455 Corporal George McKnockiter, MM – Bairnsdale Died of wounds 31 May 1916

….. posthumously awarded a Military Medal

Born in Bairnsdale in 1893 to William and Annetta McKnockiter, George would be awarded a Military Medal for his actions in the war. He attended school at 754 before being apprenticed to his father as a joiner for five years. He enlisted in August 1914 with the 8 th  Infantry Battalion and arrived in Alexandria in April 1915 being involved in the Gallipoli campaign from the start. On 28 April, having seen just three days of action, he was promoted to Corporal before being evacuated to Lemnos with shock as he was involved in a shell explosion where he was partially buried and staggered about like a drunken man so close was the explosion. He was back at the front in July and again transferred to Mudros after receiving bullets in the lung and shoulder in November. This bought about haemorrhaging and later on paralysis and he was in hospital in England for a lengthy time. On different occasions he wrote home after being wounded but never suggested the severity of his injuries not wanting to bring sadness to those at home. It was only when a schoolmate visited him in hospital that his real condition became known to them. In May 1916 the decision was made to convalesce him home when he died on board the hospital ship Kanowna on 31 May and is presumed buried at sea. In October he was posthumously awarded a Military Medal. The citation was for conspicuous bravery in the field. Corporal McKnockiter was with his battalion (the 9 th ) at the storming of Gallipoli beaches. He was twice wounded. This NCO always volunteered to lead patrols out towards the trenches. George McKnockiter was so affected by the loss of his nephew that at the end of the war he made and donated the Blackwood Shire of Bairnsdale honour roll in his nephew’s memory.

A copy of the telegram advising the Defence Department of McKnockiter’s death has survived in his attestation files. National Archives Australia