Private: 2314 Harry Charles “Pete” GEE.

33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 2314 Harry Charles "Pete" GEE.

Born: 1894. Singleton, New South Wales, Australia. (No Birth Record)

Died: 21st June, 1917. Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital), Eastbourne, East Sussex, England.

Father: Charles Hong Gee. Born 1865. Guangdong, China. (1865-1925)

Mother: Caroline J Gee. nee: Cleworth. (1869-1956)

INFORMATION

Died on this date - 21st June......Private Harry Charles (Pete) Gee was born at Singleton, NSW around 1893 to parents Charles Hong Gee and Caroline Jane Gee (nee Cleworth). (Charles Hong Gee was born in 1865 in Guangdong, China). Charles Gee married Caroline J. Cleworth in 1894 in Singleton, NSW. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 11th May, 1916 as a 22 year old Labourer from Manilla, NSW.

Private Gee arrived in England on 17th October, 1916 for further training & was posted to 9th Training Battalion at Durrington, Wiltshire on 12th January, 1917. He proceeded to France & joined 33rd Battalion on 19th March, 1917. Private Gee was wounded in action on 8th June, 1917 with GSW to mouth (according to family information he was wounded in the Battle of Messines). He was invalided back to England & admitted to Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital) at Eastbourne, East Sussex on 15th June, 1917 wounded slightly. However, the Hospital Admissions form states “G.S.W. Face, lip, tongue, tonsil.” Another Hospital form states “G.S.W. through lip, upper maxilla, tongue, tonsil & muscles of neck.”

7th June 1917.

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

The 3rd Australian Divisions first major offensive was at Messines Ridge on the 7th June 1917. The Australian 3rd Division was a part of the II Anzac Corps which was allotted to the first assault. The 25th New Zealand, 3rd Australian Division with the 4th Australian Division in reserve. The 4th Division were battle hardened troops who had fought many major battles.The 3rd Australian Division were having problems getting to the "jump off" point. The day before the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades were bombarded by German Gas-Shells around Hill 63 and Ploegsteert Wood. Many of the Aussies were not wearing gas masks, but despite this they pressed on even though they received 500 casualties.

They made it to the "jump off" point but only just with some of the men from the 9th and 10th going straight over the top without stopping. The mines went up and the attack commenced behind a protective barrage. The II Anzac Corps were attacking on the right with their objective being the southern shoulder of the ridge which included Messines, the Dover and St Yves areas as far south to the east of Ploegsteert Wood.

Major General Sir John MONASH's 3rd Division had to contend with a tricky 3 mile approach out of Ploegsteert Wood and after the German gas attack, but they were not deterred. The 9th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General: Alexander JOBSON and the 10th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General W R NICHOLL had just made the jumping off point but some of the men did not stop, going straight into the assault from the approach march.

Their objective lay between St Yves and the Douve. The mines at Trench 127 and Trench 12 at Factory Farm were laid to aid this task. The explosions erupted a few seconds before zero hour and created craters of 200 feet in diameter, completely obliterating the German defense line as the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades went over the top. The mine crates forced the 9th and 10th Brigades to veer to the left and right which caused some confusion with the main assault. It is testimony to the quality of training that every man knew the ground, tasks and objectives so well.

Private: 1804 John CARROLL 33rd Battalion, rushed the enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comrades who had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The German forward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken during the offensive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme Barn north of Douve.

The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before the infantry had to become too involved.The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had made little impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received many casualties from German artillery. (70% of all casualties during WW1 were from artillery).

By 9:00am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in dissaray, but there was a major problem as the Australians received less casualties as anticipated and when ordered to dig into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were dug in around Seaforth Farm.

The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn) were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Ploegsteert Wood was now behind them.

Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrage to stop and counter attack was shortened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00 pm this part of the Oosttaverne Line was abandoned. At 10:45 pm General: Alexander John GODLEY ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.

The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks loose their lives.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.

33rd Battalion. AIF	8 Officers	382 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF	10 Officers	378 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF	5 Officers	431 Other ranks
36th Battalion. AIF	9 Officers	421 Other ranks
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF	2 Officer	17 Other ranks
9th Light Trench Mortar Battery.	1 Officer	2 Other ranks

Field Dressing Station, Messines 07/06/1917

FIELD DRESSING STATION, MESSINES 7th June 1917.

Private Harry Charles Gee died at 10.10 pm on 21st June, 1917 at Military Hospital (Fairfield Court Hospital), Eastbourne, East Sussex, England from wounds received in action in France. He was buried in Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England where 6 other WW1 Australians are buried.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/eastbourne.html