| Accession Number | P09291.232 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c November 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 5020 Private (Pte) Geoffrey Bury Dewhirst, 32nd Battalion. A bank clerk from ...
Description
Studio portrait of 5020 Private (Pte) Geoffrey Bury Dewhirst, 32nd Battalion. A bank clerk from Penola, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 14th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 22 December 1917 aboard HMAT Ulysses for Egypt. The reinforcements then travelled by sea to Taranto, Italy, then via rail to Cherbourg, France, before crossing The Channel to Southampton, England. After training with the 14th Training Battalion he joined the 32nd Battalion on the Western Front near Corbie, France, in late May 1918. Pte Dewhirst was wounded in action near Corbie on 24 June 1918 and died of these wounds the same day. He is buried in the Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme, France. He was aged 21 years. His older brother, 723 Air Mechanic Grade 2 Edward Bertram Dewhirst, 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, died of wounds received in action on 23 March 1918 aged 28years. His eldest brother, 4145 Pte James Hay Dewhirst, 12th Battalion, enlisted in August 1915 and returned to Australia for discharge, medically unfit due to illness, on 3 November 1917.