Hastings, William George by Central Coast Council

Gosford District Casualties of World War One Bragg,William Edmund Allen Hastings, George

Service ServiceNumber Number1494 182 Killed in Action 19th May 1915 Killed in Action 24th July 1916 Gallipoli Peninsula Pozieres, France

Gosford City Council gratefully acknowledges the voluntary efforts of Benalyn Campbell And Vivienne Tranter in compiling this resource

The information in this file has been extracted from official records held in the The Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia (ÂŠ Commonwealth of Australia [National Archives of Australia] 2013) Further information on this soldier may be found online at: Commonwealth War Graves The AIF project Content advisory: This file may potentially contain disturbing accounts of service-related injury and death, disease and family grief. Adult supervision is recommended for children using these resources. Individual files should be viewed within the context provided by wider research on service conditions in the 1 st AIF. This resource is presented by Gosford City Council for research purposes only. Please note that copyright for resources contained within remains with the original copyright owners.

NAME

Hastings, William George

SERVICE NO

182

UNIT

11th Battalion.

RANK

2nd Lieutenant

AGE at Enlistment

37 yrs

PLACE OF BIRTH

At Sea nr Hong Kong, China

ADDRESS OCCUPATION

Bank Official

DATE OF ENLISTMENT

27 Aug 1914

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT PREVIOUS SERVICE

Helensvale WA

NEXT OF KIN

Father;- William Hastings Esq. “Grassmere” Gosford, NSW. (Painter) Mother;- Harriett Hastings/as above Brother;- Mr C G Hastings/ as above Sister;- Mrs G Tattersall 20 Barker Rd Subiaco, WA.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height-5’9”. Weight134lbs. Chest-35-37½”. Complexion-Dark. Eyes-Brown. Hair-Brown.

RELIGION

C/E

1 yr NSW 5th Rif. (Lieu 0/c H Coy) Civil Duties

EMBARKED DISEMBARKED NOTES WOUNDED/ILLNESS

25 Apr 1915- Gallipoli- GSW Neck & Back 1 Oct 1915- Previous wounds 11 Dec 1915– Piles

DIED

24 Jul 1916- Pozieres Wood France-Killed by Sniper- bullet through the head/ or shrapnel/shot in the heart ? Southern Outskirts of Pozieres.

BURIED MEDALS

1914-15 Star-2580, British War Medal-5219, Victory Medal-5217. Memorial Plaque & Scroll-356074

DEPENDANTS PERSONAL EFFECTS

Disc, Letter, Testament, Cigarette Case, Photos, Cards, Mirror, Dictionary, Religious Book/ Photos, Letter/ 1 Wristlet Watch (Damaged), Papers, 2 New Testaments, Letters, Postcards, Photos, 2 Books, 1 Housewife, 2 Handkerchiefs, 1 Gift Tin, 1 Kit Bag/ Photos, Letter/

WILL CORRESPONDENCE REMARKS

Sister Mrs G (HC) Tattersall. C G Hastings Letters re a Missing Manuscript (written by Hastings)

Sydney Morning Herald 12th August 1916 pg. 12 HASTINGS-Killed in action in France, between 22 nd and 25th July, 1916, 2nd-Lieut. W G (George) Hastings, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W Hastings, Grasmere, Gosford.

Sydney Morning Herald 15th August 1916 pg. 8 WAR CASUALTIES KILLED LIEUT, W G HASTINGS Lieutenant W George Hastings, who was killed in action in France between July 22 nd and 25, was 39 years of age and the eldest son of Mr and Mrs William Hastings, old and highly esteemed residents of Gosford. He was on officer of the Commercial Bank of Australia, having been in the bank's service at Sydney, Narrabri, Newcastle, Townsville (Q) and Perth (WA) from where he enlisted, sailing with the first contingent on November 1, 1914, as lance-corporal in the 11th Battalion. He was in the first boat to land on april 25, 1915 and was wounded on the third day and sent back to Cairo. After his recovery he served on the Provost Marshal's staff at Imbros for some time, rejoining his battalion on January 22 last. He was sent to France at the end of March, and there was promoted first to the rank of sergeant and then second lieutenant. He was for some time a lieutenant in the Newcastle company of the Scottish Rifles. His brother, Henry, is also in France. The deceased soldier was in the fighting line for 20 weeks at Gallipoli, only leaving when the whole of his battalion was withdrawn.

Sydney Morning Herald 16th August 1916 pg. 10 Roll of Honor HASTINGS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A loving tribute to the memory of Lieutenant W G (George) Hastings, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W Hastings, of Gosford, killed in action in France between July 22 and 25, 1916. Inserted by his sorrowing relatives, Mr and Mrs T J Hastings and family.

Gosford Times 18th August 1916 Lieut. George Hastings Killed in Action Another Gosford soldier has given his life for King and Country, a cable having been received announcing the death of Lieutenant W G (George) Hastings, son of Mr and Mrs William Hastings, old and highly esteemed residents of Gosford. He was 39 years of age, and prior to enlisting was an officer of the Commercial Bank of Australia, having been in their service in Sydney, Narrabri, Newcastle, Townsville (Q) and Perth (W A). The deceased soldier joined the colors at Perth, and sailed with the first Contingent on 1st November, 1914 as a Lance-Corporal in the 11th Battalion. He was in the first boat to land at Gallipoli on 25th April, 1915, and was wounded three days later and sent back to Cairo. After his recovery he served on the Provost Marshal's staff at Imbros for some time, rejoining his Battalion on 22nd January of this year. At the end of March with other Australians he was sent to France, and there was promoted first to the rank of Sergeant, and then gained his commission as Lieutenant. The cable received by his parents stated that he had been killed in action in France between 22nd and 25th July. His brother Henry is also in France serving with the 1st Field Ambulance. At Gallipoli the late Lieut. Hastings was in the fighting line for twenty weeks, only leaving when the whole of his Division was withdrawn. Prior to the war he held the rank of Lieutenant in the Newcastle Company of the Scottish Rifles. Universal sympathy is expresses with the bereaved family who have lost their gallant soldier son and brother. The deceased was a noble young Australian, one whom our country can ill afford to lose.

Gosford Times 18th August 1916 Lieut. George Hastings Killed in Action Another Gosford soldier has given his life for King and Country, a cable having been received announcing the death of Lieutenant W G (George) Hastings, son of Mr and Mrs William Hastings, old and highly esteemed residents of Gosford. He was 39 years of age, and prior to enlisting was an officer of the Commercial Bank of Australia, having been in their service in Sydney, Narrabri, Newcastle, Townsville (Q) and Perth (W A). The deceased soldier joined the colors at Perth, and sailed with the first Contingent on 1st November, 1914 as a Lance-Corporal in the 11th Battalion. He was in the first boat to land at Gallipoli on 25th April, 1915, and was wounded three days later and sent back to Cairo. After his recovery he served on the Provost Marshal's staff at Imbros for some time, rejoining his Battalion on 22nd January of this year. At the end of March with other Australians he was sent to France, and there was promoted first to the rank of Sergeant, and then gained his commission as Lieutenant. The cable received by his parents stated that he had been killed in action in France between 22 nd and 25th July. His brother Henry is also in France serving with the 1 st Field Ambulance. At Gallipoli the late Lieut. Hastings was in the fighting line for twenty weeks, only leaving when the whole of his Division was withdrawn. Prior to the war he held the rank of Lieutenant in the Newcastle Company of the Scottish Rifles. Universal sympathy is expresses with the bereaved family who have lost their gallant soldier son and brother. The deceased was a noble young Australian, one whom our country can ill afford to lose.

Gosford Times 22nd February 1917 Soldiers' Letter Private Henry Hastings writes to his parents at Gosford:France, December 3, 1916- I am writing this in a great big dug out, ten men in it. This is our second night here, and we are very comfortable and much warmer than in the tents or huts: two fires going and warm and dry, every man, too is on a bunk 2 feet from the ground, and we are just about shell and bomb proof i think, and likely to stop here for some time to come. The rain keeps off, and there is no snow, but the frost lies around all day making it very cold outside. We had a lot of rain, and the slippery mud was simply awfulabout two feet deep everywhere you went. This is a Reinforcement Camp, men coming and going incessantly. I see a good many men I know. Saw Mick Scaysbrook the other day. I think I told you I was in the Medical Unit of the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion, in the Dressing Station. We are within the firing zone, and shells fall about promiscuously, but the danger is not very great, though I've been pretty close two or three times in the last few weeks. I get a few nice trips round the country occasionally on motor wagons and lorries, for rations, clothing, harness and gear of every kind, sometimes with laundry. One day i was sent with 300 dirty shirts from a military baths to a military laundry, but we had all forgatten it was Sunday, so we had to cart it all back again, six miles, and take it back the next day. But it was a lovely trip, the day was perfect and the blackberry and other hedges were a fine sight, and all the country beautiful. There were several hay-stacks in most of the fields, and as soon as the crop is off ploughing is commenced at once. In many of the places there are signboards up that read "Wasschinh for Soldats," which tells us we can have our washing done at the farm house. I think every farm, cottage, house and shop in that part of the country sells eggs, coffee and bread, and the French bread is delicious. One place where I was billetted was a fine country house (chateau), and once I was billetted in a stable. The flowers in some places are very beautiful. Only yesterday I saw some very fine white roses and Virginia creeper and a beautiful lawn, though it is really winter. Last night I had a pleasant little surprise. I was having a cup of coffee in a Y M C A tent, when I heard a voice saying "He's not too bad, but what a pity he took to drink." "Pity, too, isn't it?" said another voice and a third answered "Yes, I think Gosford races must have spoilt him." Of course Gosford made me look around, and there were three of our old First Field Ambulance men discussing me (in fun, of course) as above. They are camped about a mile away, so I slipped over to see a couple of old friends again for half-an hour. I told you of our useless trip with dirty clothes. You might like to hear of the laundries. Every large camp has a bathroom, fitted up with either showers or plunge baths, sometimes as many as two dozen, with hot and cold water. The men come in by Battalions, have their baths, receive a clean shirt, sox and towel, leave their old ones to be washed, and march off again. Then these "dirties" are sent by cart or wagon to a central laundry to be washed and mended ready for re-issue to the next batch of men. The laundries are run by the Military, employing many women and girls. December 14- I've had a great mail-38 letters within four days (before that I had only four from Australia in three months), and a parcel from the Girls Patriotic Club I have written to thank them. It was so good of them to remember me, and my "dug out" mate thank them too and appreciate their kindness deeply. I have five men here whose work is to carry water, rations, and other camp supplies up to the lines. My work is to attend Sick Parade daily and attend to patients, apply dressings, &c., under direction of the Medical Officer. We are very comfortably settled, and will perhaps remain here all the winter, but I am hoping to be transferred back to my old Unit, that is what I most desire. It's easier than you would think to lose the run of Sundays here, for fighting goes on just as on other days, and so for the most part, does civilian life. After church in the morning it is a case of "Everybody works but father." you will generally find him in a neighboring cafe with his chief cobbers. I do wish I could write freely, but just here censorship is very severe, and there's little we may tell except trifles. Some of the sighs are works of art. One simply says "Washing Eggs," and another "Butter and Special Beer." The boys say it is, too-special bad! The Sunday we had to bring back the washing again, the landlady of my billet invited me to breakfast-boiled eggs and bread and butter specially good. But the Dahlias! Eighty six of them standing in an enamel bowl on the floor. 86 extra large, every color imaginable. How I wish you could see them. The varigated colors in one leaf were simply exquisite, and the many colored tiled floor set them off beautifully. Please remember me very kindly to the many, many kind folk who sent me greetings. I do appreciate their remembrance. Good-bye for this time. I am fairly safe just now, but you know I am safe whatever happens; it is only reaching the sooner to the perfect day, if I should go west with such hosts of grand brave fellows, and we will meet again in the morning. With love to all- Henry

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 4768146