BONE, David
| Service Number: | 6768 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 March 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Paisley, Scotland, 29 January 1898 |
| Home Town: | Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Near Hangard Wood, Villers-Bretonneux, France, 7 April 1918, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Mar 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6768, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 6768, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 6768, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Melbourne |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
David BONE (Service Number 6768) was born on 29 January 1898 at Adamstown. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a junior porter in the Newcastle Division from 19 May 1913, transferring to junior clerk at Bullock Island in 1915. He was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 18 March 1917. Despite being only 19 years and 1 month old he claimed five years’ experience in Cadets and Citizen Forces.
He embarked from Australia on 21 June 1917 on HMAT ‘Suevic’, reaching Liverpool, England in August. After further training he proceeded to France through Southhampton at the end of the year and joined the 20th Battalion on New Year’s Day 1918. He was killed on the morning of 7 April 1918, whilst taking part in an attack on the German positions near Bois de Hangard, Somme district. There was no record of the body having been recovered and buried.
He is remembered at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie. France
(NAA B2455-3098224)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
105 years ago today, on the 7th April 1918, Private David Bone, 20th Battalion (Reg No-6768), clerk (Port Waratah Coal Depot, N.S.W.), from 81 Gosford Road, Adamstown (Hamilton West), New South Wales, was Killed in Action at Hangard Wood, Northern France, age 20. Cause of death not stated.
Born at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland on the 29th January 1898 to David (died 24.1.1922, age 53) and Margaret Bone nee McLaren (died 29.7.1900). Also Emma Cambodia Bone (step-mother, died 24.8.1963, age 81), David enlisted on the 14th March 1917 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A29 Suevic on the 21st June 1917.
David’s name has been inscribed on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Mr. Bone’s name has also been inscribed on the Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Adamstown Citizens' Memorial, Adamstown Municipal District Roll of Honor, Scotts Kirk (Hamilton), NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
Place of Association – Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Many thanks to David's half nephew Stephen Bone for the family information and photos.
David was born on the 29 January 1898 at 130 George Street, Paisley, Scotland. He came to Australia when he was 4 years old.
He became a clerk and worked at Port Waratah Coal, and then joined the army on the 7th February 1917 (Regimental Number 6768) 20th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement. He was killed in action on the 7th April 1918, aged 20 during WW1 in France.
He was killed on the morning of the 7th April 1918 whilst taking part in an attack on German positions near Hangard Wood, which is just south of the village of Villers-Bretonneux. No particulars are available as to how he was killed and no record of his body having been recovered and buried.
His mother was Margaret McLaren who was born on the 5th February 1871 in Killarchan, Scotland. She died on the 29 July 1900 when David was 4 years old. He had a sister Mary Gifillan Bone (known as May) who was born on the 21st December 1899 at 23 Queen Street Paisley. She outlived David (I remember Mum talking about her) but not sure when she died.
I will place poppies at the Bone memorialised gravesite in remembrance of their son’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. PRESBYTERIAN-17SW. 46.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget
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