| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Earley, Berkshire, England |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Consulting engineer |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 35 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Sybil Geake, Mount Errington, Hornsby, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served for 2 years in the Army Service Corps; member, Rifle Club, 10 months, |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Kiama, New South Wales |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Albert Medal 'On the 26th September, 1917, at about 8 p.m., an explosion occurred in the pressing room of a munitions inventions experimental station. The room contained 25 lbs. of thermit and 300 lbs. of gunpowder, pressed into rocket heads. Lieutenant Geake, whose services had been placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Munitions, and who was standing outside at the time, at once ran into the building, where the explosions were still taking place and helped one man out. He then ran back into the building, passed through the place where the thermit and powder were exploding, and carried out an injured man whom he found under a burning bench. Notwithstanding the fact that he was himself badly burned, Lieutenant Geake entered the building a third time, under the mistaken impression that another man was still inside, but was eventually driven out by the fire and explosions. Lieutenant Geake then worked for two hours to alleviate the injuries of the rescued men, one of whom was dying. Unfortunately, at a demonstration on the following morning, which he attended, although unfit for duty, Lieutenant Geake suffered further injuries, owing to a premature explosion, three fingers being blown off his right hand, and his right leg being broken and almost severed.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 36 Date: Member of the Order of the British Empire Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette Date: |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Sydney, 11 December 1916. Taken on strength, Admin. Headquarters, London, 9 March 1917, and detached to Munitions Inventions Department, Claremont, and promoted ER [Extra-Regimental] Sergeant. Slightly wounded (accidental), Claremont Experimental Grounds, 3 May 1917 (gun shot wound, right shoulder); treated at Military Hospital, Esher: no permanent disablement. Wounded (accidental), Claremont Experimental Grounds, 16 July 1917 (right fingers lacerated: no permanent disablement). Coroner's Court enquiry into the death of Henry Bernard Timmins noted, 1 October 1917: 'The Jury are of opinion that Lieut. W.H. Geake acted in a conspicuously gallant manner in going into the burning shed, whilst the fire and explosives were at their worst, to rescue [the] deceased, and they request the Coroner to convey their high appreciation of this Officer's conduct to the Military Authorities.' Promoted Lieutenant, 1 August 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 12 August 1917, attached to Nieuport Experimental Ground. Returned to England, 1 September 1917, and resumed duty with Munitions Inventions Department. Accidentally wounded (bomb explosion), and admitted to Richmond Military Hospital, 27 September 1917 (bomb wounds, right hand and right leg); discharged to duty, 17 December 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 3 February 1918 (attached Signals, GHQ); resumed duty in London, 4 March 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 15 August 1918; resumed duty in London, 28 August 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 10 November 1918 (special duty, Australian Corps HQ, then with French Munitions Research Department, Paris); resumed duty, London, 27 November 1918.. Awarded Albert Medal, 29 November 1918. Promoted Temporary Captain, 1 January 1919. Proceeded overseas to France for a period of 7 days under War Office instructions, 29 March 1919; disembarked England from France, 7 April 1919. Commenced return to Australia at own expense on SS 'Niagra' via America, 31 May 1919; disembarked Sydney, 11 August 1919; appointment terminated (discharged), Sydney, 5 December 1919. Medals: Albert Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire, British War Medal, Victory Medal Also served in World War II (putting age down by 11 years): served as 261585 Squadron Leader, Transport & Movements, RAAF; died in service, 14 March 1944. |
| Miscellaneous details | Name does not appear on Embarkation Roll. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 64 |
| Place of burial | Rookwood Necropolis (Military Section), New South Wales |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, GEAKE William Henry Gregory
Burness, Peter, 'Geake, William Henry Gregory (1880-1944)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/geake-william-henry-gregory-6293/text10851, accessed 20 February 2012. |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
