Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hugh Burgoyne

Hugh Burgoyne, Christian name Hugh Vivian, was born in 1887, on 45 George Street, Norwood, South Australia. He was the son of Mr T. Burgoyne, who was an early settler from England. Hugh Burgoyne’s religion was Church of England. Hugh also had a brother who was named Alfred William Burgoyne but was killed in action during the war.

Hugh Burgoyne was a single, 27 years old law clerk when he enlisted in Morphettville South Australia, on 24th September 1914. He was assigned to the 1st Depot Unit of Supply, 11th Army Service Corps. His service number was 2654 and his rank on enlistment was sergeant. 

He was a tall man for the times. He was 5 foot 8 inch (177 cm) when average height was 5 foot 5 inch (167 cm). And he weights 142 pounds (64.4 kg). He also had a chest measurement of 32.34 inches (82.14 cm). He had dark skin complexion, dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

He embarked one year and three months after enlistment, on 19 December 1915 at Melbourne harbour, on board HMAT A35 Berrima. He arrived in Gallipoli on April 25th, 1915. The HMAT A35 Berrima weighted 11,137 tons with an average cruise speed of 14 knots or 25.92 km per hour. It was owned by the P & O SN Co, London, and leased by the Commonwealth until 10th October 1917.

During the three years, Hugh Burgoyne first served in Gallipoli. Hugh Burgoyne and all the other Anzacs had to struggle with the environment, build their “homes” in rugged cliffs and on narrow unprotected beaches. They experienced extremes of weather. It was not uncommon for the summer heat to reach 40 degrees. Winds along the Gallipoli Peninsula were strong. As the weather turned the Anzacs had to endure rain and snow and the resulting mud and flooding of their trenches. Water was scarce and strictly rationed. A soldier’s diet consisted mostly of bully beef, hard biscuits, jam and tea. Hugh Burgoyne’s left foot was wounded in May 1915.

Hugh Burgoyne has been sent to France in 1916. Hugh got sick in the field on 20th of September 1916. He returned to his unit from hospital 14 days later, on 4th of October. He may also have suffered from diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, pneumonia and cholera and faced plagues of fleas, flies and rats. He was then sent to the United Kingdom on 26th February 1917.

Weapons that were used in the Gallipoli Campaign by Australian army were Artillery, Rifles, Trench Mortars, Hand Grenades, Machine Guns and Hand Guns. Machine guns played an important role in the Gallipoli campaign as they killed hundreds of soldiers in a short amount of time. But they were unreliable because they were very heavy. It also took a lot of time transporting when it was needed. Machine guns would have heated up quickly and stop firing. The two main types of machine guns Australians used in the Gallipoli campaign was the Lewis Gun and the Vickers Heavy Machine Gun. Every Australian also carried handguns such as 455 Wembley and Webley Mk IV. It was mostly used when ammunition ran out from the primary weapon. The handguns were light; therefore, they were easy to carry.

He embarked from England on 9th December 1918 and returned to Adelaide, South Australia on 22nd January 1919. Hugh Burgoyne had a brief hospitalisation, on 15th February 1919 he left the hospital without a leave.

Hugh Burgoyne was discharged from A.I.F (First Australian Imperial Force) on 14th July 1919 due to “medically unfit”. He then moved from Norwood to 15 Colley Terrace, Glenelg, South Australia.

One of Hugh Burgoyne's family member Hilau Reata Burgoyne applied for Gallipoli medallion, Anzac Commemorative Medallion in 1964. Hugh has also received lapel badge. 

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Some qualities of the ANZAC are great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship. The Anzac spirit is a concept which suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers possess shared characteristics, specifically the qualities those soldiers allegedly exemplified on the battlefields of World War I.