Geoffrey Lionel FlemmingGeoffrey Lionel Flemming was born in Glenelg, South Australia on the 10th of October, 1898. His parents were Juliet Margarite Rose and Edward Gilbert Flemming and he had 10 siblings, both from his fathers previous marriage and his own parents. Geoffrey was born in Glenelg but sometime as a child moved to New South Wales with his family. He joined the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion on the 9th of February,1915 at just 16 years old. He fought in Gallipoli and served well for his country but sadly and unfortunately died in battle on the 15th of June,1915. Geoffrey was just a young innocent boy taken from his family too soon.
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His Family |
His parents were Juliet Margarite Rose and Edward Gilbert Flemming. Geoffrey's father was previously married to a woman by the name of Louisa Rebecca A Ridge but unfortunately she died in 1886. From his fathers previous marriage he had four half-siblings, Edward, William, Arthur and Monica. Edward Gilbert Ridge Flemming, one of Geoffrey's half siblings was the only one on record to get married and have children and grand children out of the half siblings. Arthur Lauriston Flemming, another half sibling lived till 1965 but there is no records known of him being married or having children. Unfourtanetly Geoff's other half siblings, William H Flemming and Monica Flemming both died at an early age, William two years old and Monica just a baby. His father later married to Juliet Margarite Rose and they had seven children, one of them being Geoffrey. Dorothy, Richard Alfred, Elsie Margaret, Dorris E, Valentine, Kathleen Annie and Geoffrey Lionel were the children of Juliet and Edward. During Geoffrey's time on earth he was an uncle to two nephews and one niece.
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Signing Up |
Geoffrey signed up to the great war (WW1) on Tuesday the 9th of February, 1915 in Liverpool, New South Wales. He stated himself as 18 years and 1 month but really he was 16 years of age at the time of joining. He wrote that he was a natural born British and that he worked as a labuorer, he said he had not been an apprentiee and had never been convicted by civil power. Also upon signing up Geoffrey had to have a medical examination. His age was 18 years and 1 month, height was 5 feet 11 inches, his chest measurement was 32.35 inches, complexion was grey dark, his eye colour was dark brown, Geoffrey's hair colour was dark brown and his religious denomination was the C.of.E (Church Of England). It was also written on his medical examination that his distinctive marks were a birthmark on his left leg and a scar on his right leg. Geoffrey was healthy and the medical examiner considered him fit for active service.
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His Death
Geoffrey was stated K.I.A (Killed In Action) on the 16th of June 1915, only 3 months after his sign up date. It doesn't list anywhere in his records the reason of his death but it was discovered in a letter to Norah, a letter that one of Geoffrey's sisters wrote to a good friend of his, explaining to her his death. Kathleen , Geoffrey's sister states that her family are finding it tough dealing with the death of two boys they loved. Kathleen wrote that 'it was a morning just at dawn, ten minutes before the relief came. Geoff was on watch with two other lads at a peep hole as they term it.One lad his rifle through the hole taking aim. Geoff put up his hand to fix the rifle. A sniper from the Turkish lines saw the movement and fired. The bullet struck the rifle Geoff was fixing and glanced off, entering Geoff's chest under the arm and striking the bone which protects the heart, grazed the heart causing severe hemorrhage resulting in his death four hours later. After being struck he fell limply on the floor and asked them to send for the stretcher bearers '. Geoffrey was the only one to die at lone pine that day, the soldiers did a march for him and he was put to rest. Only hours after Geoff's death his brother Valentine arrived only to get the news that his darling brother had died. Valentine too died at Gallipoli just a few weeks after Geoffrey.