4th Light Horse Regiment
Memorial Association
The youngest of the eight boys and four girls of Timothy & Mary Ellen Geary (nee Phillips), Mark Geary was born in Northcote on 26 Jan 1891. His grandfather, William Ambrose Phillips was a former convict who was one of the first employees of the Aboriginal Protectorate Station which operated at Murchison over 1840-
Mark spent his youth in Gippsland and the Heathcote area. All the boys were excellent horsemen. One family anecdote recalls a neighbour saying “there’s a dance on tonight, so the Geary boys will be riding into town”.
War was declared on 4 Aug 1914 and Mark Geary enlisted on 20 Aug 1914. He was then 22 and worked as a carter. With four years prior military service at Kilmore in the Light Horse Training Corp it is no surprise that he joined the 4th Light Horse.
Five of the Geary brothers served in WW1. L/Cpl Maurice and Tpr George both served with the 13th Light Horse in the Middle East before transferring to the artillery later in the war. Ambrose, 33 years old and married, became a Private in the 21st Battalion. He had already served in the Boer War with the 3rd Victorian Bushmen’s Contingent and was at the Eland’s River Siege. Five of Ambrose’s sons served in World War 2. Owen, nearly 35 and also married, was a Private in the 21st Battalion. These infantry units saw some of the worst fighting in France and Belgium before the war ended.
All of the brothers returned to Australia, but Maurice, who had been badly affected by Trench Fever, died in the Caulfield Military Hospital in 1919.
Mark’s sailed from Melbourne on 19 Oct 1914 aboard His Majesty’s Australian Transport “Wiltshire”, arriving in the port of Alexandria, Egypt, on 10 Dec 1914
The 4th Light Horse joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 15 May, where Mark served until evacuation in December 1915. Already a Corporal since 20 Sep, Mark was promoted to temporary Sergeant on 26 Oct.
Evacuated aboard the “Caledonia” the Regiment disembarked at Alexandria on 27 Dec. After being treated for the mumps at Heliopolis Hospital Mark re-
As member of A Squadron Mark’s military records, after the Regiment was divided, show him serving in Palestine, Abu Hammad, Sinai, Marakeb, Kazar, Tell-
During February 1918 Mark was detached for a short time to the Central Gas School at Rafa in Gaza
On 13 Apr 1918 Mark was reprimanded for “Failing to salute an Officer”. (A “democratic” offence that seems to reoccur in ANZAC service records.) From May to July he was with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force fighting German and Ottoman troops at Gaza, Abbassia, Kautaro and Moascar.
At the end of the war, Mark sailed for Australia, via Suez, embarking on the HMT Port Darwin on 15 Nov 1918 and disembarked at Melbourne on Christmas Eve 24 Dec 1918.
Sgt Geary was discharged on 22 Feb 1919. He had been awarded the AIF Star Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His wife , Margaret, later applied for him to be posthumously awarded the ANZAC medal.
Mark and his brothers never missed the Anzac Day Parade in the City and their grandchildren were thrilled to watch the returned soldiers marching along to the Shrine of Remembrance.
Mark died 8 May 1964 aged 73. His headstone at Fawkner Memorial Cemetery bears the badge of the Australian Imperial Forces.
Proudly presented by Maggie Michels, granddaughter.
108 Sergeant Mark Phillips Geary
With best love from Mark, Egypt -
“The original photo with the horse lying down has now gone to the youngest grandchild; he continues the name Mark Geary.
The original was a really large format, 36 inch x 20 inch. As kids we loved to look at it!” -
“Five Brothers Face Fire” The Herald, 20 May 1916
Mark with his brother Jack
Mark in Palestine, 20 Sep 1919
Mark, rear left, location not know. Such youthful looking faces.