Edward William FitzGerald

My great grandfather. Please note FitzGerald has a capital G. He was a dentist in Melbourne & enlisted even though he was too old to join. He was lured by attractive & false propaganda.
We always thought he died at Gallipoli landing, until learning the following very recently. We now wonder if he was executed by his own superiors ?? Answers would be greatly appreciated.

Enlisting under the false name of Edward Edwards at Morphettville, South Australia on 8 September 1914 he was allocated to the 10th Battalion 1st Reinforcments. Embarked on HMAT Themistocles (A32) at Melbourne on 27 December 1914. Disembarked Egypt. Proceeded through training.

Found guilty by Court Martial (Field General) at Lemnos on 6 April 1915 for being drunk whilst on the Line of March. Consequently he was reduced to the rank of private.

Prior to the landing at Gallipoli on the 25 April 1915 it was also found that he was supernumerary to establishment (the 10th Battalion already had enough men for the landing) and thus was left on the Boat when Battalion landed at Gallipoli.

There are no further records of this man and in 1917 it was concluded after a Court of Enquiry that he was killed in action on or shortly after 25 April 1915.

The obvious solution to this is that some time during the landing he was able to get on a boat that took him to shore and subsequently he was Killed in Action. All theories will remain unconfirmed however, as no positively identified body was recovered. He remains; Missing in Action.

1914/15 Star: 4444

British War Medal: 5862