The AIF Project

George Robert DEAKIN

Regimental number2616
Place of birthBalmain, Sydney, New South Wales
SchoolMoreland State School, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationLabourer
Address145 Blythe Street, Brunswick, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 3.5"
Weight133 lbs
Next of kinSister, Elizabeth Mansfield, 146 Blyth Street, Brunswick, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date3 August 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll2 August 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name23rd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/40/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll58th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records30
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 14), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
165
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George Arthur and Mary Ann DEAKIN. Native of Balmain, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to join 58th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 23 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, Framce, 23 June 1916.

Reported Wounded and missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 September 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Buried in vicinity of Fleurbaix'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 0900701, 4873 Pte T.E. ROUSSEL, 58th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 17 January 1917: 'Deakin was my mate, in my Co (C) made it my business to find out about him and the Co Clerk told me his body was found with his disc. He was killed at Fromelles front.'

Second statement, 3080 Pte N. Le Brocq, 58th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 26 January 1917: 'I was told by Pte V. Creati of the same Battalion that Deakin was killed. It happened at Fleurbaix[.] He was hit by shrapnel and killed instantly - he was badly knocked about. When Creati saw that it was impossible to do anything for him he went on so he could not tell me whether deakin was buried or not.'

Third statement, 947 Sergeant E. HOCKEY, Orderly Room Clerk, 58th Bn, 17 January 1917: 'He was wounded on the 19th July 1916 and was seen to fall by L/Cpl Stevens of this Company. Cpl Stevens said he went over to Deakin whom he found unconscious.'

Fourth statement, 4478 Corporal J.E. DAVIES, 58th Bn (patient HSC Hospital), 17 January 1916: 'Informant states Dakin or Deakin was hit by bullet on the top of his head and killed instantly. Deakin was buried in Rue du Bois Cemetery, Leventie, France. Light at the time. Ground was held.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DEAKIN George Robert
Red Cross File No 0900701

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.