HULL, Robert Thomas
| Service Number: | 1152 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, 8 April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Dubbo, Dubbo Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Dubbo Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 11 August 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Murrurundi Bowls Club Cenotaph and Memorial Gates, Quirindi & District Memorial and Clock Tower, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France), Willow Tree and District Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1152, 33rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1152, 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1152, 33rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Sydney | |
| 28 May 1917: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 1152, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1152 awm_unit: 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-08-11 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Robert Thomas Hull, known as Bob, was the son of George Thomas Hull and Jemima Hull and was born in Dubbo. His mother died when he was only 2 years of age. He enlisted in January 1916 and arrived in France during late 1916 with the 33rd Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal, the recommendation stating, ‘'On the night of 26th/29th May, 1917, in a raid on the enemy's trenches at ST. YVES, Private Hull was the leading bayonet man, and showed great dash and courage in leading the attack along the hostile trench. After the order to withdraw was given, he remained with his Officer who was superintending the blowing up of a dugout. A German unexpectedly appeared and rushed 2nd Lieutenant Campbell who had lost his revolver. Hull immediately engaged this man and bayoneted him. His coolness and promptness undoubtedly saved the life of his Officer whom the German attempted to bayonet.’
He suffered multiple shrapnel wounds at Ypres later in 1917 and was evacuated to England. When he recovered, he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion and arrived back in France in July 1918. He was killed in action a little over a month later when hit by a machine gun bullet near the village of Framerville-Rainecourt in France on 11 August 1918.
Newspaper accounts reported ‘On three different occasions he led bayonet charges successfully and un-wounded. He was quiet and brave, an expert in bayonet work; a man of solid, sound principles, and one of whom any father may be justly proud. His brother, Private Henry George Hull, pre-deceased him some 18 months, having died from illness in France.