The AIF Project

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 31 October 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 26 December 1917, and marched in to 1st Training Bn, Sutton Veny.

Proceeded overseas to France, 1 April 1918; taken on strength, 15th Bn, in the field, 17 April 1918.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Statement, Red Cross File No 3020908M, 7718 Pte W. HARVEY, 15th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 27 August 1918: 'I have received a letter from Pte. P. Kelly who is in a hospital at Rouen telling me that he was with "Curly" George Worthington when he was sniped during the attack on Hamel. The wire entanglement not having been cut, he was getting through it when he was sniped through the neck. Kelly did not know where he had been buried.'

Second statement, 7836 Pte W. MORTON, 15th Bn, 30 August 1918: 'On the morning of the 14th (? 4th) July we left supports and went over at Hamel. Our objective was Hamel, which we took and held. On coming back to supports about 2 days later when coming over to No Man's Land I saw amongst other dead Worthington's body. His head was untouched and he had been killed by a bullet. I could not say where they were buried.'

Third statement, 7816A Pte H.E. TURNBULL, A Company, 15th Bn (patient, 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England), 30 August 1918: 'We were in the trenches at Hamel and were attacking. Worthington was knocked in the hop over about 3.30 a.m. July 4th. About 4 p.m. I brought down prisoners. I saw his dead body at the Relay Aid Post. He was knocked about a lot. He was buried officially at the cemetery at Hamelet [sic]'

Fourth statement, 7833 Pte A.M. VAUGHAN, C Company, 15th Bn, 5 September 1918: 'Om July 4th Worthington was killed by a M.G. Bullet in a wood close to Hamel. I was not near at the time, but Pte. R. Tulloch 7848, C. 12 and Pte. J. Tyson-Doneley C. 12 were with him and can give details of D.B. They were in the same gun team.

Fifth statement, 7808 Pte D. HIGGINS, D Company, 15th Bn, 13 September 1918: 'I saw him killed at Hamel by a shell. He was taken out and buried at Corbie but I did not see his Grave.'

Sixth statement, 7783 Pte J. SNOW, 15th Bn, 24 August 1918: 'I knew this man well ... We attacked on the 4th. July & he was killed by a M.G. Bullet just on the right of Hamel in the vicinity of Pear Trench in the morning. He was taken away & buried near the spot. We built a small Cemetery. We put up a small Cross for a lot of men about 30. The shelling was very bad. The ground is in our hands.'