Geoffrey Dunhill
Name: Geoffrey Gordon Dunhill MM
Rank: Gunner
Service Number: 8377
Units Served: 18th Battery, 6th Field Artillery Brigade
Personal Details: Geoffrey Dunhill was born in Gilberton, South Australia in August 1896 to Joseph Henry and Fanny Dunhill. Geoffrey had eight brothers and sisters and lived in Walkerville as a Blacksmith. He was 5’5’’ tall, weighed 146 lbs, had a fair complexion with dark brown hair and had blue eyes. Geoffrey was a Methodist and served in the Senior Cadets and Citizen Forces before he joined the army.
Military Service: Geoffrey enlisted in Walkerville on the 2nd of September 1915, on the 22nd of November 1915 he embarked from Melbourne on the H.M.A.T A34 “Persic.” Then on the 17th of March 1916 he embarked from Alexandria and disembarked at Marseilles on the 23rd of March 1916 on the H.T “Arcadian.” He suffered bronchitis and was hospitalized for a short time during September of that year but otherwise remained with his battery. On the 4th of February, 1917, during the attack on “Stormy Trench”, Geoffrey was involved in brave action that lead him to be recommended for a Military Medal, which he received on the 18th March. In June the same year he was shot in the right shoulder and back, as a result of this he was shipped back to England on the Hospital ship to recover and later rejoined his brigade in France on the 6th of October 1917.
Less than one month later, on the 26th October, the Australian Artillery was supporting a Canadian attack on Passhcendaele. Geoffrey died of wounds he received in action that day at the 15th Australian Field Ambulance. He was then buried at the Huts Military Cemetery just North West of Dickebusch, Belgium, Plot 12. Row B. Grave 17.
Age at Death: 22
Date of Death: 26th October 1917
Cemetery Details: Huts Military Cemetery, Belgium Plot 12. Row B. Grave 17.
