HETT, George
| Service Number: | 927 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dunedin, New Zealand, 1886 |
| Home Town: | West Leederville, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Gallipoli, Turkey, 11 June 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Beach Cemetery - ANZAC Cove I J 4, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, West Leederville War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1914: | Involvement Private, 927, 12th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1914: | Embarked Private, 927, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Fremantle |
Help us honour George Hett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Joseph and Ann HETT of Saddleshill, New Zealand
Biography contributed by Geoff Tilley
George Henry Hett was born, 13th July 1879 in Dunedin Otago New Zealand to Joseph Stanislaus Hett and Ann Hett nee Honer. He had two sisters and one brother.
He arrived in Western Australia with his sister Mary her husband and two children in 1899, living with the family in Leederville. He was a fitter by trade and found no problem getting work.
In 1904 he joined the Royal Australian Navy becoming an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Challenger. After five years at sea, he returned to Leederville, instead of signing on for a further five years with the navy, he stayed to support his sister.
With the outbreak of war in 1914 war, George enlisted with the Tasmanian raised 12th Battalion with “G” and “H” Companies of that Battalion made up by West Australians in September 1914. The two companies trained at Blackboy Hill with 11th Battalion.
He embarked with “H” Company from Fremantle aboard on the HMAT Medic for Egypt in October 1914. In December the unit marched into Mena camp Egypt starting ten weeks of intensive training, with a further seven weeks of training at Lemnos.
George with the battalion left Lemnos on the HMS Devenha in the afternoon of 24th April 1915, where the battalion went ashore at 0400hrs the next morning making it to the lower slopes of ANZAC Cove where they dug in.
By May 1915 12th Battalion started sapping the front-line trenches forward to what would be known as Tasmania Post. By June the weather was hot with the wells dry of water with the water now being drawn from Shrapnel Gully and carried to the trenches.
On the 11th June George was on a detail to bring water to the trenches when he did not return. He was reported missing but later found at 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, where he had received shell wounds to his back.
Private George Henry Hett service number 927 of 12th Battalion, died of wounds on 11th June 1915 at the casualty clearing station ANZAC Beach Gallipoli. He was 36 years of age.
He is buried in Beach Cemetery Gallipoli Peninsula; Turkey and he is remembered with honour.
His sister Mary dedicated this poem to George.
As good as ever breathed.
Has passed away from earth.
But memory dwells within the hearts
Of those who knew his worth.
We miss you, brother dear.
But not with outward show.
For those who mourn sincerely’
Mourn silently and low.
Fidelis Ad Urnam
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