Background
Hugo Throssell was born in Northam, Western Australia on 26 October 1884, the son of former Premier of Western Australia George Throssell.
medical officer second lieutenant
Hugo Throssell was born in Northam, Western Australia on 26 October 1884, the son of former Premier of Western Australia George Throssell.
He was educated at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide from January 1896 to to December 1902, where, nicknamed "Jimmy", he was a noted athlete, captain of three intercollegiate sports teams.
In 1914, he joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force. Hugo Throssell"s son Ric Throssell was named after him. As a second lieutenant Hugo Throssell fought at Gallipoli, where he had landed on 4 August.
He saw action in the desperate Battle of the Nek.
According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography:
"This experience increased his eagerness to prove himself in battle. He wanted to avenge the 10th L.H.R. which, like so many of the Anzac troops, was battle-worn, sick and depleted.
His chance came later that month at Hill 60 during a postponed attempt by British and Anzac troops to widen the strip of foreshore between the two bridgeheads at Anzac and Suvla by capturing the hills near Anafarta. Hill 60, a low knoll, lay about half a mile (08 km) from the beach.
Hampered by confusion and lack of communication between the various flanks, the battle had been raging for a week with heavy losses."
A few weeks later, he fought at Hill 60:
"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."
He returned home in 1918 and in 1919 married Prichard. 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.
Hugo Throssell"s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
The Returned Services League of Australia bought the medal and presented it to the Australian War Memorial. The Hugo Throssell ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood was named in his honour.
Whilst recuperating from his wounds in London he was introduced to Katharine Susannah Prichard, an Australian journalist who had recently won a significant novel competition and would go on to be a famous author and socialist. In the following years Hugo was an outspoken opponent of war, and claimed that the suffering he had seen had made him a socialist.