MAAG, George Henry
| Service Number: | 3635 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Meringandan QLD, 15 November 1896 |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Died of shell wounds to both legs, France, 1 September 1918, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Suzanne Military Cemetery No.3 Plot 1 Row E Grave no 6 Somme France., Suzanne Military Cemetery No 3, Suzanne, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour, Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW1, Toowoomba St Stephen's Church WWI Memorial Tablet, Toowoomba St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour, Toowoomba War Memorial (Mothers' Memorial) |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Mar 1918: | Involvement Private, 3635, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Ormonde embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1918: | Embarked Private, 3635, 41st Infantry Battalion, SS Ormonde, Sydney |
The Cigarette Case
One of my uncles (George Henry's paternal half nephew) would tell the story that George was saved from being killed by a bullet to the heart by a cigarette case in his top pocket. Apparently, the case had a bullet mark/hole in it to confirm this story. My youngest paternal uncle would agree with this story but my father would dismiss it as just a story his brother liked to tell. The conversations between the surviving brothers would grow heated as they defended or rejected the story. As I began researching George Henry's military career, mentioned in the Service Records available at the National Archives of Australia, I found a list of the personal effects that had been sent to his father John (his NOK) after George's death. Among them, a cigarette case! I have never heard from any members of the family whether the case survives, but would be thrilled to see it if it did and to see whether there is any bullet hole or marking on it. Until then, the mystery continues.
Submitted 23 October 2015 by Lyndall Maag
Biography
George was 21 yrs old when he died. He was not married . He sent a postcard to his little brother Johnny 4 yrs old (John Collins Maag) indicating his hope to return home and send him down to the shop for his cigarettes.
George lost his mother Catherina in 1897 just after he was born.He had a brother Albert and sister Charlotte both born before him. His father John Maag married Sarah Stewart late Timms and had 4 more children Sydney Kenneth Linda and John (my Grandfather who idolized his big brother George).
Service Medals: British War Medal Victory Medal
Click images to start slideshow.