Military History

Greatorex was 19 years of age at the time of enlistment and received his father’s permission to enlist. He enlisted with the with the 11th Bn. Machine Gun Unit  as a Gunner 23.5.1917. He was transferred to Broadmeadows, Victoria for further training before embarkation
Embarked Melbourne per HMAT ‘Aeneus’ A 60 for the  UK 30.10.1917.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 27th Reinf. 11th Infantry Bn.
Greatorex disembarked with his Unit at Devonport UK 27.12.1917. He marched in to the 2nd Training Bn. at the Details Base at Sutton Veny. After a period of intensive training, Greatorex proceeded overseas to France 1.4.1918. He was transferred to 51st Bn. and taken on strength in the field 6.4.1918. The 51st Bn. fought in a major offensive against a German advance in April and then at Villers-Bretonneux on 25th April 1918. Greatorex was KIA 24.4.1918 at or near Villers-Bretonneux. Owing to the nature of the action, the Bn. was unable to bury its dead. Another Bn. performed this task at a later stage. There was no known grave for Greatorex, although the general location of a possible mass grave was marked and a temporary cross was erected on the site. His name is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Private 51st Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Dec’d KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Greatorex's brother Michael Walter Sexton Greatorex also served in WW1. His father The Rev. Theopilos Greatorex moved into the  Guildford Rectory in 1918
Photos Broadmeadows  Military Training Camp. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM DA0D00018
             HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photographer unknown, photograph source State Library NSW image a636033r.
             51st Bn. in reserve line near Lavieville France, March 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01856
             Soldiers watch shell burst near the 51st Bn reserve line trench, Lavieville France 28.3.1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01854
             Queen Elizabeth placing a wreath at the opening of the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France 1938. Photographer unknown,  photograph source AWM H17477
             Greatorex, G.W.E. Swan Express 17.5.1918  p5
            

Information Source
AWM DA0D00018. Broadmeadows Military Training Camp. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01856. 51st Bn. in reserve line near Lavieville France, March 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01854. Soldiers watch shell burst near the 51st Bn reserve line trench, Lavieville France 28.3.1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17477. Queen Elizabeth placing a wreath at the opening of the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France 1938. Photographer unknown,  photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls Greatorex G W E
AWM Roll of Honour- Geoffrey William Edward Greatorex
AWM Red Cross File- Geoffrey William Edward Greatorex
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Grammar School War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Greatorex G W
SLNSW image  a636033r. HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photographer unknown, photograph source State Library NSW
Swan Express. Greatorex, G.W.E.  5.1918  p5
Wises, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

The Rectory, 221 James Street, Guildford. WA.

Associated Images