Donald Gordon Melville Huggins

Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire page 131
Personal Information
Date of Birth	11 Mar 1885
Place of Birth	Tweed River, New South Wales
Death	1 Apr 1960, aged 75
Place of Death	Mt Hawthorn, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years old
Description	5'9½" (1.77m) tall; weight 130 lbs (59kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, fair hair.
Occupation	timber clerk
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK at 22 Chatsworth road, Mt Hawthorn, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Elizabeth Huggins
Military Information
Reg Number	2183
Date of Enlistment	21 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 4th Reinforcements transferred to 44th Battalion / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Aug 1916 - 25 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	28 Aug 1917 - 14 Oct 1917
Ship Returned On	HMNZT Pakeha
Fate	Wounded in Action 19 (20) Feb 1917 Armentieres Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 at 11 Delphi place, west Perth, clerk; 1916 Jarrahdale No 1 Mill, clerk.

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 25 Mar 1916, and married Elizabeth Oliver on 6 May 1916. A fortnight after entering Blackboy Hill camp he was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion, and travelled with them to England.

On arrival in England was sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Rollestone to prepare for service on the Western front. Transferred to the 44th Battalion in England on 27 Oct 1916, and proceeded overseas with them to France through Southampton on 25 Nov 1916.

On 19 Feb 1917 the battalion was in the front lines for the second time during February, and after a fortnight of quiet caused by freezing cold weather, the thaw had set in and action on both sides increased. Bombardment of the enemy's trenches caused them to retaliate, causing three members of the 44th to be wounded.

Donald appears to have been one of these, sustaining wounds to his right buttock, left thigh, back and right foot. Treated first by the 10th Australian Field Ambulance and then the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, he was evacuated by Ambulance Train to the 8th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux on 21 Feb 1917.

On 25 Feb 1917 Donald was evacuated to England aboard HMHS Cambria and on arrival was admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital where he remained until 17 Jul 1917 when he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Damage to his sciatic nerve reduced his use of his right foot.

Granted furlough from 25 July to 8 Aug 1917, he then reported to No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth where he was processed for return to Australia. On return to Australia he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital, Fremantle until 6 Mar 1918

Discharged by 5th Military District 20 Mar 1918.

Post War

Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire lists a son, Laurence Munro Huggins born 1919 in Perth. Laurence died 18 Dec 1998 in Como aged 79. Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1931 Nanga Brook, clerk with Elizabeth; 1936 - 1937 at Nanga Brook with Helene De Lyle; 1943 at Yarloop (Elizabeth died in 1942); 1949 at Yarloop; 1954 at Quinninup, clerk; 1958 at 99 London street, Mount Hawthorn pensioner.

Notes

On a list of names associated with Jarrahdale, but military records do not provide any connection other than his occupation of timber clerk.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial