Griffiths, George John

4211 Private George John Griffiths - 11th Battalion AIF

George John Griffiths was born on the 4th December 1889 in Fremantle WA to George and Mary Griffiths. He had three siblings born into the family, James 1893, Charles 1895 and Frederick 1898. Sadly Charles died the year after birth.

George grew up and was educated in Fremantle but in the mid 1900's the family moved to Collie. After leaving school George took up an apprenticeship with J Egan of Donnybrook for 18 months. He then found work as a Sleeper Hewer.

On the 17th September 1915 George enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - not recorded;

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Depot Training unit. He spent several weeks here being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 9th November 1915 he was transferred into the 13th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion. He trained with this group in WA for two more months. George and his brother James were in the same reinforcement group. George had the regimental number 4211 and James had 4212.

Their embarkation orders finally came through and on the 17th January 1916, George and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda and set sail for Egypt. After arriving at Suez on the 9th February 1916, the men were disembarked and sent to the 3rd Training Battalion.

On the 29th March 1916 George left Egypt with other 1st Division reinforcements aboard the transport ship Transylvania. They headed to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 4th April 1916. George was then entrained north for Etaples where he was sent to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot. On the 16th April 1916 he was admitted to hospital with influenza but fortunately it was not severe and he was soon back at the base depot camp.

George spent the next month at the base depot but then came down with mumps which then necessitated a few more weeks in hospital. George finally joined the 11th Battalion on the 23rd June 1916.

In July 1916 the 11th Battalion moved to the Somme battlefield. They would take part in the capture of Pozieres village on the 23rd July 1916. The attack was a success with the village captured but initially George was reported missing in the attack. He had been evacuated on the 24th July to the 2nd Field Ambulance as he had been wounded in the left arm. The following day George was taken to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station where more treatment was given. He was then transported to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen.

George only had two days at Rouen as he was shipped to England on the 27th July 1916. On arrival he was sent to the Graylingwell War Hospital in Chichester. George was a patient here till the 8th August 1916 when he was transferred to a Convalescent hospital at Woodcote. On the 7th September 1916 George was then well enough to be given a two-week furlough.

After his leave period was over George reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He was here till the 27th October 1916 when he was transferred to the 4th Command Depot Camp at Wareham. He was here for the next few months and in January 1917 was sent to hospital ill with pleurisy. He was in hospital till the 30th March 1917 when he was then returned to No.4 Command Depot Camp.

On the 9th May 1917 George was returned to France. He spent nine days at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples and then joined the 11th Battalion on the 18th May 1917. The 11th Battalion had just left the front line at Bullecourt and were about to embark on a three-month rest period so George rejoined them at a good time. From June to August 1917 much of their rest period was taken up with training and sporting activities.

In September 1917 the 11th Battalion was sent to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 George and the 11th battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Road and they successfully took their objectives. Through October 1917 George saw more action at Celtic Wood, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.

When holding the line on the 2nd November 1917 George was wounded when shrapnel hit him in the foot. He was initially treated at the 3rd Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent to the 53rd General Hospital at Boulogne.

On the 14th November 1917 he was sent to England and was admitted to County of Middlesex War Hospital. He was a patient here till the 28th December 1917. He was then given a two-week furlough, after which he reported into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He remained here for a few weeks but on the 5th February 1918 was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.

On the 5th March 1918 George returned to France and went into the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre. He then rejoined the 11th battalion on the 9th March 1918. The 11th battalion were then situated in Belgium south east of Hollebeke.

Two days after rejoining them George was evacuated sick and rejoined his unit on the 29th March 1918. He then spent the next few weeks with the 11th battalion but on the 17th April 1918 was gain evacuated ill. He was diagnosed with venereal disease and was evacuated for treatment to the 4th Stationary Hospital. He remained there till the 9th June 1918 and was then attached for duty with the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. George then remained with this unit for the rest of 1918.

After the Armistice was signed, in November 1918, the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station was one of the few Australian units to serve in Germany. They were stationed in Germany from December 1918 to April 1919. George had two weeks of leave to England in February 1919, then returned to his unit in Germany. He served with the 3rd CCS until the 29th March 1918 when he was returned to the AIF Base Depot at Le Havre. He spent a few days here and then returned to England on the 4th April 1919.

On arrival in England George was sent to No.1 Group Camp and would wait here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 1st June 1919, George boarded the transport ship Somali and then set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

On the 30th August 1919 George was discharged from the AIF.

He was married in Fremantle in 1922 to Lucy Headland and they had Elizabeth and Patricia both born in 1924.

In 1922 the family were living on the corner of Attfield Lane and Lloyd Street and George was working as a plumber.

His father died in Fremantle 1933 and by then the family had moved to 113 McClaren Street and George was now working as a panel beater.

In 1946 his mother died in Fremantle.

George and his family lived at 13 McLeery street till the 1960's. His wife Lucy died on the 5th May 1965; and George followed her on the 5th August 1968 aged 78. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A8 0320.