HAMBIDGE, George Russell
| Service Numbers: | 3689A, 3689 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 December 1916, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Edwardstown, South Australia, Australia, 5 August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Grange, City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange, South Australia |
| Schooling: | University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Law Student |
| Died: | Wounds, France, 8 August 1918, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Longueau British Cemetery, Somme, France III A 12 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Members of the Legal Profession & Students at Law WW1 Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Henley Beach Council Fallen WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Henley Beach Council WW1 Service Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens | |
| 28 Feb 1918: | Involvement Private, 3689, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Feb 1918: | Embarked Private, 3689, 46th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 20 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, Private Hambidge disembarked at Liverpool before joining the 12th Training Battalion, at Codford near Salisbury Plain, UK. He would train there in preparation for action in France | |
| 8 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, 9 weeks after commencing training at Codford Training Camp, Private George Rusell Hambidge embarked for France, disembarking at Le Havre, France to await joining his unit. | |
| 17 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Private Hambidge joined his unit who were embedded near the Ploegsteert front. On the night of his arrival, the 46th Infantry Battalion ". . . was heavily shelled for 4 1/2 hours by Gas Shells, Shrapnell (sic) and H.E. (high explosives)." | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens, Private George Russell Hambidge was wounded at the Battle of Amiens, with shrapnel wounds to his leg, and attended by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance. Sadly, just one month after landing in France, Private Groves died of the wounds he received in action on the first day of the Battle of Amiens. | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement Private, 3689A, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3689A awm_unit: 46th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-08 |
Biography
Early Life
George Russell Hambidge was born on 5th August 1897 at Edwardstown, South Australia, the son of Henry Arthur Hambidge and Elizabeth Mary Wyle of Beach Road, Grange, South Australia. (Note: George’s surname is often recorded incorrectly as Hambridge).
His siblings were Madeline (1900), Gwendoline (1905), Frank (1910) and Elizabeth (1913).
Schooling
George attended Pulteney Street Grammar School, Adelaide, South Australia.
He passed Senior Examinations in English and Modern History (1914), English Literature, Physiology, Physical Geography & Geology (Mar 1915).
He also passed the Special Senior Examination in Latin (1916) under the tutorship of Mr GG Newman.
University
George commenced studying toward his law degree in 1916 passing Law of Contracts that year.
World War I
George originally enlisted on the 11th December 1916 and was to serve with the Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train Reinforcements, Swan Island from 1 January 1917. On his initial enlistment George was 19 years 4 months, 5’8¾”, pale complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair and he was a Articled Law Clerk with PE Johnstone. He had 4 years experience as a Senior Cadet with the 77th Bn which became the 77th Bn of the Citizens Forces.
George was discharged on the 5th May 1917 when the RANBT unit was disbanded. He had served for 130 days but had forfeited two days pay for exceeding the limit of his pass by 46 hours.
George’s second enlisted papers were signed on the 15th May 1917 when he was 19 years and 8 months old. On the second set of papers George is 5’9” and weighs 151 lbs and his complexion is now described as dark. SN 3689.
Pte George R Hambidge was initially at Mitcham, SA, then in Victoria at LTMB Seymour, Isolation Camp, Ascot Vale and Broadmeadows. While at Broadmeadows he was at times an Acting Corporal and he was allocated to the 10th Reinforcements of the 46 Battalion.
George embarked at Melbourne, Vic on the HMAT A71 “Nestor” on the 28th February 1918 and disembarked at Liverpool, UK on the 20th April 1918. George was with the 12th Training Bn at Codford until the 7th July 1918. On the 8th July he proceeded overseas from Folkestone and was taken on strength of the 46 Bn on the 17th July.
Death
The 46 Bn AIF were engaged in the Battle of Amiens when George was wounded in the leg during action on the 8th August 1918 and admitted to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance, France. He died the same day as the result of his wounds.
George was buried in Longneau British Cemetery, two miles south east of Amiens.
His parents received his belongings ex “Sardinia” in March 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60367118
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 28 August 1918, page 7
LATE PTE. GEORGE HAMBIDGE
"Mr. H. A. Hambidge, of Beach road, Grange, has been advised that his son, Pte. George R. Hambidge, died of wounds in France on August 8 at the 'age of 21. He was educated at Pulteney Street School, and articled to Mr. P. Johnstone, of Poole & Johnstone, as clerk. He passed the first year in his LLB course, prior to enlistment. The deceased soldier showed 'fine' literary talent, and contributed in verse and prose to The Register and many other papers. He wrote the words of the successful patriotic song, 'When our boys come home'."
A booklet of verses written by George was published by G. Hassell and Son, Adelaide in 1919.
On the anniversary of George’s death a French Schoolmistress visited his grave and laid flowers in his memory.
Sources
National Archives of Australia
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4265373
National Library of Australia
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/116373
Newspaper articles tagged “George Russell Hambidge”
GenealogySA
https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
AIF Project
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=124064
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11028842
Author EE (Beth) Filmer, Adelaide
Submitted 27 May 2025 by Eleanor Filmer
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Henry Arthur and Elizabeth Mary Hambidge, of Harvey St., Woodville Park, Kilkenny, South Australia.
HE HATH CHOSEN THE BETTER PART
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Pte Hambidge was a friend of Pte Ludwig Schrader 6879A. They fought along side of each other and both sustained battle wounds and died on the same day.
Click images to start slideshow.