HOSIE, Russell William
| Service Number: | 1948 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 January 1915, Bairnsdale, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bairnsdale State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Tanner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1948, Depot Battalion , Bairnsdale, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1948, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Apr 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1948, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1948, 60th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1948 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His brother 2844 Pte Gustave George Hosie 59th Battalion AIF was also killed in action at Fromelles, 19 July 1916.
Russell was born in Bairnsdale, attended school there and worked as a tanner when he enlisted, he was 28 years old when killed at Fromelles, and is remembered at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial.
He embarked with the 5th reinforcements to the 8th Battalion in April 1915, and joined the 8th Bn on Anzac on 6th August 1915, surviving the campaign, and disembarking back at Egypt, where he transferred to the 60th Bn during February 1916, during the reorganization of the AIF.
In his Red Cross file, are a number of conflicting and confused reports, as is common with a battle of this level of slaughter and chaos. One witness said “he was hit three times in the advance and I tried to rouse him but I couldn’t.” Another stated “I was near this man during the big attack on Fromelles, and I saw him killed instantly by a shell. He was really blown to pieces. It was near Laventie Front. Hosie had just got over when a shell caught him. Ground was not held. It was not possible to bury him, fire was too heavy. Hosie was a brave man who would not remain in rear but pushed to the front. He came over with the 6th reinforcements 8th Bn in troopship Makarini.” Another witness said “At VC Avenue, Armentieres Front, about the 22nd or 23rd of July, I was in the line after the attack which took place on the 19th July, and saw Pte. Hosie buried. I am sure it was Hosie, as he was well known to me, having served with me in the 8th Battalion.”
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