Harrison, George Albert
6088 Private George Albert Harrison - 28th Battalion AIF
George Albert Harrison was born in Fremantle WA in 1898 to Edward and Margaret Harrison. He was one of eleven siblings born into the family.
George was educated at CBC Fremantle and during this time also served with the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.
The family had been living at 115 Hubble Street East Fremantle and then in 1916 at 104 Victoria Road Fremantle.
On the 12th July 1916 George enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 137lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-25 inches;
Complexion - Freckled;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
After his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.78 Training Depot. He had a few weeks being taken through basic infantry training and then on the 1st August 1916 was transferred to the 18th Reinforcements to the 28th battalion AIF. He had a month with this group but on the 4th September 1916 was moved to the 17th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion.
George trained with this group in WA for the next two months. On the 9th November 1916 George and his group were then entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire. They then set sail for England, reaching Devonport Harbour on the 10th January 1917.
After being disembarked George and his group were sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. George would spend the next six months training in England. It was not till the 11th July 1917 that George reached France. He then spent a few weeks at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples.
On the 31st July 1917 George was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion AIF. They were then on a three month rest period out of the front line, which much time being taken up with training and sporting activities.
In September 1917 the 28th Battalion headed for Belgium where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 George saw action in the Battle of Menin Road. The 28th Battalion took their objectives and George came through safely. Through October and November 1917 George saw further action at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. He was not wounded during this time.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 28th Battalion helped to hold the front line south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had broken through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme region to help stop this German advance.
William and the 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans around Dernancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then remained around Morlancourt through May 1918. On the 9th May 1918 George was hit by shrapnel in the face. After treatment at the 13th Field Ambulance he was taken to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station. He was then put on an ambulance train for the French town of Rouen where he was admitted to the 9th General Hospital.
George remained here till the 25th June 1918 and was then sent to the 2nd Convalescent Depot Camp at Buchy. He remained here through July 1918. George rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 10th August 1918.
The great advance was now underway and through he missed the opening day of the offensive on August 8th, George would see plenty of action in the next few weeks. The 28th Battalion saw action at Mont St Quentin and Peronne in late August, early September 1918.
On the 6th September 1918 George was attached for duty with the Australian Provosts at Cappy where he helped to guard German prisoners of war. He spent a month on this duty and so missed the 28th Battalion's last action of the war on the 3rd October 1918.
George rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 7th October 1918. They were now out of the front line having a well deserved rest period. On the 19th October 1918 George was given a two week furlough to England, rejoining his unit in France on the 5th November 1918.
The following week the Armistice was announced, and the Australians would soon find themselves going to areas of Belgium and France which had been occupied by the Germans during the war. The 28th Battalion were in Belgium near Charleroi.
In March 1919 George fell ill and after a week in hospital in France, he was sent to England on the 29th March 1919. He was admitted to King George Hospital in Standford. On the 4th April 1919 he was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
On the 14th April 1919 George was given a two week furlough, after which he reported for duty to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He was now waiting to be assigned a berth on a ship home.
On the 23rd July 1919 George boarded the transport ship Main and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 27th September 1919. After being disembarked George was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup.
George was discharged from the AIF on the 12th November 1919.
During his absence his mother had moved to James Street Fremantle.
His father Edward died in Fremantle July 1927.
George was married on the 8th March 1928 in Fremantle to Doris Grace Liddiard and they would have five children, Isobel 1928, Shirley 1930, Colleen 1932, Donald 1934 and Georgina 1936.
The family were living at 577 Edmund Street Beaconsfield and George was working for the Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Department. They then moved to Hickory Street Fremantle and 96 Lilly Street South Fremantle. (Later renumbered to 50 Lilly)
His mother died in Fremantle on 12th May 1935
George Harrison died in Fremantle on the 3rd October 1936 aged 36. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MONC3 0481.