S17254
PRIEST, George James
| Service Number: | 163 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Imperial Camel Corps |
| Born: | Loxton, South Australia, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Prospect (SA), Prospect, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Cadell, South Australia, Australia, 1958 |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Garden of Remembrance |
| Memorials: | Prospect Roll of Honour G-Z WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 163, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 163, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 31 Jan 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Imperial Camel Corps | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, Imperial Camel Corps , Promotion from Private, to Lance Corporal. | |
| 24 Jun 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, 163, Imperial Camel Corps , Was admitted to hospital | |
| 4 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, 163, Imperial Camel Corps , Joined from hospital. | |
| 10 Aug 1916: | Involvement Lance Corporal, Imperial Camel Corps , Joined from hospital. | |
| 25 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 163, Imperial Camel Corps , Boarded for Australia due to Influenza. | |
| 21 Nov 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, 163, Imperial Camel Corps , Struck off strength of I.C.C and reverts to rank of Private | |
| 21 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 163, Imperial Camel Corps , Embarked at Suez, Egypt for Australia. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Francis de Sales College
George James Priest was born in 1897, in Loxton, South Australia to parents, Christina and John Ward Priest. George has 2 sisters, Elise, and Anges. George was described as 5’6, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. Before the War, George was a plumber, but left his job to go and serve in the war. George was Protestant and went to a Methodist Church. He enlisted in the war on the 30th of January 1915.
George was placed in the 27th Infantry Battalion “D” company as a Private. At only 18, George was one of the younger soldiers to take part. On the 16th of April 1915, George wore his brown and blue diamond colour patch like all the other battalion soldiers and marched down the new Mitcham Camp, south of the city of Adelaide, with other volunteers of the 27th Battalion. George embarked on the 31st of May, on the HMAT Geelong in Adelaide.
On the 4th of September 1915, George proceeded to join M.E.F (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) in Gallipoli. On the 10th of September 1915, the 27th Battalion “D” and “C” Companies landed on H.M.S Partridge at midnight. The 27th Battalion embarked at Alexandria on the 6th of January 1916.
On the 1st of February 1916, George was Taken on Strength of the Imperial Camel Corps. He was promoted to a Lance Corporal on the 24th of February. In March of 1916, The I.C.C were finally ready to leave for Abassi, where they would go into the south and south-east of the Sinai desert and detect any Ottoman activity in the area.
On June 22nd, George was sick and had to go to hospital. George had disorderly action of the heart - something that was quite common in the war and had to do with the stresses of trench warfare. George joined from hospital and went back to the desert. George went back to hospital once more on the 25th of August, because he was seriously ill with Influenza, in Cairo. He embarked at Suez, Egypt, for Australia on the 21st of November 1916.
During his time in the Sinai Desert, Suez, George, and the other allied forces were looking out for Ottoman forces- they had not yet been in any battles. George was medically unfit and was struck off strength of the Imperial Camel Corps on the 21st of November 1916. He had to revert his rank to a Private. He was disembarked on the 1st of January 1917 and was discharged on the 2nd of March, 1917. George arrived at the Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, 1917. In total, George had served 2 years and 33 days.
After the war, George married May Green, on the 9th of March, when he was 24. Together, they had children: Barbara, Dorothy, Peter, Brian, and Laurie. There is no information to know whether George continued with his plumbing job. George was a keen tennis, golf, and cricket player for Cadell. In 1958, he died at the age of 61.