Granville John BURNAGE VD, CB

BURNAGE, Granville John

Service Number: Officer
Enlisted: 28 September 1914
Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion
Born: Dungog, NSW, 14 December 1858
Home Town: Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Merchant
Died: Carey Bay, Toronto, NSW, 12 July 1945, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Beresfield Crematorium, NSW
Memorials: Cooks Hill St John's Honor Roll, Dungog RSL Boer War Honour Roll
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Major, 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles

World War 1 Service

28 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Officer, 13th Infantry Battalion
22 Dec 1914: Involvement 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
22 Dec 1914: Embarked 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts

Death of Colonel G.J. Burnage
Coloniel Granville John Burnage, V.D. C.B., who commanded the 13th Battalion at Gallipoli, died yesterday at his residence at Carey Bay, Toronto. Colonel Burnage had a military record of distinction covering more than 40 years.   

The funeral will take place tomorrow morning.  The Dean of Newcastle (Very Rev. A. E. Morris) will conduct a service at Christ Church Cathedral at 11 ambefore proceeding to Beresfield Crematorium.


Mr. H.L. Wheeler said no man in Newcaditle deserved a higher tribute than Colonel Burnage.  His comrades referred to him in their battalion history as "the bravest man God made." said Mr. Mark Reid.


Born at Dungog in 1859, Colonel Burnage joined the militia in 1878, became lieutenant four years later, commanded the 4th Infantry Regiment, and was in charge of Newcastle defence from 1903 to 1913. He served with the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles during the South African War and received the Queen's Mledal with five clasps.


In 1914 he was asked to form the 13th Battalion. Colonel Burnage took part in severe fighlting round Dead Man's Ridge, Gallipoli, and was blown up by a shell and wounded. Later he was in charge of transports from Australia. In 1918 he was on the Barunga when it was torpedoed. All the troops were saved, and Colonel Burnage was last to leave.


From 1918, Colonel Burnage was commanding officer of the 2/13th
Battalion. A.M.F. until 1921 when he retired, aged 62.


When a record of the battalions war scervice was phublished withl the title "The Glorious 13th Battalion' there were many references to his brave conduct on Gallipoli.


In 1939, on his 8Oth birthday more than 100 of his old comrades hononured him at a dinner at Toronto Hotel.
Colonel Burnage wsas an executive of the firm of T. Burnage and Son.  He leaves a widow and sister. His brother died some months ago.

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