George Irvine Fordyce MM (1898 - 1919)

Ancestors

Biography

George Irvine Fordyce was born in Queensland (Australia), in 1898. He was the fifth son and child of Francis Fordyce and Elizabeth Irvine.^[1]

On 27th January 1916, George enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service overseas during The Great War. He embarked for the Western Front on 16th August that year from Brisbane aboard HMAT Boorara.^[2] He was a Private in the 31st Australian Infantry Battalion, 8th Brigade, 5th Division.^[3]

Military Medal

George was awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire at Polygon Wood, in the Ypres sector, 26-28th September 1917; gazetted at London 2nd December 1917 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 2nd May 1918.^{[4] [5]}

Hospitalised after contracting pneumonia, George's evacuation to Australia needed to be conducted carefully. He was hospitalised at Cape Town for eleven weeks en route home before being embarked on another hospital ship.^[6] Within a fortnight his condition again worsened and he died on 29th October 1919, aged just 21 years. His body was buried at sea. George Irvine Fordyce's name is located at panel 118 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra and he is honoured at the Villers-Bretonneaux Memorial, France.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #C3773/1898
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 3558 Private George Irvine Fordyce
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 31st Australian Infantry Battalion
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: 3558 Private George Irvine Fordyce; accessed 1 May 2020
5. ↑ Coulthard-Clark, Chris. The Encyclopaedia of Australia’s Battles. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW, 3rd ed 2001. ISBN 1-86508-634-7
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial Red Cross wounded files: 3558 Private George Irvine Fordyce; accessed 1 May 2020
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: 3558 Private George Irvine Fordyce; accessed 1 May 2020