The AIF Project

Hugo Vivian Hope THROSSELL

Date of birth26 October 1884
Place of birthNortham, Western Australia
SchoolPrince Alfred College, Adelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressNortham, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation30
Height5' 10"
Weight161 lbs
Next of kinBrother-in-Law, P W Armstrong, Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 6.6 years as Trooper, 18th Australian Light Horse; 4 months as Sergeant, 10th Australian Light Horse.; Six years service with the 18th and 10th Regiments of the Militia.
Enlistment date29 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll5 October 1914
Place of enlistmentGuildford, Western Australia
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name10th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/15/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 19 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll10th Light Horse Regiment
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Supplement, No. 29354 (5 November 1915); 'Commonwealth Gazette', No. 12 (27 January 1916).

FateReturned to Australia 4 September 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents; George and Annie THROSSELL
Medals

Victoria Cross

'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during operations on the Kaiakij Aghala (Hill 60) in the Gallipoli Peninsula, 29th and 30th August, 1915. Although severely wounded in several places during a counter attack, he refused to leave his post or to obtain medical assistance till all danger was past, when he had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing line until ordered out of action by the medical officer. By his personal courage and example he kept up the spirits of his party, and was largely instrumental in saving the situation at a critical period.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 28
Date: 24 February 1916

Discharge date13 February 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother: 64 Pte Frank Eric Cottrell THROSSELL, 10th Light Horse, killed in action, 19 April 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine, Syria

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 1 August 1915. Joined 10th Light Horse, Gallipoli, 17 August 1915.

Wounded in action, 29 August 1915 (gun shot wound, right shoulder), and admitted to 16th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to Mudros, and thence to England; admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 13 September 1915.

Awarded the Victoria Cross.

Medical board ruled him unfit for all service; embarked from Portland for Australia for 3 months' leave, 17 March 1916.

Promoted Lieutenant, 20 May 1916.

Re-embarked Australia with 23rd Reinforcements, 10th Light Horse Regiment. Marched in to Isolation Camp, Moascar, 18 February 1917; taken on strength, 10th Light Horse Regiment, 18 March 1917.

Wounded in action, Aseiferlyeh, 19 April 1917; admitted to 53rd Welsh Casualty Clearing Station, 19 April 1917; transferred to 2nd Australian Stationary hospital, 20 April 1917; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 23 April 1917; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 25 April 1918; to 14th Convalescent hospital, Ibrahmish, 5 June 1917; rejoined 10th Light Horse Regiment, 23 July 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 20 December 1917; returned to duty, 21 December 1917. Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, 29 January 1918; transferred to Desert Mounted Column Rest Camp, Port Said, 6 February 1918; joined 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, 21 February 1918. Detached to Imperial School of Instruction, 1 April 1918; rejoined unit, 27 April 1918.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, 20 April 1918 (taenia solium); discharged and returned to duty, 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, 3 May 1918; rejoined 10th Light Horse Regiment, 10 May 1918.

Admitted to Anzac Rec. Station, Jericho, Palestine, 17 June 1918 (fever); transferred to 66th Casualty Clearing Station, 18 June 1918; to 36th Stationary Hospital, Gaza, 19 June 1918; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 22 June 1918; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 23 June 1918; discharged to Cairo on convalescent leave, 16 July 1918; leave extended to 20 August 1918. Proceeded to Desert Mounted Column Headquarters, 23 August 1918, awaiting embarkation to Australia for furlough in connection with recruiting.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Suffolk', 4 September 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 17 October 1918; discharged (appointment terminated), Perth, 13 February 1919.

Medals: Victoria Cross, MSBV

Married Katherine Susannah PRITCHARD, 28 January 1919. Committed suicide, 19 November 1933, in a fit of melancholy ascribed by friends to an attack of meningitis.

Date of death19 November 1933
Age at death49
Place of burialKarrakatta Cemetery (Anglican Section), Perth, Western Australia
Sources'Australian Dictionary of Biography', vol. 12, pp. 223-24
NAA: B2455, THROSSELL Hugo Vivian Hope

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.