| Regimental number | 4790 |
| Place of birth | Hillgrove, New South Wales |
| School | Waverley Public School; Boys High School, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | student |
| Address | Leith, Newland Street, Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 121 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, W.C. Duncan, Leith, Newland Street, Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served for 6 years in the Cadets, Area 27B. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 3rd Battalion, 15th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/20/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Star Of England on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Left Australia March 8th 1916 and went to Egypt. He was drafted in the 59th Victorians and was one of the 5th Division who under Major General McCay were annihilated on 19th July 1916. (details from father) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 19.6 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 16), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 167 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Watson Cranston and Frances Adelaide DUNCAN, 'Leith', Newland Street, Waverley, New South Wales. Native of Hillgrove, New South Wales |
| Family/military connections | Cousins: 467 Corporal Julius Granston CALMAN, 45th Bn, killed in action, 13 October 1917; Pte William LAURIE MM. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, 17 April 1916 (varicocele); discharged, 19 April 1916. Taken on strength, 55th Bn, Ferry Post, 20 April 1916. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 13 May 1916 (varicocele); transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 16 May 1916; discharged to unit, 17 May 1916. Taken on strength, 59th Bn, Ferry Post, 18 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume Buried in No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DUNCAN George Robert
Red Cross file 960911 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
