Chown, George Francis

No.5571 – Private George Francis Chown – 28^th Battalion AIF

George Francis Chown was born in Port Darwin Northern Territory on the 31^st May 1884 to Thomas and Caroline Chown. Much of his early life in unknown though he was working as a labourer in Western Australia and living in North Fremantle just prior to enlisting in the AIF. He was also listed as a sleeper hewer in the Mundaring district for a time.

On 6^th March 1916 he went to the Fremantle recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 7 inches tall, weight of 164 lbs; chest measurement of 37-39 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Initially assigned to No.61 Depot, on the 1^st May 1916 he was assigned to the 15^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA until they embarked on the H.M.A.T. “Surada” on the 16^th September 1916.

They disembarked at Plymouth England on the 21^st November 1916 and were marched into the 7^th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plains. On the 18^th December 1916 he was admitted sick to hospital and was discharged as fit on the 27^th December 1916. On the 16^th January 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and marched into the 2^nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. A week later he was taken on strength of the 28^th Battalion and he spent the next few months with the unit. On the 10^th April he was sent to hospital sick with cellulitis of the leg. He was taken back to the 56^th Casualty Clearing Station and was marked for transfer to England. He stayed in hospital in England until the 14^th May 1917 when he was given two weeks furlough. Reporting back on the 29^th May he was ordered to proceed to Perham Downs and boarded the transport ship back to France on the 15^th June 1917. He joined the 2^nd Australian Division Base Depot in Etaples for two weeks and rejoined the battalion on the 3^rd July 1917. The 28^th Battalion were then having a period of rest out of the lines and only rejoined the front in September 1917 just in time for the Third Battle of Ypres. The 28^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Rd on the 20^th September and further actions along Broodseinde Ridge on October 4^th. During this last action George was wounded and was evacuated back to hospital on the French coast to recover. He was fit again by December and rejoined his unit on the 9^th December 1917.

On the 24^th January 1918 he was admitted sick to hospital with jaundice and it was serious enough for evacuation to England and he was admitted to Suffolk War Hospital. In March he was transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital at Hurdcott and the next few months would be spent convalescing.

When he was fit enough he returned to France, rejoining the 28^th Battalion on the 8th June 1918. On the 29^th July 1918 George was wounded in the sides and chest by a shell and was evacuated back to the 47^th Casualty Clearing Station. Unfortunately the wounds proved too severe to recover from and George died on the 2^nd August 1918. He was buried at Crouy-sur-Somme Cemetery in Plot IV.D.8

His sister, Alice Kearns of John St North Fremantle was his only living relative. A friend ‘L Sinclair posted in the newspaper;

Although we are parted on earth;

And it causes us much pain;

As long as life and memory lasts;

We will remember thee.