BODDINGTON, George Keith
| Service Number: | 3573 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 April 1915, Place of Enlistment, Mackay, Queensland. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 14 September 1894 |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | State School, Brisbane |
| Occupation: | Ironmonger |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, France., 12 May 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Plot II, Row E, Grave No. 12) |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mackay Cenotaph, Mackay Old Town Hall Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3573, 2nd/7th Field Ambulance, Place of Enlistment, Mackay, Queensland. | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3573, 7th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 24 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3573, 7th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ascanius, Brisbane | |
| 30 Nov 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3573, 15th Infantry Battalion, Shell Wound to the leg. | |
| 6 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3573, 15th Infantry Battalion, Died of Wounds. | |
| 12 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 11th Infantry Battalion |
George Keith Boddington.
In 1914 the Australian government vowed to fight in defence of Britain 'to the last man and the last shilling'. At first many of the men who volunteered saw it as a great adventure, an opportunity to travel and spend time overseas. The postcards sent back by the Boddington boys are typical, with their images of exotic scenes and foreign cities. However the tragedy of Gallipoli followed by the terrible trench warfare of France soon changed all this. Of the 300,000 Australians who fought overseas, 60,000 were killed and another 120,000 seriously wounded.
The Boddington family collection is a poignant reminder of the personal cost of war. Two of George and Emily Boddington's three sons were killed. Captain Frederick Boddington (46 INF BN) was killed in action on 11 April 1917 at the first battle of Bullecourt, and Private George Boddington (7 FD AMB) died of wounds sustained at the second Battle of Bullecourt on 12 May 1917. Bullecourt was on the Hindenburg Line, a sixteen mile front that stretch north to Arras. The fighting to cross this front was intense .
Courtesy of The Bronze Commemoration Medal,WW1.
Submitted 7 April 2021 by Lynette Turner
Biography contributed
George Keith BODDINGTON was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 14th September, 1894
His parents were Frederick William BODDINGTON & Emily Australia Indiana Jane ECKERSLEY
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His brother Frederick Eckersley BODDINGTON (SN 254) was Killed in Action on 11th April, 1917
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