George PAGAN

Regimental number2906
Place of birthMooroopna, Victoria
SchoolArdmone State School, Victoria
Other trainingFarming
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFarmer
AddressGilgandra, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 7.75"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, G. Pagan, Gilgandra, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date9 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 30 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularHe enlisted from Gilgandra, NSW, and went to the Liverpool Camp on 25th July 1915. Sailed on the Argyllshire from Sydney on 30th September 1915. His greatest friend, No. 2793 T.L. Cardew, was killed in action on the same date and at the same place within five minutes of each other. (details from father)
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Age at death25
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row D, Grave No 3), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Maroopna Cemetery, Victoria. Grandparents: Walter (d. 22 August 1879, aged 59; bu. Maroopna) and Elisabeth (d. 8 February 1893, aged 75; bu. Maroopna) PAGAN. Also commemorated in Box Hill Cemetery, alongside graves of parents: George and Jennett PAGAN, Burnside, Scott Grove, East Malvern, Victoria.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 2nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 6 January 1916.

Transferrred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Promoted Lance Corporal, Canal Zone, 1 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 20 July 1916.

Now, 24 January 1917, reported 'Wounded and Missing, 19/20 July 1916'.

Identification disc received from Germany. No particulars afforded except the soldier is deceased. Now, 13 March 1917, to be reported 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'.

Translation of German report, 31 October 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Off: with 6th Army H.Q. 12/10/16?Australian Pte. Pagan, (Translator's Note: Entered on card as G) 2906, 54th Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles 19/7/16'.

Red Cross File No 2080101 has statement from 4435 Pte T. BARRETT, 54th Bn, 16 December 1918: 'I saw him killed at Levantie in the morning after the charge. It was in the second line of the German trenches, shot by a German sniper. They were picking us off all the time. He was killed instantly. We retired and had to leave all the bodies.'

Second statement, 4459 Pte D.L. COLLISS, 54th Bn, 21 December 1918: 'On the night of the 19/20th July 1916, at La Vante, near Armentieres. In our attack we had reached the enemy's second trench. I was alongside him in this trench, when he was killed instantaneously - shot through the head by bullet behind. The enemy had got in behind us into their first line trench. We had to leave him in the trench where he fell, on our getting the order to retire.'

Third statement, 3576 Pte J.D. MILNE, 54th Bn, 31 December 1918: 'He was on same [Lewis] gun team as myself and was killed alongside me. He was shot through the head by bullet within 5 mins of Cardew 2793. We had to evacuate our position to go further down the line, his body was left where he was killed. Pte G. West of A. Coy., L/gunners took his papers. West was taken Prisoner of War later in the day. The above happened early in morning of 20th July at Fleurbaix, during enemy's counter attack.'

Fourth statement, 2890 Pte G.A. WEST, 54th Bn, 30 January 1919: 'At 7.30. a.m.on July 20th 1916, he was with me on a machine gun in a previous German trench at Fleurbaix which we had captured the previous day when he was sniped through the back of the head by the Germans who had got around behind us and fell back dead in my arms. I was captured myself about an hour later and his body was left in the trench which remained in enemy hands. He was a mate of mine and I got his papers etc but they were taken from me.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 10), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
SourcesNAA: B2455, PAGAN George
Red Cross file 2080101