Pte
George Billinghurst
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 11/01/1898 |
|
Place of birth: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
General information
|
Last known residence: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
|
Profession: Labourer |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: Australia |
|
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 2520 |
|
Enlistment date: 30/09/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Claremont, Tasmania, Australia |
|
Units: — Australian Infantry, 40th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 19 |
Cemetery
|
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXIII Row: B Grave: 21 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Sterfteplaats |
My story
George Billinghurst, a former labourer, was born on the 11th of January 1898 in Hobart, Tasmania in the Country of Australia. He was the son of Charles and Mary Billinghurst-Jones and had a sister named Emma (Phillips).
George enlisted on the 30th of September 1916 in Claremont, Tasmania in the Country of Australia. He would later on serve as a private in the 40th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division.
In early October 1917, the 40th Battalion of the Australian Infantry, part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, moved into position near Vlamertinghe in preparation for the next phase of the Ypres campaign. After departing Winnezeele on October 1st, they spent several days organizing, reconnoitering routes, and equipping for the upcoming battle. By October 4th, they were in place for the Battle of Broodseinde, where the battalion successfully advanced to the Blue Line, capturing strongpoints such as Hamburg and Dab Trench and taking hundreds of prisoners. Casualties were sustained but morale remained high.
After a brief period of rest and reorganization at Vlamertinghe, the battalion returned to the front on October 10th, moving into bivouacs near Hussar Farm. Over the next two days, they reconnoitered the terrain and prepared for another major assault—this time the First Battle of Passchendaele on October 12th.
That morning, the 40th formed up in poor conditions—muddy, under fire, and with visibility severely limited. As the barrage lifted at 6:25AM, the battalion advanced through intense machine gun and sniper fire, suffering heavy casualties. Augustus Wood was cleared, but flanking fire from Bellevue Spur and strongpoints like Crest Farm proved devastating. With units disorganized and flanks exposed, Major Gihlin led a tactical withdrawal beginning around midday. By 3:30PM, the 40th had fallen back to its original line, where they dug in under continued shelling.
The following day, both sides focused on evacuating the wounded, many of whom had been trapped in the muddy shell holes. Though the battalion had fought with determination, the toll of terrain, enemy fire, and flawed planning had made success impossible.
Private Billinghurst, aged 19, was Killed In Action on the 12th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke at 28.D.17.b.40.20. His remains were later on exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXIII, Row B, Grave 21.
George enlisted on the 30th of September 1916 in Claremont, Tasmania in the Country of Australia. He would later on serve as a private in the 40th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division.
In early October 1917, the 40th Battalion of the Australian Infantry, part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, moved into position near Vlamertinghe in preparation for the next phase of the Ypres campaign. After departing Winnezeele on October 1st, they spent several days organizing, reconnoitering routes, and equipping for the upcoming battle. By October 4th, they were in place for the Battle of Broodseinde, where the battalion successfully advanced to the Blue Line, capturing strongpoints such as Hamburg and Dab Trench and taking hundreds of prisoners. Casualties were sustained but morale remained high.
After a brief period of rest and reorganization at Vlamertinghe, the battalion returned to the front on October 10th, moving into bivouacs near Hussar Farm. Over the next two days, they reconnoitered the terrain and prepared for another major assault—this time the First Battle of Passchendaele on October 12th.
That morning, the 40th formed up in poor conditions—muddy, under fire, and with visibility severely limited. As the barrage lifted at 6:25AM, the battalion advanced through intense machine gun and sniper fire, suffering heavy casualties. Augustus Wood was cleared, but flanking fire from Bellevue Spur and strongpoints like Crest Farm proved devastating. With units disorganized and flanks exposed, Major Gihlin led a tactical withdrawal beginning around midday. By 3:30PM, the 40th had fallen back to its original line, where they dug in under continued shelling.
The following day, both sides focused on evacuating the wounded, many of whom had been trapped in the muddy shell holes. Though the battalion had fought with determination, the toll of terrain, enemy fire, and flawed planning had made success impossible.
Private Billinghurst, aged 19, was Killed In Action on the 12th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke at 28.D.17.b.40.20. His remains were later on exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXIII, Row B, Grave 21.
Sources 10
|
Ancestry : George Billinghurst Sources used |
|
Ancestry : Military Records https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/39/?searchOrigin=navigation_header Sources used |
|
Australian War Memorial : AWM4 24/25/2 - October 1917 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1355556?image=2 Sources used |
|
Australian War Memorial : AWM4 Subclass 23/57 - 40th Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338976 Sources used |
|
Common Wealth Wargraves Comission https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/ Sources used |
|
National Archives Of Australia : Record Search https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ Sources used |
|
Passchendaele : The Day By Day Account Sources used |
|
The Long, Long Trail : 3rd Australian Division https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/ Sources used |
|
tMapper : WW1 Mapper https://www.tmapper.com/ Sources used |
|
Virtual War Memorial Australia : George Billinghurst https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/212345 Sources used |