MCPHERSON, George
| Service Number: | 291 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 February 1915, An original of A Company |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Rockdale, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Kogarah Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 28 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Puchevillers British Cemetery, France Plot II, Row B, Grave No. 52 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 291, 19th Infantry Battalion, An original of A Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 291, 19th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 291, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
In a letter home George commented on the Nile River in Egypt, “From the camp can be seen five large bridges which span the Nile. The largest is (King of the Nile), a very fine steel structure. All are built of steel and open and close to Allied river traffic through, in the same manner as Pyrmont bridge. The Nile looks very inviting although it is very dirty, but we are prohibited from swimming on account of red water fever.”
George McPherson served at Gallipoli from mid-August 1915 along with his brother 1062 Pte. Thomas McPherson 20th Battalion AIF, and both served through the campaign unscathed although George was evacuated with dysentery. Thomas later died of wounds on 7 May 1916, near Bois Grenier in France, aged 23.
George was severely wounded a few months later, on the 28 July 1916, at Pozieres, with multiple shrapnel injuries, and died of his wounds later the same day in the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station.
The local paper printed the following on during September 1916, “George and Tom McPherson, sons of Mr. J. McPherson, of Rockdale, have both died of wounds received in France. Before enlisting, George was the Hon. Secretary of St. George District Amateur Rugby Football Club, which has sent about 90 per cent of its members to the front. By Thursday's mail, Charles Bruce 19th Battalion, (brother of Rex Bruce), writes of George in the following terms: “I suppose you will have already heard of the news of Geo. McPherson's death, I only hope that if I have to go I do it as well. He was I carrying rations to some of his mates, cut off in a trench in front (as a volunteer) when a shell got him. He knew the risk, and faced it like a hero. I am awfully sorry for his people.”
His parents were James and Helen McPherson of Rockdale, Sydney, NSW.
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