George Phillip Kable

   Cause of his death was Killed in Action WW1.

  General Notes:

George enlisted in the A.I.F. on 5 January 1916 at Lithgow in NSW. He was given the service number 5041. In his enlistment papers he recorded his place of birth as Newbridge, NSW. He was just 18 years and one month old and working as a Labourer. He listed his father Charles, P.O. Blayney NSW, as his next of kin. George was described as 5 feet 6 1/8 inches tall, weighing 132 lbs with a chest measurement of 32-34 1/2 inches. His complexion was dark, eyes brown and hair dark brown. He listed his religion as C of E. His "Distinctive marks" were some pigmented moles on the middle line of his back and a scar on his front right leg.

George initially underwent training at the Lithgow and Bathurst depot camps with the 13 Reinforcements, 17th Battalion and by the 3 June 1916 he aboard the Kyarra bound for Plymouth England. It was probably the first time he'd ever been overseas on a ship and the excitement clearly took hold when they docked in Cape Town en route. He was charged with bein AWL on 6 July 1916 and punished with 3 days of Field Punishment No. 2 by the Officer in Charge. There were two categories field punishment. Field punishment No. 1 consisted of heavy labouring duties, possibly being restrained in handcuffs or fetters, and being tied to a post or wheel. Field punishment No. 2 differed, in that the offender was not liable to be attached to a fixed object. At the Inquiry he was charged with being AWL and with Disobeyment of Orders. The unit had marched to Green Point Common and he wasn't there when the roll was called after lunch because he'd gone up to the town with some other men.

He had another episode after disembarking in England. He was charged with being AWL again from midnight 11 September 1916 until midnight on 15 September 1916. He was deprived of 14 days pay, on top of the 4 days that he wouldn't be paid for being AWL. Clearly he was a young man out enjoying himself in a new country! By the 1 October 1916 he was assigned as a Private to the 33 Battalion. He received a third punishment of 28 days Pield Punishment No. 2 on 13 November 1916 for failing to appear at a parade at 7:30 a.m. the previous day.

On 21 November 1916 his unit proceeded to France from Southampton.

On the 21 April 1917 he was in trouble again for being AWL from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the previous day and once again punished with 28 days Pield Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 29 days pay by the C.O.

On the 7th June 1917 George was Killed in Action while his unit was serving in Belgium. On this day his unit was involved in the Battle of Messines: The Battalion had to wait until the emphasis of British and Dominion operations switched to the Ypres Sector of Belgium in mid-1917 to take part in its first major battle; this was the battle of Messines, launched on 7 June. The battalion held the ground captured during the battle for several days afterwards and was subjected to intense artillery bombardment. One soldier wrote that holding the line at Messines was far worse than taking it. Source: AWM, http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11220.asp

He is buried in the Toronto Avenue Cemetery, about 1.5 miles to the south of Messines, Belgium Plot A. 18. His cousin Herbert Kable was also killed in action just 3 months earlier in France.

George's personal effects were later returned to his father and comprised: Disc, Cigarette holder, 3 metal rings, metal chain, Toilet Case, Bag handle, Razor, Housewife.

George Kable was awared the British War Medal No. 42336, and the Victory medal No. 41884.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Soldier (Private), 33rd Bn Australia Infantry in Belgium.