George’s occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a boundary rider, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 1893, Araluen.
- Parents – Robert John Batty and Mary Gannon, Jembaicumbene, Araluen, via Braidwood, New South Wales.
- Enlisted – 7 August 1915, Goulburn, New South Wales. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 5 January 19161University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=16512. Accessed 15 July 2024.
- Regimental Number – 105022National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Batty George Joseph: SERN 10502, Item ID – 3057660. Accessed 15 July 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 223Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2161336. Accessed 15 July 2024.
- Military service – 1st Divisional Signal Company, Rank – Sergeant.4Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/90736. Accessed 15 July 2024. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (MM).
- ‘During the period 16th/17th September, 1918, to the cessation of hostilities, this N.C.O. was with an Artillery Sub-Section and proved himself thoroughly efficient and reliable under all conditions. The success of the Artillery communications was in no small measure due to the personal exertions of this N.C.O. On one occasion, whilst in charge of Section, he showed ability and initiative in a very difficult situation and his efforts were eminently successful.’5Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 113 Date: 6 October 1919, and Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1520186. Accessed 15 July 2024.
- Returned to Australia – 16 June 19196Moruya and District Historical Society. https://blog.mdhs.org.au/heroes-of-the-eurobodalla/#B. Accessed 15 July 2024.
- Died – 24 April 1959, Ashfield, Sydney. 7NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Batty, George Joseph, Death 8193/1959, Sydney Parents Robert and Mary. Accessed 15 July 2024
- Buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney 8Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148900380/george-j.-batty Accessed 16 July 2024.
George was the son of Robert John Batty (1861-1930) and Mary Gannon (1862-1905) who had nine children following their marriage in Braidwood in 1892 – Mary (1888- ); George Joseph (1892-1959); Hilda Jane (1894-1964); Agnes M (1895- ); John (1897- ); Catherine (1899- ); Irene E (1901- ); Arthur James (1903-1991) and Margurite Margaret (1905-1982).
George’s mother Mary’s obituary was published in the Braidwood Dispatch,9Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Saturday 27 May 1905, p 2. in May 1905 ‘on Wednesday night that Mrs R. Battye, of Jembaicumbene, had died … The deceased was a native of Araluen, and lived here for many years. She was a sister to Messrs. P. Gannon, James Gannon, Thomas Gannon, and Michael Gannon, all of whom reside here … The deceased leaves a family of eight or nine, the oldest being about 14.’ Adding a few days later10Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Wednesday 31 May 1905, p 2. ‘Mrs. Battye [sic], the wife of Mr. Robert Battye, of Jembaicumbene, who was brought into the Hospital on Friday week, died on Wednesday. This is a sad case, there being a family of eight children left, the youngest an infant three months old. The deceased was the daughter of the late Mrs. Patrick Gannon, (Norah Honara Galvin [1835-1916]) who was a very old resident of Araluen, where the deceased was born.’
In July 1915 the Goulburn Evening Penny Post11Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW: 1881-1940), Tuesday 27 July 1915, p 5. describing applications for service at the local recruiting office and detailed ‘At Araluen Messrs. G. Battye, Moore, Gardiner, and Roberts have been accepted’. Adding 12Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW: 1881 – 1940), Tuesday 10 August 1915, page 4in August 1915 in an article titled “Recruiting in Goulburn. A local camp” ‘The recruits who have passed since Friday afternoon are:- …George J. Battye (Araluen)’
In December 1917, the Sun13Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910-1954), Monday 3 December 1917, p 2. reported ‘Wounded in action GEORGE JOSEPH BATTY, Jembaicumbene (gas).’
On 8 August 1919, the Braidwood Dispatch14Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 8 August 1919, p 2. reported ‘Sergeant George Batty, of Jembaicumbene, arrived home yesterday morning after nearly four years’ service in the Great War. That he made good is evidenced by the fact that he left Australia as a private and returns with three bars on his shoulder.’ Later that month the Braidwood Review15Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 19 August 1919, p 5. detailed ‘On Tuesday night [26 August 1919] … a welcome home will be tendered to Sergeant G. Batty and Gunner A, Collins, both of whom returned recently from active service’.
In August 1919, the Braidwood Dispatch16Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 29 August 1919, p 2. reported ‘The welcome home to the Araluen soldier boys on Tuesday night last in the Federal Hall was a brilliant success … evidence in itself that Araluen is proud of its khaki heroes, and knows how to ‘spar up’ when a warrior comes home … The soldiers present were: Sergt. C.[G] J. Batty, Gunner A. Collins, and Ptes. W. Harman and J. J. Hush. The mothers present (Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Collins) occupied seats on the platform beside their soldier sons … About 3 a.m. the last of the dancers streamed from the hall, and thus ended one of the most successful welcome home functions ever held at Araluen.’ 17Roslyn Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, Hypercet Printing, Goulburn. 2004. p 113.
George’s father Robert’s obituary was published in the Braidwood Dispatch18Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 16 May 1930, p 2 and Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 23 January 1931, p 3. in May 1930. ‘Mr. Robert Batty of Jembaicumbene, passed away in the Braidwood Hospital on Tuesday last at the age of 75 years. A native of the district, he had spent all his life here with the exception of a brief period when as a lad he filled a position in Mr. E. De Mestre’s training stables at Terrara … A hard-working, industrious man, he had many friends in the district …The chief mourners were Messrs. George and John Batty, sons. He leaves a family of three sons and four daughters, and a brother, Mr. Arthur Batty.’
George married Margaret Agnes Stuart (1898-1957) in 1927 and had two children John Stuart (1930-2014) and Kevin James Francis (1942-2018). Electoral rolls show his occupation as a tally clerk. A death notice was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 25 April 1959, advising of the death of George Joseph Batty on 24 April 1959, late of Ashfield and aged 64.19Ryerson Index, https://ryersonindex.org/. Accessed 25 July 2024.