George William Rixon
Rank:
Private
Serial No:
Serial No. 2223
Regiment:
55th Battalion
Suburb:
Campbelltown
George William Rixon - Information
George William Rixon was born in Campbelltown c1883. When the war commenced, he was living in Jindabyne with his parents. George was working on a farm as a grazier, when he decided to enlist in the AIF. He joined up in Goulburn on the 17th of October 1915, at 32 years of age. During training, he was assigned to the 4th Reinforcements, 55th Battalion. George was then sent overseas for war service on the HMAT Port Sydney, which left Sydney Harbour on the 4th of September 1916.
George arrived in Plymouth in late October, and was taught the latest Western Front tactics. He was then shipped to France from Folkestone four days before Christmas. He joined his unit in early February 1917, and was not in the lines long, before he was wounded in action on the 13th of March. As the Allies were chasing the Germans following their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, George received a gun shot wound to his right arm and his back. He was rushed to hospital in Rouen, before being transported to Havre and evacuated by ship to England. He was then admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth on the 21st of March. George's wounds were severe, and as a result he was sent back to Australia in September. He was discharged shortly after he returned and reunited with his family.