Hammond, DVR George Henry

George Henry Hammond (1893-1970), farmer and soldier, was born in Toronto, Canada, son of Jane Hammond. At some point, his family migrated to Australia and resided in North Perth. Upon reaching adulthood, Hammond ventured out to Waroona in the Peel Region and began farming.

George Hammond enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 17th of January 1916 at the age of 22 and was posted to B Company, 44th Battalion. He embarked for overseas service in June 1916 and arrived at the front lines in January 1917. He was sick for 5 months throughout 1917 from illness and upon returning to the front, he was involved in the brutal battles of October 1917 including Passchendaele and Broodseinde Ridge. He was wounded in action on the 25th of October 1917 shortly after the end of the Battle of Passchendaele, though his wounds were slight, and he only spent 3 weeks in hospital.

On the 29th of May 1918, Hammond was severely wounded in the right arm and thigh and was evacuated to hospital. It was decided to medically discharge him to Australia.

During the war, Hammond had fought in 8 battles and spent 317 days in the trenches. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Silver War Badge, 2 Wound Stripes, Active Service Badge, 1 Good Conduct Stripe and 2 Long Service Stripes.

He returned to Western Australia after the war and eventually married Marjorie. Together, they moved to Perth. He and his wife divorced in the late 1940s due to her being unfaithful. Hammond died in 1970 at the age of 77 and was buried at Fremantle Cemetery.

Notes

-Father died when he was young

-Assigned as a Driver on the 14th of May 1918.

-Crime (Sep 1918). Insolence to a Warrant Officer. Forfeiture of 2 days pay.

-By 1940s he was living in Perth and was married to Marjorie. However, in 1949 his wife was unfaithful.

Sources

National Archives of Australia

AIF Project

The Westralian Battalion (Neville Browning OAM)

Mirror, 17/12/1949, P.24