FLEMING, George
| Service Number: | 2302 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 36th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle New South Wales, Australia, 17 December 1878 |
| Home Town: | Islington, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wickham Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Wounds, 9th Australian Field Ambulance at Pont D'Eschelles, Messines, France, 8 June 1917, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Pont d'Achelles Military Cemetery, France Plot II, Row A, Grave No. 17 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 29 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2302, 36th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2302, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2302, 36th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 9 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2302, 36th Infantry Battalion |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
George FLEMING (Service Number 2302) was born in Newcastle in 1878. He joined the NSWGR as a fuelman at Murrurundi in 1911 and in 1913 became sand burner there, preparing sand for use by locomotives (to help prevent slipping and assist braking). In 1914 he was transferred to the Hamilton locomotive depot in the same capacity, and in January 1916 was promoted to fitter’s labourer there, but on 29 May he enlisted in the AIF in Newcastle.
On 7 June 1916 he was hit in the head by shrapnel during the Battle of Messines and died at a field ambulance station the following day. He was buried in the Pont d’Achelles Military Cemetery, three miles NW of Armentières, leaving a wife and five children surviving him, for whom war pensions were granted.
Submitted 6 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
George FLEMING (Service Number 2302) was born in Newcastle in 1878. He joined the NSW Government Railways as a fuelman at Murrurundi in 1911. In 1913 he became sand burner there, preparing sand for use by locomotives (to help prevent slipping and assist braking). In 1914 he was transferred to the Hamilton locomotive depot in the same capacity,. In January 1916 he was promoted to fitter’s labourer at Hamilton.
On 29th May 1916 he enlisted in the AIF in Newcastle.
He embarked from Sydney in the troopship ‘Borda’ in October 1916. Hhe travelled ‘round the Horn’ to England.
He failed to report on parade when required at Freetown, Sierra Leone, in November, for which he was punished by 24 hours detention and the loss of two days’ pay.
He landed in England in January 1917. He was sent to France and joined his battalion on 21st May.
On 7th June he was hit in the head by shrapnel during the Battle of Messines. He died at a field ambulance station the following day. He was buried in the Pont d’Achelles Military Cemetery, three miles NW of Armentières.
He left a wife and five children for whom war pensions were granted.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 8th June 1917, Private George Fleming, 36th Battalion (Reg No-2302), fitter's labourer (Port Waratah Locomotive Sheds), from 16 Fleming Street, Islington, New South Wales, father of five (Donald, Elizabeth Elsie, Frances May, Florence, Marjorie Amy), Died of Wounds at the 9th Australian Field Ambulance (hit in the head by enemy artillery shell fragments while carrying ammunition at Ploegsteert Wood), Battle of Messines, age 38.
No Roll of Honour circular summited.
Born at Newcastle, New South Wales on the 17thDecember 1878 to Robert (died 3.2.1928, Toronto, N.S.W., age 83), from 8 Coal Street, Islington, N.S.W., and Caroline Smith Fleming (died 8.12.1891, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 46); husband of Frederica Kathleen May Fleming nee Alcock (married 12.10.1906, Wickham, N.S.W., died 15.12.1973, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 89, 56 years a widow), George enlisted on the 29th May 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 17th October 1916.
DoW on the 8th June 1917 at the 9th Australian Field Ambulance (hit in the head by enemy artillery shell fragments while carrying ammunition at Ploegsteert Wood), Battle of Messines.
Mr. Fleming is resting at Pont-D'Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, France. Plot II Row A Grave 17.
George’s name has been inscribed on the Wickham Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Wickham (Hawkins Oval) Soldiers' Memorial, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (2), Newcastle Civic Park War Memorial Grove, Port Waratah Locomotive Depot Roll of Honour, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Newcastle) Roll of Honour, NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919 and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
I have placed poppies at the memorialised Fleming gravesite in remembrance of the service and supreme sacrifice of their son for God, King & Country. PRESBYTERIAN-2NE. 12.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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