GEE, Harry Charles
| Service Number: | 2314 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Singleton, New South Wales, October 1893 |
| Home Town: | Manilla, Tamworth Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital) at Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom, 21 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery (Row Y, Grave No. 1473), Sussex, England, Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2314, 33rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2314, 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2314, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Gunshot wound to mouth and neck - evacuated to the United Kingdom | |
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2314, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Died of Wounds sustained at the Battle of Messines |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Pte Harry Charles (Peter) GEE
Harry Charles Gee was born at Singleton, NSW around 1893 to parents Charles Hong Gee and Caroline Jane Gee (nee Cleworth). (Charles Hong Gee was born in 1865 in Guangdong, China). Charles Gee married Caroline J. Cleworth in 1894 in Singleton, NSW.
Harry Charles Gee was a 22 year old, single, Labourer from Manilla, NSW when he enlisted on 11th May, 1916 with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Reinforcements of the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His service number was 2314 & his religion was Church of England. His next of kin was listed as his father – Charles Hong Gee, P.O., Manilla, NSW.
Private Harry Charles Gee was posted to Depot Battalion at Armidale, NSW from 11th May, 1916 to 25th August, 1916. He was transferred to 5th Reinforcements, 33rd Battalion at Rutherford, NSW from 26th August, 1916 to 19th September, 1916. Pte Gee was transferred to 4th Reinforcements, 33rd Battalion at Rutherford on 19th September, 1916.
Private Harry Charles Gee embarked from Sydney on HMAT Borda (A30) on 17th October, 1916 & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 9th January, 1917. Pte Gee was marched into 9th Training Battalion at Durrington, Wiltshire from Australia on 12th January, 1917. Pte Gee proceeded overseas from 9th Training Battalion at Durrington, Wiltshire via Folkestone on 13th March, 1917. Pte Gee was marched in to 3rd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples on 14th March, 1917. He was marched out to his Unit on 17th March, 1917. Pte Gee was taken on strength with 33rd Battalion in the field on 19th March, 1917.
Pte Gee was wounded in action in the field (according to family information he was wounded in the Battle of Messines) on 8th June, 1917. He was taken to 9th Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to mouth then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station. Pte Gee was admitted to 83rd General Hospital at Boulogne on 9th June, 1917. Pte Gee was invalided to England on 14th June, 1917 on Hospital Ship “St. Patrick”.
Pte Gee was admitted to Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital) at Eastbourne, East Sussex on 15th June, 1917 wounded slightly. However, the Hospital Admissions form states “G.S.W. Face, lip, tongue, tonsil.” Another Hospital form states “G.S.W. through lip, upper maxilla, tongue, tonsil & muscles of neck.”
Private Harry Charles Gee died at 10.10 pm on 21st June, 1917 at Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital), Eastbourne, East Sussex, England from wounds received in action in France.
A death for Harry C. Gee, aged 23, was registered in the June quarter, 1917 in the district of Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. A Jury Inquest was held into the death of 2314, Pte H. C. Gee on 25th June, 1917. The finding was “Failure of respiration and of the hearts action while under anaesthetic (Ether and Chloroform) properly administered for a necessary operation for wound of throat received in action in France.”
Private Harry Charles Gee was buried at 3 pm on 26th June, 1917 in Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England – Plot number Y. 1473 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. From the burial report of Pte H. C. Gee - Coffin was good, polished Elm. The deceased soldier was buried with full Military Honours. Band, Firing Party and Trumpeters of the Cavalry Command Depot, Eastbourne were in attendance. The coffin was draped with the “Union Jack” and surmounted with several lovely floral tributes. A party of Australian and British © Cathy Sedgwick 2016 patients from the various Military Hospitals in Eastbourne followed the remains to the Cemetery. The Service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. J. C. Piper, Chaplain to the Military Hospital, Eastbourne. The “Last Post” was sounded at the graveside. No relatives were present at the funeral. Temporary memorials are not permitted to be erected in the above Cemetery.
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