Donald Gordon Melville Huggins
From Our Contribution
 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 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 1017 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 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 No 8 General Hospital, Fremantle until 6 Mar 1918
Sent home to No 8 AGH Fremantle and on recovery was 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.