| Name |
George Witham [1] |
| Born |
1897 |
Omeo, Victoria, Australia  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Military Service |
23 Jun 1917 |
Sale, Victoria, Australia |
Address:
Recruit Depot, Broadmeadows |
- Serviceman 7586, George signed up for service in the 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. He sailed for Glasgow, Scotland, from Melbourne, Victoria on 4 August 1917 aboard HMAT "Thermisocles", arriving there on 2 October 1917. En-route to the UK, on 17 September 1917, George was given 2 days detention for "conduct prejudicial to the maintenance of good order and military discipline"
Two months later, in December, George was charged with "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline", in that he did "intentionally discharge a round of blank ammunition in Hut 13". For this he recieved 48 hours detention. Following this, in March 1918, George was sent to Le Havre, France. Six months later, we was returned to England wounded and admitted into hospital in Birmingham, having suffered from an enemy gas attack.
On 17 September 1918, George was once again in trouble. This time he was charged with being Absent Without Leave and breaking into a hospital. Total forfeiture; 8 days pay.
After several movements in quick succession, on 27 December 1918, George was again admitted to the hospital in Birmingham. George's record gives no indication of his ailment other than "Sick" but on 26 Feb 1919 he was discharged from hospital and granted leave which was further extended until 17 March 1919. George failed to return until 28 March 1919 when he was immediately arrested and escorted to Lewes Detention Centre, in Sussex, England where he was further charged with:
(i) Being Absent Without Leave from 17 March 1919 until 28 March 1919;
(ii) Producing a telegram granting (leave) extension of no value;
(iii) Improperly dressed. Wearing Wound stripes to which he was not entitled.
For these offences, George was awarded 28 days detention and forfeiture of 39 days pay. He was released with 4 days remission on 23 April 1919.
On 27 June 1919, George was further charged with 3 counts of fraud and he was sent to Warwick Square, London for Court Martial on 17 July 1919. He was given 6 months detention and transferred back to Lewes Detention Centre to serve his sentence. The remaining portion of his sentence was remitted upon his departure from the UK back to Australia on 3 September 1919 aboard "Euripedes". He arrived in Melbourne on 20 October where he was immediately discharged as SNLR (Services No Longer Required).
George's complete Military Record is available at the National Archives of Australia, along with the papers relating to his Court Martial, which can be found here.
|
| Died |
1981 |
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia [1] |
| Siblings |
3 siblings |
| | 1. Hazel Christina Witham
b. 1898, Omeo, Victoria, Australia
d. 1919, Omeo, Victoria, Australia (Age 21 years) | | + | 2. Robert Charles Livingstone Witham
b. 17 Dec 1900, Omeo, Victoria, Australia
d. 1999, Morwell, Victoria, Australia (Age 98 years)
| | | 3. Lillian May Witham
b. 1903, Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
d. 1920 (Age 17 years) |
|
| Person ID |
I6554 |
Mitchell Families |
| Last Modified |
28 May 2008 |
| Father |
 Charles Albert Witham (ID:I1955)
b. 1867, Stanley, Victoria, Australia
d. 15 Oct 1946, Omeo, Victoria, Australia (Age 79 years) |
| Mother |
Lilian May Conneley (ID:I2042)
b. 1879, Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia
d. 1920, Omeo, Victoria, Australia (Age 41 years) |
| Married |
15 Oct 1896 |
Beechworth, Victoria, Australia [1] |
| Family ID |
F540 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
1897 - 1981 (84 years)
Has 12 ancestors and 21 descendants in our family tree.
1898 - 1919 (21 years)
