Hobart Douglas Firns MID

Australian War Memorial PO7642.002
Section of Lone Pine Memorial
Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown 1896
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	29 Aug 1915
Place of Death	Hill 60, Gallipoli, Turkey
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 3 months
Description	5'6½" (1.69m) tall; weight unknown; fair complexion, grey eyes, and fair hair.
Occupation	mill hand (timber)
Religion	Church of England
Address	Mundijong, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Charles Firns
Military Information
Reg Number	110
Date of Enlistment	5 Oct 1915
Rank	Trooper
Unit/Formation	10th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron, D Troop
Date of Embarkation	8 Feb 1915 - 9 Mar 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A47 Mashobra
Fate	Killed in Action 29 Aug 1915
Monument	Mundijong Serpentine
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Known by all as Doug. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a Mill hand at one of the numerous timber mills that surrounded Jarrahdale, where he was born in 1896.

War Service

Given Hobart's familiarity with horses he was signed on as an inaugural member of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, where he joined A Squadron. However prior to the Army finalising his enlistment processes and accepting him, Hobart was required to have his teeth attended to. This he had done by early December 1914.

Travelled to Egypt with the 10th Light Horse, and then on to Gallipoli via Alexandria on 16 May 1915. On 25 Jun 1915 he reported ill with influenza which required him to be evacuated to Mudros on the 30th for treatment for pleurisy. He recovered quickly and was returned to Gallipoli on 9 Jul 1915.

Hobart was one of the soldiers fighting alongside Lt Hugo Throssel at Hill 60 when Throssel won his VC. "Gallipoli to Tripoli" [Browning & Gill] at page 158 relates the story told by Pte Stanley, one of the few survivors of the group soon after the battle.

"We bomb-throwers did our work behind two barricades. On our left was an embrasure, rather wide and dangerous, on account of the chance of bombs getting home every time. A bomb-proof shelter was erected over part of the embrasure. We stood between number two and shelter, with a sniper. I was at the side of the Lieut. Another chap was in front of him, and the sergeant behind me changing rifles. Bombs arriving were thrown out quickly, and never once was there a casualty from them, bullets doing all the damage. Ferrier got a bullet after the other bomb-thrower (Francis McMahon) had been killed, and fell half under the bomb-proof. The one in front of the Lieutenant was finished at last, after having some miraculous escapes, and being like a wild man (Hobart Firns).

Hobart's date of death is given as the 29th August 1915, after he and his colleagues had held enemy trenches for up to 31 hours before being forced to retreat.

Award Comment

Firns was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Ian Hamilton. Recommended for actions 21st - 30th August 1915. The wording of his recommendation (posthumous) was:

For gallantry during attack on the Turkish trenches on Kaiajik Aghala.

On 25 Aug 1923 the MiD Certificate was dispatched to the family where it was received on 14 Sep 1923.

Notes

Burial details: Unknown grave, commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Anzac Cove, Turkey.

Hobart's next of kin was his father Charles Firns who moved around with work. He was living at the time of Hobart's enlistment in Serpentine, later moving to Mundijong and then Koorda.

Three brothers also served with the AIF during WW1. Charles Glyn Firns with the 28th Battalion; Frank Thomas Firns, allocated to Artillery but who did not reach the front lines before the armistice; and George Weston Firns who served with the 48th Battalion. While Charles was Wounded in Action in Belgium on 12 Oct 1916 and at Mont St Quentin on 2 Sep 1918, all three returned to Australia during 1919. In 1919 another brother Thomas E Firns was serving on the HMAS Sydney.