Private Gurbachan Singh
Name: Gurbachan (George) SINGH
Rank: Private
Regimental Number: 1414 (3rd Btn) and 2714 (56th Btn)
Age: 40 years on first enlistment then 43 and 6 months second enlistment
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Place of Birth: Jullundurr, Punjab, India
Occupation: Hawker
Marital Status: Single
Address:
Brother: Mr Sunt SINGH, Jundiale Post Office, Phugnara, Julludhur, India,
Later brother: Indara SINGH, Julludhur, Punjab, India
Religion: Hindoo and on second enlistment stated Church of England
Previous Service: Tirah & Chitral Campaign, Boer War
Service Outline:
Served South Africa including the Siege of Ladysmith and with the 2nd Gordon Highlanders and Tirah Expedition with an Indian Field Ambulance (Not located medal rolls).
3rd October 1940 - Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Kensington and to camp Rosehill.
20th October 1914 - Embarked Sydney for the Middle East with G Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion per Transport ‘Euripides’.
21st October 1914 - Left Melbourne.
29th October 1914 - Discharged Albany as ‘not of substantial European origin’ and stated he would live with Sundar Singh in Cranbrook, Western Australia.
4th April 1916 - Re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Cootamundra.
4th July 1916 - To camp Goulburn.
4th September 1916 - To 56th Infantry Battalion.
7th October 1916 - Embarked Sydney for the United Kingdom via South Africa with 6th Reinforcements Group for the 56th Infantry Battalion per Transport ‘Ceramic’.
21st November 1916 - Disembarked Plymouth and to 14th Infantry Training Battalion, Hurdcott.
12th January 1917 - Admonished for being improperly dressed.
28th April 1917 - Embarked Southampton for France and to Havre Depot.
21st July 1917 - To 54th Infantry Battalion and operations France and Flanders against the Germans near Ypres.
31st August 1917 - To 14th Field Ambulance with debility.
2nd September 1917 - To Australian Division Base Depot, Havre.
8th September 1917 - Medically Unfit.
15th November 1917 - To 2nd Convalescent Depot, Weymouth.
21st December 1917 - Embarked Devonport being over age (59 years) per Transport ‘Persic’.
12th February 1918 - Disembarked Melbourne.
4th June 1918 - Discharged.
Enlistment
Re-enlistment
Other Information:
Awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal 1914-1919.
Described as 65.5 inches tall, 126 pounds in weight, chest 32 to 35.5 inches, dark complexion, hazel eyes and grey hair.
Soldier spoke Persian and three Indian languages.
Soldier said he would go back to India to rejoin the Indian Army.
Described as being only fit enough ‘to run an ice-cream shop’, probably due his state of debility.
Noted in Police Gazette as having been assaulted by Nedan Singh at Cootamundra in April 1912.
Soldier said he had two nephews fighting in the Dardanelles and a brother in France.
Noted District Order 104(1): ‘Only British subjects substantially of European origin or descent are to be accepted for service in the Expeditionary Force’.
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