JEFFREY, Henry George
| Service Number: | 6281 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 27 March 1898 |
| Home Town: | Five Dock, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 6281, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 6281, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Henry George JEFFERY was born on 27th March 1898 in Sydney. He began his career in the NSW Tramways as a cleaner in Sydney on 15th August 1913. On 9th October, he changed position to messenger in the Staff Committee Branch, first in Sydney and then at Eveleigh. In October 1914, he transferred to the Railways Traffic Branch as a junior porter in the Sydney District.
On 12th August 1915, before he was 18, he attempted to enlist in the AIF.
Although he was only 17 at the time, he lied about his age, stating he was 19. However, he was discharged in January 1918, at his mother’s request, because he was underage. After his 18th birthday, on 5th April 1916, he was granted leave from the Railways to join the AIF. His mother’s consent was still required.
He embarked at Sydney on 9th September 1916 on HMAT ‘Euripides’. He disembarked at Plymouth (England) on 26th October 1916. He marched in to join the 4th Battalion on 4th November 1916. On 28th March 1917, he proceeded overseas to France, and marched in at Etaples on 29th March. He joined his Battalion in the field in France on 1st April 1917.
After about six months in the field, on 4th October 1917, he was killed in action in Belgium. One eyewitness account of his death details, ‘He was killed in the Passchendaele stunt in October… by a shell and was killed instantly’. He was buried in the Hooge Crater Cemetery, Passchendaele, Flanders, Belgium. He was just 19-years-old.
Following his death, his personal items were forwarded to his mother, including a wallet, photos, and a calendar. His parents were also given the British War Medal and the Victory Medal to commemorate their son’s service.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.