S5536
STODART, Hugh Robertson
| Service Number: | 2229 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Frewville, South Australia, 5 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Hardware Assistant |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 18 July 1968, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Wall 34 row O |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Oakbank Old Scholars Roll of Honor, Prospect Roll of Honour G-Z WWI Board, Prospect St Cuthbert's Church Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 2229, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2229, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2229, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| 2 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 2229, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2229, 27th Infantry Battalion |
Hugh Robertson Stodart
Name: Hugh Robertson Stodart
Service Number: 2229
Place of Birth: Frewville
Date of Birth: 5 December 1894
Place of Enlistment: Keswick
Date of Enlistment: 31 May 1915
Age at Enlistment: 20 years 6 months
Next of Kin: Mother, Margaret Stodart
Occupation: Hardware Assistant
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private
Upon leaving Australia Hugh proceeded to France on 21 March 1916. On 4 August he was reported killed in action, but later officially reported as being a prisoner of war in Germany at Gefangenenlager, Munster. He had been shot in the left arm and captured at Pozieres on 4 August. On September 15 Hugh wrote to the A.I.F. stating, “I have been a Prisoner of War six weeks and have very little clothing for the winter. Could you send me a cap, uniform and boots size 8, as soon as possible. Yours sincerely H.R. Stodart”.
At the end of the war Hugh was repatriated to England and returned on the Ulysses to Australia where he was discharged on 2 May 1919.
Submitted 26 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Paul Lemar
Hugh Robertson STODART was born at on 05.12.1894 to John Andrew (1867-1907) and Margaret Johnston STODART nee ROBERTSON (1871-1954).
Hugh Robertson STODART joined the AIF on 31.05.1915 and was allocated service number 2229. He was attached to the 27th Battalion. He embarked for Egypt on 21.09.1915. There is no information that he served at Gallipoli at this time but the 27th only arrived at Gallipoli on 12.09.1915 so it is possible.
The 27th Battalion sailed to England as part of the 2nd Division then went to the Western Front.
The 27th Battalion entered the front-line trenches for the first time on 7 April 1916 and took part in its first major battle at Pozieres between 28 July and 5 August.
Hugh Robertson STODART was known as Dick. Hugh was reported as killed in action in France in WWI on 5 August 1916 during the Battle of Pozieres aged 21 years. However, a letter was received from Hugh from the German POW camp at Munster, Westphalia, saying he was alive but in a POW camp after being captured by Germans.
He had been wounded with a gunshot wound to the right arm. His date of capture was listed as 04.12.1916 at Pozieres however it is possible that it was in the Battle of Flers.
Private STODART spent the next 2 years as a POW until the cessation of hostilities at which time he was returned to England then returned to Australia. He was discharged from the AIF on 02.05.1919.
Hugh STODART rejoined the AIF for service in WW2 on 31.4.1942 and was given service no. S67475 and made a sergeant. He was attached to the 1st SA Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.
He is currently honoured on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Oakbank Old Scholars Roll of Honor, Prospect Roll of Honour G-Z WWI Board, Prospect St Cuthbert's Church Honour Board.
Hugh died in Adelaide on 18.07.1968.
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