Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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Hurtle William Chesson was born into a large family on the 22nd of January 1892 near the town of Koolunga South Australia. He was a son of John Chesson and Emma Jane Hugo was the fourth child of thirteen. He had three older siblings and nine younger ones.

Hurtle worked as a farm labourer which was a physically demanding job that required lots of strength, stamina and knowledge of tools and machinery. This work was not only his income, but it also prepared him for his future in the armed forces. The physical endurance, discipline, and outdoor hardiness he developed on the farm became important for when he later listed.

Although little detail was recorded about Hurtle’s education it is possible that he went to Koolunga Primary School near Redhill, South Australia as it was the closest school to his hometown. 

At the age of 22 years and 10 months Hurtle enlisted into the AIF as a Private with the service number 918. He was unmarried and had no children, listing his father, John Chesson as his next of kin.

He joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment, which was formed in Adelaide. Around two thirds of the regiment came from South Australia, while the remainder was from Victoria. 

Throughout the war, his battalion, the 9th Light Horse, fought against the Ottoman Empire across several fronts, including Egypt, Gallipoli, the Sinai Peninsula, Palestine, and Jordan. The 9th Light Horse joined with the 3rd Light Horse, which sailed to Egypt and by May in 1915, they were deployed to Gallipoli. Hurtle arrived at Gallipoli in September 1915.

Gallipoli was a terrifying and traumatic battle for Hurtle and his comrades. The battleground was unfamiliar; they were on low lying open ground and they faced constant fire from the enemy. The unsanitary conditions led to spreading illnesses, adding to the soldier’s distress. The battle was gruelling and by August 1915, the 9th Horse suffered a heavy loss at Hill 60. The soldiers were forced to be defensive and remained until they withdrew from Gallipoli in December that year. Hurtle became ill in mid-November and was sent to hospital in Mudros. By the time he was discharged his unit had left Gallipoli. Hurtle returned to duty at Heliopolis.

He became ill with laryngitis in March 1916 and was sent to hospital for 5 days before being taken on strength with a Reserve Regiment. In October 1916 he returned to the 9th Light Horse.

In 1916, his regiment the 9th Light Horse, played a big role in defending the Suez Canal. Later that year they moved to Sinai Peninsula and fought the battles of Maghdaba, and Rafa in early 1917. Although setbacks of failed attempts to take Gaza in early 1917, the regiment won a significant victory capturing Beersheba in October of 1917.

 Hurtle health continued to be affected by the harsh conditions of war. In February 1917 during the failed attempts at Gaza, he was admitted to Gaza for treatment. He recovered and was back with the 9th Light Horse in April 1917.

In September 1917 Hurtle attended the Imperial School of Instruction and qualified as a 1st Class Gunner.

On the 5th of September 1918, Hurtle was admitted to hospital with a debility. He returned to his unit on the 30th of October 1918, as the war was nearing its end. Hurtle remained serving in Egypt during 1919 and was hospitalised for the last time from March 7th, 1919, with Malaria. It is unknown how many days he stayed in hospital.

His service with the 9th Light Horse regiment contributed to many victories and played an important role in the success of the Allied soldiers in the Middle East during World War 1.

Hurtle began the journey home in late March 1919 disembarking from the ship Kildonan Castle on May 7, 1919. His discharge was because of the Cessation of Hostilities, marking the official end to active fighting between opposing forces. He finally arrived back to Australia in July 1919.

On October 7th, 1922, at the age of thirty, Hurtle married Mary Linda Emily Jolley in a cemetery at Saint Augustine’s Church. The couple settled in Edwardstown, South Australia, where Hurtle worked as a gardener.

Decades after his wartime service, on March 29, 1967, Hurtle applied for the Gallipoli Veterans Lapel Badge and Medallion, recognising his service in as a Private in the 9th Light Horse Regiment.

Hurtle William Chesson passed away at the age of 82 on the 22nd of May 1974, at the Repatriation Hospital in Daw Park, South Australia. He was buried that month in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia on plot RSL wall 107. His memorial site also stands in the same place as a tribute for his service.

Bibliography

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