Archibald Hubert (Bert) MORETON

MORETON, Archibald Hubert

Service Number: 542
Enlisted: 11 January 1915, Place of enlistment - Geelong, Victoria
Last Rank: Trooper
Last Unit: 8th Light Horse Regiment
Born: London, England, 19 February 1894
Home Town: Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria
Schooling: The Geelong College
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Killed in Action, Walkers Ridge, Gallipoli Turkey, 7 August 1915, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Ari Burnu Cemetery, Gallipoli
Row A, Grave 10
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour, Little River Pictorial Honour Roll, Werribee Honour Roll
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World War 1 Service

11 Jan 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 542, Place of enlistment - Geelong, Victoria
25 Feb 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 542, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Embarked on HMAT 'A16' Star of Victoria from Melbourne on 25th February 1915, disembarking Egypt.
16 May 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 542, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Embarked on HMT Menominee from Alexandria, Egypt on 16th May 1915 to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
7 Aug 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 542, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 542 awm_unit: 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1915-08-07

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Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

MORETON, Archibald Herbert (1894-1915)

‘Bert’ Moreton was born in London on 19 February 1894, the son of Dr Frederick Moreton and his wife Mary nee Jarvie.

‘Bert’ was twenty-two months old when he came to Australia with the family settling at ‘Meltham’, Fyansford. He was educated at Geelong College as a day student from 1908 to 1910. After passing the Junior Public Examination he went on to Dookie Agricultural College and subsequently engaged in pastoral pursuits near the You Yangs. He became an active member of the Little River Rifle Club, recognised as one of the best shots in the Geelong district.

He enlisted (542) on 11 January 1915, and embarked for Egypt on HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 25 February 1915, going on to Gallipoli as a member of the 8th Australian Light Horse. According to a family member, during his service in the army he was known as 'Arch' rather than 'Bert'. He was killed in action on 7 August 1915 in the attack at Walker's Ridge (The Nek) when the 8th Light Horse, serving as light infantry, made their gallant contribution to Australian history. He was shot as he climbed over the parapet and fell back into the trench. He was buried, aged 21, at Point Cemetery, Gallipoli, by Rev. Edward Makeham from Perth, WA. (Grave A.2.4). This cemetery was late renamed Ari Burnu Cemetery.

Pegasus of December 1915 reported his death: ‘Ted Hendy and Bert Moreton enlisted together, were tent-mates and occupied the same dug-out together, and gave up their lives in the same battle - a conspicuous instance of true Public School ' Comradeship'.

His brothers, Frederick Ewart Moreton (1892-1978); Cecil Knight Moreton (1895-1973); and Dr Arthur Roberts Moreton (1901-1964); were all educated at Geelong College.

Source : The Geelong College - http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/MORETON-Archibald-Hubert-1894-1915.ashx?HL=moreton

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