George Melbourne Wyeth (1890 - 1916)

Ancestors

Biography

George was born on 14 March 1890. He was the son of James Wyeth and Jane Poland. He was born at 3 Palermo Street, South Yarra, in the South Yarra Ward, City of Prahran, County of Bourke, in the Colony of Victoria.^[1]

George's Birth Certificate.

George had five siblings. His two eldest siblings, Amy and James, were born in the Southwark District of London, England, and came to Australia in 1885 on the Abergeldie with their parents;

• Amy Jane (Wyeth) Beilby (1882-1934)
• James George Frederick Wyeth (bef.1884-1920)
• Emily Annie Wyeth (1886-1919)
• Frederick Sydney Wyeth (1888-1958)
• Calvert William Wyeth (1897-1983)

In May 1910 George was in Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia.

George in Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia, 1910.

George was then registered to vote in 1912 and his address was recorded as Loch, Flinders, Victoria, Australia.^[2] He was again registered to vote in 1915 with the address of 40 Canterbury Road, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.^[3]

He joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), enlisting for Service Abroad, on 3 February 1915. He was 24 years and 10 months old, a bookkeeper and a Native of Melbourne. He was 5 feet 5¼ inches and weighed 9 stones and 7 pounds. His complexion was "fresh", hair brown and eyes blue. His religious denomination was noted as Church of England. He had 4 vaccination marks on his left arm; a mole on the back of his shoulder; 2 marks on his forehead by his left eye; and a scar on his upper lip, left.

Private George Melbourne Wyeth embarked for overseas with B Company from Melbourne on 8 May 1915 aboard HMAT Ulysses firstly to Egypt, Africa, for training, and then onto Gallipoli, Turkey. While serving at Gallipoli he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 18 June 1915. He later saw service on the Western Front, where he eventually died of wounds.

In May 1916 his pay account was debited 2.44 francs for the loss of a water bottle. In October 1915 he was transferred by ship from Hospital Malta (then part of the British Empire) to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England, to be treated for dysentery.

Lance Corporal George Melbourne Wyeth, "B" Coy., 22nd Batallion, died in the No 2 Casualty Clearing Station at 2.30 am on 23 June 1916 from wounds he received at Bois-Grenier, France, on 22 June 1916. His records show he received Multi Shell Wounds Comp.[ound] Fracture both Legs & R.[ight] Arm Severe Head Injury. He was buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France on 23 June 1916 (Plot 2, Row E, Grave 172). He was only 26 years old. ^[4]

George's Death Notice.

His remaining effects were returned to his father;

• Identity Disc.
• Letters
• Purse
• 14 Coins
• 2 Note Books
• Book of Psalms
• Belt
• Diary
• Packet of Plain Cards
• Cotton Bag
• Camera in case
• 2 Brushes
• Pipe in case
• P[ai]r Gloves
• Chevron
• Handkerf[chief]
• Cards
• Scissors
• Hymn Book

On 24 September 1921, his father received a Memorial Scroll and King's Message as a memorial to those who lost their lives through the war of 1914-1918. And in June 1922, a Memorial Plaque was collected by his brother Calvert. On 1 December 1922 his father received his Victory Medal. The family also received photographs of his grave and his record shows they also received a British War Medal and the 1914/1915 Star medal. It's not known where these medals are now. George's father enquired where his son's "gift from Queen Mary" was...it is not clear what this was or if it was ever received.

Some notes are written on the back of a photo of his father at his grave site in Bailleul, France, taken 4 February 1920. His father travelled from Australia to pay homage to his son. The notes are written by the hand^[5] of Frances, wife of his nephew James Beilby;

Caught in Europe during 1st world war. Went to Russia and lived there during the revolution. Came home. Went off again to Europe. [Damaged] in Melbourne. Musician, journalist. Making a million and then losing it. [Damaged] charming.

George's father at his grave site Baillieul, Nord, France.

Notes on the back of the photo.

George left a Will which was probated on 31 August 1916. It had been witnessed by his brother James and administration was granted to his father. He had a life insurance policy valued at £328:10: Policy 753384 in the Australian Mutual Provident Society upon the life of the testator £300. Bonus additions thereto £28:10:0. He had no real estate, and his address was given as 40 Canterbury Road, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.^{[6][7] [8]}

He was clearly loved and missed. On 23 June 1955 (and also previously on 23 June 1919, 1938, 1939, 1949, 1950 etc), he was remembered in The Argus newspaper, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: ^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

In Memoriam: On Active Service: WYETH. — To the beloved memory of George Melbourne Wyeth, 22nd Btn., 1st A.I.F., killed in action June 23, 1916.

Brothers Frederick and Calvert also served during World War I.

Research Notes

It would be great to know more about the note my grandmother made about George "Making a million and then losing it." Especially as he spent time in Boulder City, known for its gold mining. My grandmother noted he was a musician and a journalist...and his AIF record and Will has him as a bookkeeper...it is hard to imagine how he would have made a million from those - perhaps he found gold and squandered it!? We may never know. Potter-10870 12:07, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index (Victoria Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 18 Jan 2022). Index entry for Geo Melbourne WYETH, Year: 1890; Parents: Jas Geo and Jane Louisa POLAND; Place: SOUTH YARRA Reg. Number: 17510/1890
2. ↑ 1912 Electoral Register: "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980"
   Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 1207 #179703991 (subscription required, accessed 11 February 2022)
   Electoral Place: Loch, Flinders, Victoria, Australia; Name: George Melbourne Wyeth; Electoral Date: 1912; Gender: Male; Residence Address: Inverloeh.
3. ↑ 1915 Electoral Register: "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980"
   Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 1207 #182894114 (subscription required, accessed 11 February 2022)
   Electoral Place: Albert Park, Fawkner, Victoria, Australia; Name: George Melbourne Wyeth; Electoral Date: 1915; Residence Address: 40 Canterbury rd., Albert Pk.
4. ↑ Family Notices (1939, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12142134
5. ↑ Personal knowledge of Susan Officer, granddaughter of Frances.
6. ↑ 146/524 George M Wyeth: Grant of probate, Given name : George M; Family name : Wyeth; Residence : Albert Park; Occupation : Lance Corporal AIF; Nature of grant : P. VPRS 28/P0003, 146/5241916-08-31 - 1916-08-31Open, Physical North Melbourne, Online. https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/49D5FBA7-F226-11E9-AE98-5136FD6931B6?image=1 (Accessed 11 Feb 2022).
7. ↑ Probate: "Victoria Wills & Probate"
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 11 February 2022)
   George M Wyeth probate in Albert Park. Died 23 Jun 1916 in Albert Park. Occupation: Lance corporal aif. File No. 146/524, Grant date: 31 Aug 1916.
8. ↑ Classified Advertising (1916, July 22). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 23. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1591230
9. ↑ Family Notices (1919, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1481303
10. ↑ "Family Notices" The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 23 June 1955: 13. Web. 11 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71889765>.
11. ↑ Family Notices (1939, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12142134
12. ↑ Family Notices (1938, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11160148
13. ↑ Family Notices (1949, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22736967
14. ↑ Family Notices (1950, June 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 19. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22837610

• Title: Wyeth George : SERN 498 : POB Melbourne VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK Wyeth James George, Contents range: circa 1914 - circa 1920, Series number: B2455, Control symbol: WYETH G, Access status: Open, Item ID: 1956288 National Archives of Australia © Copyright National Archives of Australia 2022. Accessed 11 February 2022.
• Family Notices (1917, June 23). Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92842172. Trove website, https://trove.nla.gov.au, out of copyright.
• Australian War Memorial. ROLL OF HONOUR. George Melbourne Wyeth https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1680348 (Accessed 11 February 2022)
• Military: "British Army, Imperial War Museum Bond Of Sacrifice 1914-1918"
  Archive: The Imperial War Museum; Reference: HU 127992
  FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 11 February 2022)
  Photo of soldier: View images; Year: 1914-18; Full original text: Lance Corporal George Melbourne Wyeth 498. Unit: B Company, 22nd Battalion, 6th Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. Death: 23 June 1916 Died of wounds at Armentieres Western Front; Soldier number: 498; Item description: Part Of "Bond Of Sacrifice - First World War Portraits Collection" (Photographs); Death date: 23 June 1916; Regiment: Australian Imperial Force; Last name: Wyeth; First name(s): George Melbourne; Rank: Lance Corporal.
• Military: "Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt Of Honour"
  FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 11 February 2022)
  Additional information: Son of James George and Jane Louisa Wyeth, of 31, Park St., St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria.; Burial country: France; Link; War: First World War, 1914-1918; Death date: 23 Jun 1916; Unit: 22nd Bn.; Number: 498; Regiment: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.; Cemetery or memorial: Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord; Last name: Wyeth; Grave reference: II. E. 172.; Rank: Lance Corporal; First name(s): George Melbourne.

See also:

• Following the Twenty-Second
• France in The Great War