George’s occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a labourer, who was single.
- Date of Birth – November 18861NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Birth – 16666/1886 Parents William and Jane, Registered in Braidwood. Accessed 19 April 2024.
- Parents – William Mundy and Jane Montgomery, North Araluen.
- Enlisted – 10 August 1915. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A31 Ajana on 5 July 1916.2University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=217714. Accessed 19 April 2024.
- Regimental Number – 51343National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Mundy, George, Item ID – 7987715. Accessed 19 April 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 27
- Military service – 33rd Battalion, Rank – Private.4Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1891842. Accessed 19 April 2024. George served on the Western Front and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
- Returned to Australia on 8 January 1919 and was discharged on 10 April 1919.
- Died 2 June 1968 at Canberra.5ACT Birth Death and Marriages, https://services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/public-registers/generic-register?registerid=historic-death-index Death 20005910. Accessed 19 April 2024.
William Mundy (1852-1922) and Jane Montgomery (1858-1946) had twelve children following their marriage in 1877—James Stewart (1879-1959), William (1880-1946), John Samuel (1882-1952), Margaret (1884-1919), George Henry (1886-1968), Joseph Alexander (1888-1962), Charles David (1890-1958), Edgar Peter (1892-1969), Isabella (1894-1914), Cecil (1896-1976), Elizabeth Ann (1898-1978) and Roy (1900-1901). George’s nephew, Alexandria (Alex) James Mundy (1922-December 1942), his brother Cecil’s son, was killed in action in WWII in Papua New Guinea on 25 November 1942 (aged 20 years).
In November 1915, the Braidwood Dispatch6Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 19 November 1915, p 5. reported ‘Private George Mundy, who came up on final leave, was at North Araluen on Tuesday night entertained by residents at Madigan’s Hall. Captain Alley occupied the chair, and a large gathering enthusiastically drank the health of the young soldier. Complimentary speeches, in which Private Mundy was congratulated on his pluck in volunteering, were given by a number of those present. A sheepskin vest, with a sum something over £5, was presented to the volunteer. Songs were contributed by the brothers Mundy, Mr. Mundy, senr., Mr. Dunshea and others, and a most enjoyable night was spent. Private Mundy left on Wednesday, and had a rousing send-off as he left North Araluen.’
George was wounded in action on the 8 August 1918 with a gunshot wound in his thigh, and transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on the 23 August 1918. He commenced his return to Australia on board HT Orsova on the 8 January 1919.7University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=217714. Accessed 19 April 2024. The Braidwood Dispatch 8Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 21 February 1919, p 7. reported in February 1919 ‘Another returned soldier, Private G. Mundy, of Araluen, was expected to reach Braidwood yesterday afternoon.’
In early March 1919, the Braidwood Dispatch9Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 7 March 1919, p 4. reported ‘Private G. Mundy, who has been on active service with the A.I.F. for upwards of three and a half years serving in France, and who returned to Sydney recently on the troopship Orsova, is expected to return to the Valley on Friday next, when he will be welcomed back by a large number of townspeople, who will journey some distance from the Valley to meet the returning hero.’
In April 1919, the Braidwood Dispatch10Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 4 April 1919, p 7, and Roslyn Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, Hypercet Printing, Goulburn. 2004. p 113. reported ‘On Friday night last a large crowd of residents assembled at the Federal Hall to … welcome home … Privates G. Mundy and F. [Frank] Stove, who recently returned from the front. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Alley, on whose right the returned heroes were seated. The chairman, in extending to Privates G. Mundy and F. Stove a hearty welcome, said … Private Mundy, who was a member of Captain Carmichael’s battalion, by the good account it has given in the fight for Amiens. He then presented each soldier, on behalf of the residents of the Valley, with beautiful gold medals, which were pinned on by the following local ladies, who each had a brother killed at the Great War. Private Mundy, by Miss Cassie Byrnes; Private Stove, by Mrs. R. Hobby; and Mrs. O’Reilly (for her brother) by Mrs. G. Marshall, amidst loud applause. …
Private Mundy returned thanks for the splendid welcome and medal presented to him that night. It made him feel that the people of Australia were worth fighting for. He also described the attack of the Australians outside Amiens, when the crack regiments of other nations crumbled before the Germans. This, he believed, was … the fiercest fighting of the campaign, when the Germans were within eight miles of the city ‘so near and yet so far’. The city was saved by those 85,000 Australians who took part in the fight. Private Mundy also thanked those responsible for the comforts and parcels he received on service, and also spoke highly of the Australian nurses in the hospitals.
Private Stove, who was deeply affected, also returned his thanks for the grand welcome and presentation to him that evening. They had, he said, been treated royally everywhere on the other side, but nothing to be compared to the reception they had received that night … A dance followed, which proved a most enjoyable function, though the crowd was rather large for a while for dancing to be carried out with much comfort!’
The electoral rolls show George as a farmer at North Araluen. In 1946 in the obituary for his mother Jane, the Braidwood Dispatch11Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 12 July 1946, p 2. detailed ‘There passed peacefully away at her home at Araluen on Tuesday, 9th July [1946], Mrs. Jane Mundy, one of Araluen’s oldest and best-known residents. … Thus passed … one of Araluen’s grand old ladies. The surviving members of the family are: James, John, George (Araluen), Alex (Sydney) [Joseph Alexander (1888-1962)], Charles, Edgar, Cecil and Bess (Araluen) [Elizabeth Ann (1898-1978)]. Two daughters [Margaret (1884–1919), and Isabella (1894–1914)] died many years ago, and about two months ago, William’.
The Canberra Times12Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Monday 3 June 1968, p 11. published notices of George’s death in June 1968.
‘MUNDY, George Henry. — June 2 at Canberra. Beloved son of the late William and Jane Mundy, North Araluen, and brother of Jim (dec), John (dec.), Margaret (dec.), Will (dec.), Alick (dec.), Bella (dec.), Charlie (dec), Edgar, Cecil, Bess, Roy (dec.). Requiescat in Pace
MUNDY, George Henry. — June 2 at Canberra, late of North Araluen, beloved brother of Bess, Edgar and Cecil of Araluen. Aged 81 yrs. At rest.’