The AIF Project

War service: Western Front

Found guilty, Larkhill, of being absent without leave from 6 am, 2 August, to 6 am, 18 August 1916: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeiture of 17 days' pay; total forfeiture: 44 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 September 1916; taken on strength, 7th Bn, in the field, Belgium, 29 September 1916.

Wounded in action, 4 November 1916 (gun shot wound, left hand); admitted to 3rd Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 6 November 1916; transferred to No 2 Convalescent Depot, Rouen, 7 November 1916; to 1st Division Base Depot, Etaples, 15 November 1916; proceeded to join unit, 13 December 1916. Admitted to Corps Rest Station whilst on route to rejoin unit, 22 December 1916 (pharyngitis); transferred to 8th Field Ambulance, 2 February 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 1 March 1917.

Wife wrote to Base Records, 17 January 1917: 'I wrote to you some time ago re my husband George Graham Young who deserted from the A.I.F. in last November twelve months leaving me with a few months old baby to starve or face this world as best I could. Since then I have never heard one word of his whereabouts. It saeems a most wonderful thing that he can't be found, he had one mark or mole I should say on his right ear which he could easily be detected. I would not trouble you only I have been eleven weeks ill & five weeks in the Albury Hospital and was operated on by two doctors. They did not think I would ever get over it ... The few pounds I have saved since I have been working here for the last twelve months has all to be paid out for my recent sickness. Trusting you will favour me by doing something in the matter as I am a broken hearted woman.' Base Records replied that nothing was known of him other than that he had deserted from the AIF at Broadmeadows Camp on 1 November 1915, and that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Admitted to 35th Field Ambulance, 24 April 1917 (shrapnel wound, right knee); transferred to 56th Casualty Clearing Station, 12 May 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 15 May 1917. CO, 7th Bn, recorded, 24 April 1917: 'This man fell whilst in Front Line Area and injured his knee causing synovitis. He was not wounded.'

Detached for duty with Divisional Gas School, 20 May 1917; rejoined Bn from detachment to Divisional Gas School, 13 August 1917.

Admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance, 5 January 1918 (bronchial catarrh: result of gas shell explosion, 26 December 1917), and transferred same day to 1st Division Rest Station; to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 7 January 1918 (bronchitis); to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 9 January 1918; to 55th General Hospital, Boulogne, 12 January 1918; to England, 21 January 1918, and admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital. Transferred to 2rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 1 February 1918. Discharged on furlough, 23 February 1918, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 9 March 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Suevic' for discharge (chronic bronchitis, gas poisoning etc), 21 April 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 7 June 1918; discharged, Melbourne (medically unfit), 26 July 1918.

Statutory Declaration, 22 August 1918, stated true name to be George Graham YOUNG.