Geoffrey James Desborough enlisted as Jeffrey Harold Denis

(Confirmed)

Born: 14 March, 1898

Died: 21 June, 1949

Biographical Summary:

Enlisted in the AIF on 21 January 1915, aged 16 years and 10 months under the name of Jeffrey Harold Denis.  He served at Gallipoli with the 13th Battalion and was wounded in action on 23 May 1915.  He returned to Australia in August 1915 and was discharged on 5 January 1916.

He re-enlisted in August 1917 in the Engineers as Jeffrey Harold Denis but following notification of authorities by his father, he made a statutuory declaration to correct his military records to his birth name.

He left for England on 31 October 1917 and returned on 24 August 1918 without serving in France or Belgium.  [JSB]

Recorded Names:

• Geoffrey James Desborough
• Jeffrey Harold Denis

Service Number: 1646

Ranks:

• Held rank of Private
• Held rank of Sapper

Death Records:

• 21 June, 1949 in Cremorne

Address:

• 24 Royalist Road Mosman NSW Australia

Relationships:

• father - Arthur Francis Desborough Snr
• mother - Catherine McDonnell

Organisations:

• Member of - 13th Battalion, AIF

Main Sources:

• Desborough Geoffrey James Desborough Jeffery Harold Denis SERN 164619098 POB Paddington NSW POE Liverpool NSW NOK F Desborough Arthur Francis NAA file (Webpage)
• NEW SOUTH WALES WOUNDED (Newspaper Article)
• FROM THE FRONT BALLARAT’S WOUNDED MEN FOR NSW MELBOURNE Thursday (Newspaper Article)
• Death Notice (Newspaper Article)

Commemorations:

• DESBOROUGH G. J. on the South Face of the