Name
Cyril George Busby
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1523
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LONE PINE CEMETERY, ANZAC
Plot II, Row D, Grave 17.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford,
Australasian Imperial Expeditionary Forces Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Canberra
Pre War
Son of James and the late Emily/Emma (nee WICKS) BUSBY.
His parents married 1872 in the Amersham, Bucks, district. Emily died 1911 in Watford aged 60, and was buried 17 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; James died 1918 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 20 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery. There is a Death announcement for James in the Observer dated 27 April 1918.
George was born 25 May 1894 in Watford. He attended Alexandra School, Watford, from 21 October to 20 December 1901 when he transferred to Callowland Boys’ School, Watford. How and when he went to Australia is proving elusive.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his mother and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, an engine cleaner aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed father and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He was attested 5 February 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales: a valet aged 23, 5’8″ tall, C of E; his next of kin was his sister Mrs L JONES of Pinner, Middx.
He embarked Sydney 11 February 1915 aboard H.M.A.T. Seang Chong, and joined the 2nd Battalion 7 May 1915. He was originally buried 4 September 1915 in Brown’s Dip Cemetery, Gallipoli by Rev M McKENZIE; later exhumed for reburial at Lone Pine. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
There is an article about George in the Watford Illustrated dated 16 October 1915; also a Death announcement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 16 October 1915.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
