801 Private George Henry Pyle - Benambra Killed in Action 25 April 1915

….. blown to pieces in the bombardment

George Pyle was born at Tower Hill, Benambra in 1879 as was his brother Albert who also served. They were the sons of Arthur and Mary. George, the older of the brothers was the first to sign up on 24 August 1914 when he was 34 and Albert the following month. Their younger half-brother, Rupert, at 19, enlisted the following year. Both George and Albert landed at the Dardanelles on 25 April but the next day George was missing. In a letter to his father in June the following year, Albert writes “So far I have been able to find out nothing further concerning George. All his original battalion seemed to have been killed, and I can’t find any in it who can tell me anything concerning how he came to be missing. He does not seem to have been taken a prisoner, and it’s my belief that he must have been buried or blown to pieces in the bombardment.” Fifteen months after George disappeared his father received his identification disc and other information in the mail leaving no doubt about his fate.   We have been unable to locate a photograph of Private James Pyle, if you know of one, please make contact. Our group would appreciate your assistance.