Dornan, George Irwin

No.1641 – L/Cpl George Irwin Dornan – 44^th Battalion AIF

George Irwin Dornan was born in Belfast Ireland in 1885 to James and Minnie Dornan. He was educated in Belfast and after leaving school took up work as a Grocer. In 1910 George travelled out to Western Australia and took up residence with his brother John in McCleery St Fremantle, and he continued to work as a Grocer. On the 13^th January 1916 George and his brother John enlisted into the AIF. George was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 5 inches tall; weight of 139 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; dark complexion; grey eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian.

After a few days in No.1 Area Depot, George and John were allotted to the 1^st Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion AIF with the regimental numbers 1641 & 1642 respectively. They trained at Claremont Camp until the end of May 1916 when they were told to make ready for departure. On the 6^th June 1916 the 44^th Battalion boarded the H.M.A.T. “Suevic” in Fremantle Harbour and sailed away for England. Arriving at Plymouth Harbour on the 21^st July 1916, the men were disembarked and marched out to the 3^rd Division training base on the Salisbury Plains. Training for the 44^th Battalion would take place here for the next four months. On the 13^th October 1916 George was taken on strength of the 44^th Battalion from the 1^st Reinforcements and continued his training. On the 25^th November 1916 the 44^th Battalion departed England from Southampton and made their way to France.

Upon arrival in France the 3^rd Division units were sent to the area around Armentieres where they spent the remainder of 1916 and the first months of 1917. The 44^th Battalion were later transferred to Belgium where they took up duties in the Ploegsteert area where they held the line and also conducted trench raids. In June 1917 the 44^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines when the 19 mines were exploded under German lines. George served in this battle and came through unscathed. After the battle the 44^th spent the next few months in this region holding the line in the newly captured territory. On the 21^st July 1917 George went absent without leave for nine hours and as a punishment was given 4 days of Field Punishment No.2 and had to forfeit 5 days pay.

The Third Battle of Ypres began on July 31^st with mixed results and due to bad weather was postponed for a time. The Australians took part in this battle during September/October 1917 though George came through unscathed from the 44^th’s actions. On the 1^st November 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal and served with this rank through the winter of 1917/18. On the 13^th March 1918 George was evacuated sick to 11^th Field Ambulance with scabies though had rejoined the 44^th on the 20^th March 1918.

On the 21^st March 1918 the Germans launched their massive Spring Offensive which broke through the Third and Fifth British Armies and over the next few days captured large amounts of territory. The Australian’s who were near Messines were transferred down south to the Somme to stop this German advance. On the 28^th March 1918 the 44^th Battalion near Sailly-le-Sec came into contact with the enemy, during which time George’s brother John was wounded.

The 44^th Battalion held their positions near Sailly-le-Sec and continued to resist the German attempts to advance. On the 7^th April 1918 L/Cpl George Dornan was killed in action. He was buried about 800 yards east north east of Sailly-le-Sec at map reference 62D.J.29.B.8. After the war his grave was found and was reburied in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in plot XIII.D.7.

George’s mother Minnie Dornan received a pension of 40/- per fortnight after her son’s death.

His brother John also served in the 44th Battalion but survived the war.