ABBOTT, George Herbert
| Service Number: | 2244 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Horsham, Vic., 1896 |
| Home Town: | Exeter, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wunderlich Fitter |
| Died: | 23 February 1981, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2244, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 2244, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 2244, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Bakara, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
George Herbert Abbott was born in 1896 and grew up in Horsham, Victoria. George was the only son of Lydia Abbott, who was also his next of kin. Prior to enlisting in World War I, he worked as a Wunderlich fitter, a job that involved working with metal and architecture. George was not married before the war and had two years of experience in Cadets.
George enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 24th of January 1916 in Adelaide, South Australia when he was twenty years old. He was assigned rank private and was a part of the 9th Light Horse Regiment. George completed training at Mitcham Camp, in the Adelaide foothills. This camp was the main military training ground in South Australia from 1915 to 1918. He departed from Port Adelaide on the transport ship, HMAT Bakara 28th April 1916.
On the 9th of July 1916, George was transferred to the 13th Imperial Camel Corps. The Imperial Camel Corps was responsible for training in the desert and taking care of camels as they adapted to the drier conditions, unlike horses. George’s role included raids, scouting, reconnaissance, and securing supply routes.
By the 11th of November 1916, George was transferred to the 3rd Anzac Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps. This is where George participated in the Battle of Magdhaba, in the Sinai Peninsula on the 23rd of December 1916. The battle targeted the Ottoman Empire and aimed to push them out of Egypt to reach the Suez Canal, which was a waterway for the British. Despite the difficult winter conditions and sand that slowed their movements, the Allies stopped the Ottoman supply line.
Then on the 9th of January 1917, George participated in the Battle of Rafa. He fought on a battlefield that was open and exposed to heavy machine guns and rifle fire. George and many other soldiers looked up to leaders, such as Colonel Huddleston as the battle tested everyone’s fighting ability. This resulted in the Allies to march forward, which ultimately weakened the Ottomans and allowed the British to move towards Palestine.
On the 16th of March 1917, George was transferred to the 4th Anzac Battalion, 1st Imperial Camel Brigade. Then, from the 26th of March to the 19th of April, George fought in the First and Second Battles of Gaza, which was an area that the Turks were in charge of. George fought in conditions that were brutal with high explosives and shrapnel, while advancing over bare slopes.
Later in 1917 on the 31st of October, George was involved in the Battle of Beersheba, which was a significant battle that shifted the Palestine campaign. This battle involved George’s unit to invade the Ottoman trenches on horses and find wells. The water supply was crucial as the men and animals were fighting dehydration. Additionally, this battle was the start of the end for the Ottomans in Palestine by the end of December 1917.
On the 23rd of January 1918, George was attached to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). The AFC participated in aerial reconnaissance and bombing, although George worked as a part of the ground crew. The AFC played a crucial part in the Middle East campaign as they spied on enemies, which allowed them to be one step ahead.
By the 27th of May 1918, George was in Cairo, Egypt. Similar to many soldiers as crimes were not uncommon, he left camp without permission while under isolation. His punishment was the loss of five days of pay.
The war also affected George’s health on the 19th of June 1918. George was admitted to the 31st Hospital in Abbassia with ophthalmia, which is an eye infection. This was most likely due to the sand and dust in the desert. On the 26th of January 1919 he was hospitalised again due to a medical condition. He remained in the hospital for 44 days and was discharged on the 2nd of March 1919 and re-joined his original regiment, the 9th Light Horse.
After completing three years of service, George embarked home to Australia on the 10th of August 1919. After returning to Australia, George lived in Woodawalah Estate, Goulburn, New South Wales. On the 15th of May 1929, George’s home and many of his belongings, such as his discharged papers and medals, were destroyed in a fire. In 1935 he wrote to the Record Office at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, and requested that his discharge papers and medals should be replaced. This was to save his legacy and to remember his commitment to the war.
George married Barbara Mary Abbott and had two children, Barry Francis, who was born in 1936, and Desmond Michael Abbott, born in 1938.
George Herbert Abbott passed away on the 23rd of February 1981 at 85 years old. He is buried and remembered in Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia.
Bibliography
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Terrace, V 2025, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au, viewed 15 March 2025, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3016592>.
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The Battle at Maghdaba – Australian Light Horse Association 2025, Lighthorse.org.au.
‘AWM4 11/8/1 - January 1917’ 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 15 March 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1351304?image=8>.
‘AWM4 11/9/12 - December 1917 - February 1918’ 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 15 March 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1351311?image=9>.
George Herbert Abbott (unknown-1981) - Find a... 2022, Findagrave.com, viewed 15 March 2025, <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183850008/george_herbert-abbott>.
Australian War Memorial 2016, Advanced Search | The Australian War Memorial, Awm.gov.au.
from, A 2018, Left to right the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal (Source: Wikipedia) - Away from the Western Front, Away from the Western Front, viewed 2 April 2025, <https://awayfromthewesternfront.org/research/women-away-western-front/military-nurse-egypt>.
Our History | Centennial Park 2023, Centennial Park I Adelaide\'s most beautiful cemetery and memorial park, viewed 2 April 2025, <https://www.centennialpark.org/about-us/learn-our-history/>.