HEDGES, Herbert Melbourne
| Service Number: | 39652 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Field Artillery Brigades |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 August 1899 |
| Home Town: | Kew, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | The Geelong College, Victoria, Melbourne University |
| Occupation: | Student at time of enrolment |
| Died: | Unknown Aged 81, Colac, Victoria, Australia, 18 March 1980, aged 80 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ballarat New Cemetery and Crematorium, Victoria Crematorium Wall T |
| Memorials: | Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour, Kew War Memorial, Macclesfield ANZAC Memorial Gardens |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Apr 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 39652, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Darwin embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 1918: | Embarked Gunner, 39652, Field Artillery Brigades, SS Port Darwin, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Lynette Scragg
This Biography has been transferred from the Heritage Guide to The Geelong College.
HEDGES, Herbert Melbourne (1899-1980)
Herbert Hedges was born on the 8th August, 1899, the youngest son of a Fremantle Federal Parliamentarian, William Noel Hedges and his wife, Eliza nee Paterson. He was educated at Mrs Austin's Greenvale School, near Wickliffe, then as a boarder at Geelong College, attending there from 12th February 1913 to December 1917. At enrolment, his address was 'Dunbar', Sackville Street, Kew.
He enlisted (39652) on the 29th October, 1917 whilst a student at Melbourne University and embarked with 35th Artillery Reinforcements on SS Port Darwin on 28th April, 1918 for England and France. He required his parents' permission to leave Australia before attaining 19 years of age. His father wrote: "He is very young and I would be glad if you can help him in any way. I will be over very soon and hope to see you."
Herbert Hedges served on the Western Front as a gunner with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade through the final campaigns of the war. He returned to Australia on 23rd July, 1919.
In a curious newspaper item about passengers on the ship, Hobsons Bay the reporter noted: "Mr and Mrs HM Hedges, who were married aboard the liner during the voyage from Colombo to Fremantle. They are going to South Australia where Mr Hedges will take up farming. Mrs Hedges, who was Miss Joan Noreen Higgins before her marriage is the daughter of a doctor at Chichester (Sussex) and she had intended disembarking at Colombo and taking a secretarial position there. Mr Hedges is the youngest son of Mr WN Hedges and he has been engaged in the automobile industry in England for 3 years before leaving for Australia."
Herbert Hedges died on the 18 March 1980 in Colac, Victoria.