Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Police Station, Bourke Street West, Melbourne, Victoria

Recording three years voluntary service with the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment, Bendigo militia, 12 January 1893, Goornong, Victoria born Harold David ‘Dave’ Hogben joined the Victoria Police Force on 29 May 1913, being posted to Bourke District Depot on appointment as a foot constable.
Goornong, a rural township on the Midland Highway between Echuca and Bendigo, 25 km north-east of Bendigo, thought to be derived from the native word meaning kangaroo, also provided his brother, George Hogben to the Victoria Police Force.

Playing with the Church of Christ football team, an athletic young man, Dave Hogben won a gold medal as best all-round player during one season.
Completing his service with the Bendigo City Council, together with his Victoria Police training, 5’11”; grey eyed; light brown haired, Harold David Hogben, as Constable 5880, on 22 June 1913 transferred to Russell Street police station, Melbourne, for foot patrol duties.

Transferring, on 27 August 1913, to Bourke Street West police station to fill a foot patrol constable vacancy, ‘Dave’ Hogben became close friends with fellow constable Isaac Oswald ‘Ike’ Webster, both enlisting in the Australian Expeditionary Forces on 18 August 1914 to be assigned to 6th Battalion G Company.

Twenty-one and eight months of age Dave Hogben was appointed Lance Corporal to 6th Battalion, G Company, joining former Vitoria policing colleagues, Percy Douglas Moncur 5766, Angus MacPhie† 5127, Frederick Leslie McDonald 5891, Herbert Oscar Ritter 5808, together with Sydney Smith† 5540, as well as William Williamson 5835, all having enlisted between 17 and 20 August 1914.

This reunited Bourke Street West, Russell Street and Carlton group of policemen had as their captain, William Charles Copperwaithe, son of William Copperwaithe attached to the Victoria Police station at Burnley; as well as fellow soldier, Private Edgar Slater, being a son of James Slater of Hawthorn police station.
Embarking from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914, the battalion, after a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December.

Storming ashore the Gallipoli peninsula pre-dawn on 25 April 1915, amongst 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders, together with British, French and Indian troops, climbed Plugge's [pronounced Pluggy’s] Plateau, their first major obstacle on the peninsula. Sliding down the slope until stopped by the scrubby bushes, the slain, as well as the wounded, moments before dug their bayonets into the earth to assist in their ascent.

Atop the plateau, Turkish defenders maintained a steady machine-gun barrage from the left-hand edge of the plateau attracting the attracting soldiers like moths to a flame. Reaching the summit, the Australians quickly overcame a trench full of Ottoman soldiers before moving to the country beyond.

As the daylight increased, from the top of Plugge's Plateau, the Australians viewed, stretching southwards from the main Sari Bair range, the ridges, as well as deep valleys of a wild, rugged, scrub-covered landscape.

Failing to bring the ANZAC near their planned objectives, the day’s fighting witnessed small, isolated troops of soldiers making their way upslope towards Chunuk Bair and onto Third or Gun Ridge, only to be beaten back or killed by ever-strengthening counter-attacks.

Forming part of the ‘second wave’ of the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915, Lance Corporal Isaac Oswald ‘Ike’ Webster [5481, Bourke Street West police], together with 26 years of age, Company Sergeant Major Sydney Smith [5540, Carlton police], as well as together with 21 years of age, Reginald Arthur Penrose [5884, of Russell Street Detectives], was, at Plugge’s Plateau, one of 2,000 killed or injured.

Upon hearing of Ike Webster’s death, Dave Hogben, together with Frederick Leslie McDonald 5891, returned, intending to bury their police colleague, however, unable to locate his body, attracted enemy fire, Fred McDonald sustaining a gunshot wound to his right shoulder for his courageous efforts.

Following the disastrous Gallipoli landing, Lance Corporal Dave Hogben was promoted to Corporal, whilst Sergeant Angus MacPhie was appointed in the field to Company Sergeant Major [28 April 1915], further acknowledging their natural leadership together with their man management skills.

Ten days following the landing, the 2nd Brigade was transported from ANZAC to the southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula, to reinforce invading British Empire and French troops near Cape Helles in an attempt to capture the village of Krithia.
Along with the neighbouring hill of Achi Baba, Krithia was required in order to advance up the Gallipoli peninsula to the forts that controlled passage of the Dardanelles straits. Becoming separated whilst advancing through the tangle of complex spurs and ravines in the darkness, troops encountered fierce Turkish resistance; reinforced by mid-morning by Turkish troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal.

Capturing minimum ground after two days of costly fighting, the objectives remained out of reach; the Turkish defenders successfully repulsing every assault.
Corporal Harold David Hogben, well and favourably remembered in Bendigo as well as the Goornong district, remains one of fifteen Australian soldiers lying in eternal peace in Redoubt cemetery, named from the chain of forts made by the Turks across the southern end of the peninsula in the fighting for Krithia and the Redoubt Line on which the advance halted in May.

Facing south to the entrance to the Dardanelles, the cemetery was begun by the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade in May 1915 and continued in use until the evacuation.

Writing, in November 1915, to mother Elizabeth Hogben, Company Sergeant Major William Henry McDonald 835 told of his association with her son since 17 August 1914; training and receiving promotion to corporal; of ‘Dave’ being due, before his death, to be promoted to sergeant ‘for his untiring efforts in the firing line’.

“He was always a cheerful comrade, a fine soldier and a gentleman, well-liked by everyone in the Company. Dave was section commander in charge of 16 men. When shot, Dave was leading his men, cheering them on in the charge, yards in front of them.

“Anyone who knew him and loved him, as his mates did, could not but admire him. He was nearest to physical perfection in a man. His sterling quality as a soldier and a man will keep his memory green forever in the hearts of the few who are left of the old company.”