RADNELL, George Duncan
| Service Number: | 1734 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tarnagulla, Victoria, Australia, 1898 |
| Home Town: | Tarnagulla, Loddon, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 1 June 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Vignacourt British Cemetery His headstone contains this inscription from his family: "GEORGE, A TARNAGULLA LAD CELEBRATED HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY AT ANZAC IN 1915", Vignacourt British Cemetery, Vignacourt, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Dunolly Great War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Mar 1915: | Involvement Private, SN 1734, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1915: | Embarked Private, SN 1734, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Melbourne | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Wounded Wounded in action (1), France. Gunshot wound to chest. | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Wounded Wounded in action (2), France. Gunshot would to left arm. | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, During the operations near ZONNEBEKE on the 26 Sep 1917, Pte. Radnell displayed great courage and initiative by getting together a party of 7 men and rushing an enemy post in which were 10 Germans killing four and taking the remainder prisoners. Recommended by Lt. Col. W. Smith, Commanding Officer 14th Battalion. | |
| 31 May 1918: | Wounded Wounded in action (3), France. Shell wounds to face and legs, from which he later died. |
Help us honour George Duncan Radnell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Leanne Grogan
George Duncan RADNELL was the youngest child of 13 children born to goldminer William RADNELL and Mayflower descendant Hannah Matilda TITUS.
Just a boy, George was approximately 15½ when he enlisted, his father signing a letter to say he was 18. An older brother (Charl) and two cousins had already enlisted and he wanted to join them on the adventure and do his bit.
The personal inscription his parents requested for his headstone claims that he had his 16th birthday at Gallipoli.
In March 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, a rank he held until May the following year when he reverted to the rank of Private at his own request, the reason for which is unknown.
George was wounded three times during the war, surviving the first two and eventually returning to duty. Unfortunately he did not survive the shell wounds he received when wounded the third and final time.
This boy grew into a soldier on the battlefields of France, giving his life for his country and the protection of his loved ones at home.
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