GELL, George Lenton
| Service Number: | 3808 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 21 July 1896 |
| Home Town: | Bexley, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Gladstone Park, Balmain Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Peritonitis, St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, England , 19 December 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery, Warwickshire, England Grave number 356, Section B10. Lance Corporal Gell’s name is now remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall B10. 356 as he does not have a headstone. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jan 1916: | Involvement 3808, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Embarked 3808, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney |
Help us honour George Lenton Gell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
George Lenton Gell was born at Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales on 21st July, 1896 to parents George Thompson Gell & Sarah Jane Gell (nee Lenton).
George Thomson Gell, father of George Lenton Gell, died on 30th December, 1906 at Balmain, Sydney, NSW.
Sarah Jane Gell, widowed mother of George Lenton Gell, remarried in 1914. She married Peter T. Schultz.
On 7th September, 1915 George Lenton Gell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 19 year old, single, Clerk from Galathea, Vivian Street, Bexley, NSW.
On 18th December, 1915 Private George Lenton Gell was posted to 9th Reinforcements of 19th Battalion as Acting Corporal.
Acting Corporal George Linton Gell (“Linton” spelling as per Embarkation Roll), Service number 3808, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Runic (A54) on 20th January, 1916 with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 19th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
He was transferred to 55th Battalion on 3rd April, 1916 while posted at Moascar from 19th Battalion Details & Reinforcements. He was taken on strength of 55th Battalion on 3rd April, 1916 at Ferry Post.
On 19th June, 1916 Acting Corporal Gell embarked from Alexandria on H.T. Caledonian to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 29th June, 1916.
Acting Corporal George Lenton Gell was wounded in France on 20th July, 1916. He was admitted to 15th Field Ambulance on 20th July, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Leg & Head then transferred & admitted to Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Acting Corporal Gell was admitted to 30th General Hospital at Calais, France on 21st July, 1916. He was marked for transfer to England on 1st August, 1916 & embarked from Calais on 2nd August, 1916 on Hospital Ship Newhaven with G.S.W. to Left Arm.
[From 55th Battalion War Diary – For 20th July: 2 Officers - Killed; 5 Officers - Wounded & 4 Officers – Missing.
35 Other Ranks – Killed; 5 Other Ranks – Died of wounds; 149 Other Ranks – wounded & 139 Other Ranks - Missing]
He was admitted to Northern General Hospital at Sheffield, England on 2nd August, 1916 with G.S.W. to Left Arm.
Base Records advised Mrs S. J. Shultz, Galathea, Vivian Street, Bexley, NSW, on 19th August, 1916 that her son Private George L. Gell had been admitted to 30th General Hospital on 21st July, with gunshot wound to arm – mild.
On 5th October, 1916 Acting Corporal Gell was marched in to 14th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire from Perham Downs, Wiltshire.
Acting Corporal Gell proceeded overseas to France on 14th October, 1916 from 14th Training Battalion in England. He was marched in to 5th A.B.D.B. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 16th October, 1916. Acting Corporal Gell was marched out from 5th A.D.B.D. on 30th October, 1916 & rejoined 55th Battalion in the Field on 1st November, 1916.
He was appointed Lance Corporal from 14th September, 1917.
On 5th December, 1917 Lance Corporal Gell was sent to Bombing School & rejoined his Battalion on 22nd December, 1917.
Lance Corporal Gell was on Leave from 31st January, 1918 & rejoined 55th Battalion on 22nd February, 1918.
He was sent to 2nd Army Musketry School on 1st March, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion on 11th March, 1918.
On 9th July, 1918 Lance Corporal Gell was sent to 14th Brigade School. He was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance on 12th July, 1918 with Bronchitis from Brigade School. Lance Corporal Gell was discharged to duty on 187th July, 1918 & rejoined 55th Battalion in the Field on 3rd August, 1918.
Lance Corporal George Lenton Gell was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 2nd September, 1918. He was admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance on 2nd September, 1918 with Shrapnel wounds to Buttocks & R Hand. Lance Corporal Gell was transferred & admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 2nd September, 1918 then transferred to Ambulance Train 36. He was admitted to 5th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 3rd September, 1918. Lance Corporal Gell embarked for England on 7th September, 1918 on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle.
[From 55th Battalion War Diary – For Sept 2nd: 46 Killed 119 Wounded]
He was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital – Monyhull Section, Birmingham, England on 8th September, 1918 with G.S.W. to Buttock & right Hand.
Lance Corporal George Lenton Gell died on 19th December, 1918 at St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, England from Peritonitis.
He was buried on 23rd December, 1918 in Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, West Midlands, England – Grave number 356, Section B10.
Lance Corporal Gell’s name is now remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall B10. 356 as he does not have a headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-lodge-hill.html
Click images to start slideshow.