Bit more on George Honey
George HONEY
Regimental number 1291
Place of birth Port Isaac, England
Religion Church of England
Occupation Labourer
Address c/o J Bradshaw, 'Beechboro', West Guildford, Western Australia
Marital status Married
Age at embarkation 30
Height 5' 8"
Weight 151 lbs
Next of kin Wife, Mrs Ann Brown Honey, c/o John Bradshaw, 'Beechboro', West Guildford, Western Australia
Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 19 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 12 July 1915
Place of enlistment Perth, Western Australia
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 32nd Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/49/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. Those who enlisted in Western Australia embarked at Fremantle (date not recorded).
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 32nd Battalion
Fate Killed in Action 19 July 1916
Place of burial No known grave
Commemoration details V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial 120
Other details War service: Egypt, Western Front
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.
Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.
Reported missing, 19 July 1916.
German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr. Sold. Honey, G. 32.I.R. D. Coy. Nr. 1291. am 19.7.16 in Gegen Fromelles gefallen.'
Name appeared on German Death List, 4 November 1916.
Red Cross File No 1360707 has statement from 1379 Pte F. THEW, D Company, 32nd Bn, 1 January 1916: 'I regret to inform you that there is absolutely no doubt as to his death. On enquiries from some of the other men who saw him at the time, I find that unfortunately he was bayonetted by the enemy in the encounter (19-7-16).'
Second statement, 3116 Pte H.C. GRIEVES (patient, No 2 General Hospital, Havre), 19 November1916: 'I knew Honey personally ... He was killed at Fromelles, being bayoneted in the head in the German first line. His body was not recovered. Lieut. [W.A.] WARD of the 32nd battalion (sic), saw this and told me later.'
Third statement, 1231 Pte A.W. CAMERON, 32nd Bn (patient, 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, Moneyhull Section; statement undated): 'On the 19th July, 1916, at Fleurbaix, during a charge, Pte Honey ... was killed between the first enemy trench and our objective. We had taken the first trench and were making for the second line when I saw Honey fall struck by a shell. He fell face downwards, and lay there. He was badly knocked about. We went beyond our objective, but had to retire to our front trench next morning at 6 a.m. We could not get in any of the wounded, nor bury the killed.'
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Sources NAA: B2455, HONEY George
Red Cross file 1360707
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=142111LEST WE FORGET
