46 days were spent on the boat before George arrived home. On arrival in Adelaide, George had a medical assessment and was deemed medically fit. The report read ‘Feels quite well. No disability.’ He also had a dental assessment, which reported him as class A.
Two months after his return to Australia, George was discharged by the 4th Military District for TPE (Terminate Period of Enlistment/Employment). He was discharged at Keswick, the same army base at which he enlisted, nearly four years later.
By serving in the army and representing his country, George was awarded three medals. The 1914-15 Star Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Biography
- AIF Project
- National Archives of Australia
- RSL Virtual War Memorial
- Australian War Memorial
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