PURVES, Godfrey Liddell
| Service Numbers: | 194, 482 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1915, An original of C Squadron |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 8th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1 November 1881 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Scotch College, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Station overseer |
| Died: | Killed At The Nek, Gallipoli, Turkey, 7 August 1915, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 194, Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 194, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 475 notes 4th QIB embarked 18 May 1900 aboard Manchester Port arriving Beira 14 Jun 1900. | |
| 26 Sep 1900: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 194, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier notes invalided due to Enteric Fever returned to Australia aboard Kumara and discharged 26 Sep 1900. |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 482, 8th Light Horse Regiment, An original of C Squadron | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 482, 8th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne | |
| 25 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 482, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 482, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 482 awm_unit: 8 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-08-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Godfrey Purves had already served with the Queensland Imperial Bushmen in the Boer War in South Africa. He embarked for Gallipoli on 16 May 1915. His regiment, the 8th Light Horse, provided the first two waves of the disastrous charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 where he lost his life.
His younger brother, 211 Private William Richard Walter Purves 5th Battalion AIF had already been killed in action at the Anzac landing on 27 April 1915. Age 21.
Another brother, Captain Philip Brodribb Purves, of the North Staffordshire Regiment, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in rescuing a wounded lieutenant under fire in France. Enlisting on the outbreak of the war as a private in King- Edward's Horse, he was promoted to captain.
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