Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GEORGE joined 'B' Coy 28th Battalion. He had been mining at Ora Banda and had a 1/3rd share in farm' Alawa' Walebing. Aged 30 years he was not particularly tall. 5 Feet 4 3/8 Inches.
He was engaged to Brenda White. He also had four sisters. He left this estate to be divided between the five women. His parents were no longer alive.
He was an original member of 28th Battalion and was first sent to Anzac Cove.

The 28th Battalion sailed for Egypt aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius on 9 Jun 1915, arriving at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 2 Jul 1915 and, after travelling in a convoy of four trains with other units, concentrated along with the rest of the 7th Brigade at Abbassia near Cairo, where they were assigned to the newly formed Australian 2nd Division.

He had been wounded twice prior to his death 28 March 1917.
He was awarded the Military Medal. Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917.


From page 195 ‘The Blue and White Diamonds’ by Neville Browning
 H.J.  Elphick wrote
 ‘Some of us had to go out into No Man's Land digging a bombing post then stay there until we were relieved, that was at 12:00 at night. At eight, our officer and sergeant came around to visit us then they went back to the front line. As soon as they got back a shell burst over them killing the officer and the Lance Corporal of our platoon and wounding the Sergeant in the leg.   He laid there until we came in from the post then we had to bring him in as the men who relieved us wouldn't take him over to the supports, we had to carry him 3 miles. We could not get a stretcher so we had to carry him on a door, talk about a job. I can't describe what sort of state we were in when we got back to the battalion 5:00 next morning.’
 The sunken road to the east of the village was subjected to heavy shelling which killed Captain P. Cherry and Lieutenants A. Jerry and G.E . Powell and several other ranks. During the operation 2nd Lieutenant A.H. Tiegs had also been killed whilst Lieutenants  F. Hugo and E. Edmondson were wounded.   Seventeen other ranks were killed and 59 wounded.   On the following  morning,  27th of March the 5th and 13th Brigades relieved the 7th Brigade.  After the handover to the 17th battalion the 28th Battalion marched to supports at the crucifix and then to the tented camp at Le Coupe Gueule, near Warlencourt.

2nd Lt. Powell was injured twice prior to his death 26 March 1916. He was previously a miner at Ora Banda and had a 2/3rd share of a farm at Walebing. He was not particularly tall - 5 feet 4 3/8inches. He was 30 years old when he enlisted 'B' Coy 28th Battalion. George was engaged to Brenda White and had four sisters. He shared his assets between the five women. His parents were no longer alive.

The 28th Battalion sailed for Egypt aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius on 9 Jun 1915, arriving at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 2 Jul 1915 and, after travelling in a convoy of four trains with other units, concentrated along with the rest of the 7th Brigade at Abbassia near Cairo, where they were assigned to the newly formed Australian 2nd Division.
He spent a short time at Anzac Cove before sailing to France.

From page 195 ‘The Blue and White Diamonds’ by Neville Browning
 H.J.  Elphick wrote

 ‘Some of us had to go out into No Man's Land digging a bombing post then stay there until we were relieved, that was at 12:00 at night. At eight, our officer and sergeant came around to visit us then they went back to the front line. As soon as they got back a shell burst over them killing the officer and the Lance Corporal of our platoon and wounding the Sergeant in the leg.   He laid there until we came in from the post then we had to bring him in as the men who relieved us wouldn't take him over to the supports, we had to carry him 3 miles. We could not get a stretcher so we had to carry him on a door, talk about a job. I can't describe what sort of state we were in when we got back to the battalion 5:00 next morning.’

 The sunken road to the east of the village was subjected to heavy shelling which killed Captain P. Cherry and Lieutenants A. Jerry and G.E . Powell and several other ranks. During the operation 2nd Lieutenant A.H. Tiegs had also been killed whilst Lieutenants  F. Hugo and E. Edmondson were wounded.   Seventeen other ranks were killed and 59 wounded.   On the following  morning,  27th of March the 5th and 13th Brigades relieved the 7th Brigade.  After the handover to the 17th battalion the 28th Battalion marched to supports at the crucifix and then to the tented camp at Le Coupe Gueule, near Warlencourt.