Soldier profiles

Name : COATSWORTH, GEORGE EDWARD
Service Number : VX18140
Date of Birth : 08/07/1912
Place of Birth : CHARLTON, VIC
Known as :
Occupation on Enlistment : FARMHAND
Date of Enlistment : 28/05/1940
Locality on Enlistment : PORTARLINGTON, VIC
Place of Enlistment : CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin : COATSWORTH, ELLEN
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : CORPORAL
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : 2/2 PIONEER BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) : 1 PLATOON A COMPANY (JAVA)
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War : SYRIA, JAVA
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 08/11/1946
Date Died : 14/12/1946
Age at Death : 34
Community Roll of Honour : UNKNOWN
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : WYCHEPROOF PUBLIC CEMETERY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. C. OF E. PLOT. GRAVE 152. (GRM /3). / AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIVE AREA PANEL 72
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : 14/12/1946 / ILLNESS / VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : SYRIA, JAVA
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : NO
P.O.W. Camps (details) : SYRIA, JAVA
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : SUMATRA
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : Australian War Memorial B-JAVA-0017 Missing & POW Circular
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6208695 [DIGITISED]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Australian War Memorial, AWM_116484.jpg, Headstone, Death notice (The Argus 21/12/1946), Past article (size 888kB), Past article (size 346kB), Past article (size 291kB)

Background : Son of Joseph and Ellen Coatsworth, of Wycheproof, Victoria, Australia.

Service & personal summary At enlistment : single. No previous military experience. At discharge : height 5 feet 10 inches, grey eyes, medium complexion, dark brown hair. Marital status : single. Marks / scars : scar on head. Medical : Tuberculosis 100% disability (Repat case) Full time war service : A.I.F. 28/05/1940 to 08/11/1946 which included 2356 days active service (380 days within Australia & 1363 days overseas). Operational service : Middle East & Java area (embarked from Australia 07/04/1941 , disembarked in Australia 24/10/1945). War badge no. 343508. Discharge certificate no. 558403.

Service record.
28/05/1940 Taken on strength Recruit Reception Depot Caulfield, Victoria.
30/05/1940 Posted to 2/2 Pioneer Battalion Puckapunyal, Seymour, Victoria.
07/04/1941 Embarked Sydney, New South Wales on H.M.S. Queen Mary (H.M.T. N.N.).
03/05/1941 Disembarked Middle East.
17/06/1941 Unofficially reported prisoner of war and transferred to X list.
18/07/1941 Rejoined unit and struck off X list (released prisoner of war).
10/01/1942 Appointed Lance Corporal.
31/01/1942 Embarked Middle East on S.S. Orcades.
18/02/1942 Disembarked Batavia, Java.
04/03/1942 Promoted to Corporal.
07/03/1942 Reported missing in action.
30/04/1942 Reported missing in action, Java and transferred to X list.
14/08/1942 Reported missing in action believed prisoner of war.
01/07/1943 To be paid Lance Corporal rate.
28/07/1943 Reported prisoner of war (Java).
15/08/1945 Granted proficiency pay.
05/10/1945 Embarked Singapore on hospital ship H.M.A.S. Manunda.
24/10/1945 Disembarked Melbourne, Victoria.
24/10/1945 Admitted 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria.
29/01/1946 Evacuated from 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria to 106 Australian General Hospital with pulmonary tuberculosis.
29/01/1946 Admitted 106 Australian General Hospital.
19/07/1946 Admitted 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria with pulmonary tuberculosis.
08/11/1946 Discharged.