Hobart Turner

Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Jun 1893
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	28 Sep 1917
Place of Death	Polygon Wood, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 7 months
Description	5'5¾" (1.67m) tall; weight 119 lbs (54 kg); fair hair, blue eyes, auburn complexion.
Occupation	engine cleaner
Religion	Church of England
Address	Dwellingup, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Sister Mrs Rhoda M Woods
Military Information
Reg Number	5206
Date of Enlistment	2 Feb 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 16th reinforcement transferred to 32nd Battalion / 8th Brigade, 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	31 Mar 1916 - 24 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A9 Shropshire
Fate	Wounded in Action 26 Oct 1916 Mametz Wood Killed in Action 28 Sep 1917
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

While he signed his papers on 5 Jan, he doesn't enter camp until 2 Feb 1916. Six weeks later he was allocated to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and travelled with them to Egypt. On arrival in Egypt was sent to the 4th Training Battalion. On 18 May 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Cyclists Corp, and it was with them that he travelled to France.

On 29 May 1916 he embarked on HMT Briton in Alexandria for Plymouth, disembarking on 8 Jun 1916 and moving to the 8th Training Battalion. Having finished his training, on 7 Sep 1916 he was re-allocated to the 32nd Battalion, proceeding overseas to France on 16 Sep 1916, and then moving first to the 5th Division's Base Depot in France before joining the battalion in the front lines near Armentiès on 30 Sep 1916.

Wounded in action near Mametz Wood on 26 Oct 1916, for the next two days Hobart was tended to by the 38th Casualty Clearing Station for shell wounds to the head, and by 30 October he was in the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples. On 11 Nov 1916 he was well enough to be released to a convalescent depot, but it was not until 17 Jan 1917 that he was well enough to return to duty. Soon after he had a period in a segregation camp (reason not disclosed) but on 6 Feb 1917 he rejoined the 32nd Battalion.

Hobart was accidentally injured with abrasion to his left knee on 14 Jul 1917 while participating in a working party - 'soldier not to blame'. Hospitalised from 14 Jul to 22 Jul 1917, he rejoined the 32nd Battalion before proceeding on leave to England on 25 Aug 1917.

He returned to the battalion from leave on 7 Sep 1917, but on 28 Sep 1917 he was killed in action at Polygon Wood, presumably by enemy shell fire which was described as having caused light casualties.

• 

  Spoilbank Military Cemetery Zillebeke CWGC
• 

  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial