Hannibal Leslie HOSKING

Badge Number: 7135, Sub Branch: Glenelg
7135

HOSKING, Hannibal Leslie

Service Number: Officers on enlistment not allocated service numbers
Enlisted: 8 June 1915, Adelaide South Australia Australia
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 27th Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide South Australia Australia, 26 February 1890
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Pulteney ST School (Pulteney Grammar)
Occupation: Bookseller and Stationer / Crown Lands Office clerk
Died: Natural Causes, 21 April 1976, aged 86 years, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New)
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World War 1 Service

8 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide South Australia Australia
15 Jun 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officers on enlistment not allocated service numbers, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1,

Son of Mr R and Mrs Letitia Hosking of 11 Hurtle Square Adelaide

Having served to 3 years in the 10th Battalion militia, Hanibal Leslie Hosking was enlisted as a commissioned officer.

Appointment terminated 25 May 1920

9 Mar 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, RMS Mongolia
11 Nov 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion
Date unknown: Involvement 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
Date unknown: Wounded 27th Infantry Battalion

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Biography

Surname: HOSKING; Given Names: Hanibal Leslie; Date of Birth: 26 February 1890; Date of Enlistment: 8 June 1915; Trade or Calling: Bookseller & Stationer; Birth Location: Adelaide; Address prior to enlistment: 112 Hurtle Sq Adelaide; Photograph sent by: Mrs Hosking

Son of Mr Richard and Mrs Letitia Hosking of 112 Hurtle Square.  

NAA - HOSKING Hannibal Leslie : Service Number - Lieutenant : Place of Birth - Adelaide SA : Place of Enlistment - N/A : Next of Kin - (Wife) HOSKING Edith Jane

Brother 4989A Private John Pengilly Hosking, 50th Battalion AIF DoW 8 July 1918.

Shortly after enlistment Hannibal Leslie Hosking was identified for officer training, probably as a result of his prior service with the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment (the Adelaide Rifles) militia for the three years prior to the outbreak of war.  He undertook his course at Exhibition and Mitcham Camps and a number of others sites in the Adelaide area.  He was commissioned on 15 September 1915.   

He embarked with the 10th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion at Outer Harbour on the 9th March 1916 aboard the Royal Mail Steamer  "Mongolia" (this ship was later sunk by a German U Boat on 21 July 1918).

He was admitted to hospital (Pyrexia - fever) in July 1916 and not discharged until October - in Fargo, near Birmingham England.  He was eventually taken on strength by the 27th Battalion in December 1916, while the Battalion was enduring the misery of winter quarters at Guedecourt, where the AIF was mired in mud and misery during one of the worst winters on record.

It took its toll on Hanibal as it had many others, he was admitted to hospital and evacuated to England suffering with Trench Foot, a very dangerous condition arising from the men having their feet continually wet. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.  Following immediate treatment he was transferred to Cobham Hall for recuperation and the n to Perham Downs in preparation for return to the Front

While in hospital his promotion to Lieutenant was confirmed.  He resumed duty from the seconded list on the 18th May 1917 via Etaples, the huge Commonwealth personnel depot that was the key transit point to the front.

He remained with the Battalion during its action at Morlancourt and then the AIF moved to southern Belgium for the beginning of the great Third Ypres campaign.  Hanibal was wounded (Gunshot wound) in September 1917, in fighting near Menin Road.  He was not evacuated to the UK which suggests the wound was not severe.

He returned to duty 23 October 1917 through the balance of the Third Ypres campaign including Broodseinde and its culmination near Paschendaele in the mud and misery of another cold wet winter and appalling battlefield conditions.

11 January 1918 Hannibal was accidentally injured resulting in an infected head wound graded severe.  He was admitted to the 14th General Hospital Bolougne and then to the UK.

He returned to France in April via the Overseas Training Brigade and resumed duty on the 2nd May 1918 and saw out the remainder of the war with the Battalion through the “Peaceful Penetration” of aggressive patrolling and the victory at Le Hamel, in the lead up to the Hundred Days campaign,  from Amiens to Mont St Quentin.

He proceeded to t he UK on leave on the 29 September 1918, by which time the 27th Battalions war was over.  As the AIF was repatriated to Britain they moved through a number of large depots as they were prioritised for repatriation to Australia.

Somewhere along the line, Hannibal established a romantic interest. He married Edith Jane Slater of Turnham Green, while he was assigned to Sutton Veny Camp 7th June 1919.  The celebrant was Vicar  T.W. Moulton

It would appear that at this time his rush to return home abated somewhat and he was posted to Base depot personnel and commissioned with the rank of Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the British Regular Army in 13 October 1919  ex 7th Field Artillery Brigade.  He would have received news at this time of the passing of his mother, Letitia back in Australia.

He and his new wife were assigned for embarkation to Australia early in 1920;  they boarded the Cap Verde at Avonmouth on 5 January 1920 to make their new life.

Hannibal Hosking joined the RSL in 1924 and remained a member of Gloenelg Sub-Branch until 1945.  He resided at 6a Kent Street Plympton.  He passed away in 1976, aged 86.  He was survived by his wife Edith and children Olive and Jack.

British War Medal: 10463

Victory Medal: 10393

 

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