confirmed
Born: 11 January 1899
Died: 8 August 1918
A hydraulic assistant who enlisted in the AIF on 8 November 1915, aged 16, overstating his age by two years. He embarked for England on 9 April, stopping at Port Said on 14 May before arriving later in May 1916.
He joined the 20th Battalion in Belgium on 18 September 1916. He was evacuated to England on 12 November 1916 suffering from trench feet. During convalescence at the 3rd Australian Command Depot (ACD) he was found to be under age (surmised from being reclassified, on 10 June 1917, with the fitness classification A4 - fit for front line service but under 19). In July 1917, he was attached to the Dental Staff of the 3rd ACD .
He rejoined the 20th Battalion in France on 20 May 1918. He was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux by artillery fire on 8 August 1918 at the very beginning of the attack on the German lines which marked the start of the One Hundred Day Offensive.
His address is the same as that of his sister Marion Gertrude Drew who was married to Edwin Lee Witcombe who is commemorated on the Mosman War Memorial. [JSB]
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- Main sources
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- Drew George [Drew Sydney George Washington] : SERN 4395 : POB Cape Colony South Africa : POE Liverpool NSW : NOK F Drew Wallace (webpage)
- First World War Embarkation Roll: George Drew (sic) (webpage)
- Roll of Honour: Sydney George Washington Drew (webpage)
- Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files: Sydney George Washington Drew (website)
- Commonwealth War Graves: Private SYDNEY GEORGE WASHINGTON DREW (webpage)
- Sydney George Washington Drew (photograph)