Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Victor Richards, known as George or Curley, travelled to war at the mere age of 27 years and 5 months. He was born in March 1887 and was devastatingly killed in action on June 18th 1915, at the age of 28 years old. George was a small build, standing at only 5”8, 172 centimetres, and weighed 145lbs, a mere 65.7 kilograms. Before travelling to the war, he worked as a blacksmith in Richmond.

After working in Richmond, he embarked on his journey to Broken Hill, where he continued to work as a blacksmith, while beginning his training for the army. George was born in Walhalla, Gippsland, Victoria and lived with his mother and father, until he departed for Broken Hill. George was single when he left for the war. Given that he wasn’t married when departing for war, he never had the opportunity to be a dad. George’s next of kin was his father Thomas Henry Richards. George was killed in action, receiving an injury on the 17th June 1915 and dying the next day, on the 18th June 1915.

George enlisted in South Australia, on the 24th of August 1914. The 10th Battalion departed for Egypt on the A11 Ascanius on 20th October 1914. After landing in Cairo, Egypt George continued his training. This training included six weeks of strenuous exercise, getting the soldiers equipped for the army and what it would entail. George’s training consisted of two stages. The first stage, completed through two weeks of training, was aimed to build physical fitness and confidence. The second stage, a further four weeks of training, George and the other soldiers, learnt the fundamental skills of being a soldier and training in army like situations.

After completing the training, George embark for Gallipoli. The 10th Battalion landing in Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, arriving at 4:30am. The 10th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. The battalion was recruited in South Australia and together with the 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions, they formed the 3rd Brigade.

The 10th Battalion was raised within weeks of the declaration of war in August 1914 and they embarked overseas just two months later. Once embarking to the war, they made a brief stop in Fremantle, then proceeded to Cairo, Egypt. The 10th Battalion arrived in Cairo in early December. The 3rd Brigade was in charge of covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25th April 1915. The 10th Battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position and served there until the evacuation in December.

George arrived at WWI as a Private soldier and remained with that title for the two months he fought. During George’s time in the army he suffered influenza. He was diagnosed with influenza on May 27th 1915 and returned back to fighting on May 28th. George remained in hospital for one night only, before returning to his battalion and fighting again. During his influenza treatment, he was transferred from a Gallipoli hospital to hospital No.1. George was transferred to a different hospital, so he could receive better treatment, as they needed him back fighting as quickly as possible.

During George’s short period of time fighting in the army he suffered two injuries. The first injury George had was a burn on his left leg from a shell. A shell is a payload-carrying projectile that, as opposed to a gunshot, contains an explosive or other filling. Though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles. The explosives used inside the shells, burn the skin and can cause serious damage to the bones and muscles underneath. George fell victim to the burns in the trenches in Gallipoli.

George was unfortunately killed in action in the Battle of Gallipoli. He passed away on June 18th 1915. George’s body was found in the trenches. George was recognisable after passing, so he was fortunate enough to have his name on his grave. He was buried at the Beach Cemetery in Gallipoli. He is buried in Plot II, Row B, Grave No.2, in the cemetery. Luckily for George, he was fortunate to have his own private grave, unlike many of the men, who were placed inside the same grave.

Though George was not personally awarded the medals, his family received the three medals that he earned during his time fighting in WWI. George received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The 1914-15 Star was awarded to all the soldiers who served in specified theatres of war between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. The British War Medal was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of WWI and recognise the service given by the soldiers. The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces of the Central Powers. These medals were awarded to George to show the appreciation of the ANZACs and British Empire, both to the soldiers who returned and those fallen during the war.