Framed memorial portrait of 1204 Private (Pte) George Hamilton Bennett, 28th Battalion, of ...

Framed memorial portrait of 1204 Private (Pte) George Hamilton Bennett, 28th Battalion, of Kalgoorlie, WA. A studio portrait photograph of Pte Bennett is flanked by a Union Jack and Red Ensign, with a black swan, kangaroo and lion surrounding the central panel, and eucalyptus foliage with gumnuts. Beneath the photograph is a biographical account of Pte Bennett's service. The text reads:

"In Loving Memory of Private George Hamilton Bennett. No. 1204. Of the 28th Battalion.

Is another glorious Anzac who gave his all for King and Country. Enlisting at Kalgoorlie when he just turned 19, he went into camp at Blackboy on the 1st April 1915. After a short training he embarked for Egypt with the original 28th Battalion on the 9th June, 1915. He got his baptism of fire on Gallipoli, remaining there until the historic evacuation. He then went back to Egypt and sailed with the first lot of Australians for France, landing at Marseilles on the 21st March, 1916. He was attached as a sniper to the 7th Brigade, and while at an observation post made the supreme sacrifice on the 8th April 1916, being the first Anzac to be killed in France. The above hero prior to enlisting was employed by the Commercial Bank at Kalgoorlie, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bennett, of 123 McDonald-street, Kalgoorlie. He is buried at Ration Farm, three-quarters of a mile south of Armentieres."

Despite this text, Pte Bennett is recorded as having embarked from Fremantle on HMAT Ascanius on 29 June 1915 with D Company, with the battalion number 2186. While Pte Bennett was one of the earliest Australians to be killed in action in France, others were killed on earlier dates. He was 20 years old at the time of his death.