George Arthur FAWBERT
Per his military service record, George Athur Fawbert on his initial Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form gave his age as 28 years, his marital status as married, and his occupation as carpenter.[1] (There is no Attestation Paper in his military service record for this enlistment). His postal address on the Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form was Craigend Street, Leura. He passed the preliminary medical examination at Katoomba on 5th November 1915, and was provisionally accepted for enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force by Lieutenant F. Middenway at Katoomba on 6th November 1915. The Coo-ees held a recruiting meeting, and stayed overnight at Katoomba, on 5th November 1915.
‘G. A. Fawbert’ was listed in The Blue Mountain Echo as one of the men who ‘marched out’ with the Coo-ees at Katoomba.[2]
However, his Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form was amended on 12th January 1916 to being unfit for active service due to defective vision.
A separate military service record with regimental no. N43066, shows George Arthur Fawbert re-enlisted a few months later, where he was attested, and passed his certificate of medical examinatinon at Leura, on 3rd April 1916.[3] On this Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad, he stated that his place of birth was Bristol, England. He gave his age as 28 years, his marital status as married, and his occupation as carpenter (musician). His description on his certificate of medical examination was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 10 stone 2 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes “6/6 with glasses”, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He listed his next of kin as his wife, May Fawbert, Craigend Street, Leura. He did not mention his previous enlistment with the Coo-ees, stating he had no previous military experience.
His “Joined on” date was 26th June 1916, when he was sent to Depot Battalion at Bathurst Camp.
On 18th August 1916 Private Fawbert was transferred to the 54th Battalion.
On 14th November 1916 he was transferred to Liverpool Camp.
On 30th January 1917 Private Fawbert was discharged medically unfit with deficient vision.
The next day, George Arthur Fawbert re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for home service with the Headquarters Band based at Liverpool Camp.[4] On this Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Home Service, he stated he was born in the Parish of Katoomba in or near the town of Leura. He gave his age as 28 years 10 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation at music teacher. He listed his next of kin as his wife, May Fawbert, Leura. He stated he has ten months previous experience in the A.I.F. and was discharged medically unfit. His certificate of medical examination on 31st January 1917 passed him “fit for Band”. He was attested at Liverpool on 31st January 1917.
On 6th May 1918 Bandsman Fawbert was charged at the Liverpool Camp with disobedience of orders, by leaving an instrument in a hut not under cover, and not folding blankets before leaving hut, on 2nd May 1918. He was severely reprimanded.
He served with the Headquarters Band at Liverpool until he was discharged on 18th December 1918 Termination of Period of Enlistment.
[1] NAA: MT1486/1, FAWBERT/GEORGE ARTHUR
[2] ‘March o’er the Mountains. Gilgandra to the Sea. “Coo-ees En Route’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142
[3] NAA: B2455, FAWBERT G A [Note incorrectly indexed under George Alfred Fawbert]
[4] NAA: MT1486/1, FAWBERT/GEORGE ARTHUR
1915 Coo-ee March 