Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell
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ca 1918
Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell VC (27 October 1884 – 13 November 1933) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Hugo Throssell was born in Northam, Western Australia on 27 October 1884, the son of former Premier of Western Australia George Throssell. In 1914, he joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force. As a second lieutenant he fought at Gallipoli during the First World War, when the following deed took place for which he was later awarded the Victoria Cross:
- On 29/30 August 1915 at Kaiakij Aghala (Hill 60), Gallipoli, Turkey, Second Lieutenant Throssell, although severely wounded in several places, refused to leave his post during a counter-attack or to obtain medical assistance until all danger was passed, 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.
Whilst recuperating from his wounds in London he was introduced to Katharine Susannah Prichard, who would later become a famous Australian author and socialist. He eventually returned to active service, rejoining the 10th Light Horse in the Middle East where he fought in a number of engagements, and achieved the rank of captain. He returned home in 1918 and in 1919 married Prichard.
In the following years Hugo was an outspoken opponent of war, and claimed that the suffering he had seen had made him a socialist. His stance on the futility of war outraged many people, especially as they were coming from a national war hero and the son of a respected and conservative former premier. His very public political opinions badly damaged his employment prospects, and he fell deeply into financial debt. On 13 November 1933, he killed himself.
Hugo Throssell's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Throssell, Hugo Vivian Hope |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Victoria Cross recipient |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 27 October 1884 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Northam, Western Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 13 November 1933 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Western Australia |
