Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On May 17, 1917, Harold Rupert Hyett aged 24 applied for a commission with the Australian Army Medical Corps. He had graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery the previous year.

Quoting his three years military experience with Melbourne University Rifl es, he volunteered to serve overseas in the July, and by August he was on his way to Glasgow, Scotland, where he reported to the AAMC training depot, at Parkhouse in England.

On March 27, 1918 he was sent to France attached to 2 Army General Hospital and then posted to 3 AGH, with a few detachments to the 13th and 4th Field Ambulance before returning to his unit.

Rupert, as Harold was always known, had a sister at home collecting every scrap of news and pasting it into a scrapbook. They form the basis of an extensive family history from the time of the Great War.

Source: Bendigo Advertiser

Harold Rupert Hyett, known as Rupert, was born on 7th July 1893 at Sandhurst, Bendigo, VIC.  He was the 4th eldest son and 6th child of 9 children born to his parents Barkly and Elizabeth (Bessie) Hyett.  His older siblings were Claude, Lucy, Annie, Alan and Rex with younger siblings Dorothy, Irene and Cecil.  Lucy, Annie and Irene all died in infancy. 

Rupert’s education took place at St Paul’s Preparatory School and Quarry Hill Private School.  He then went on to study medicine at Ormond College at Melbourne University and graduated in 1916 with the degrees MB (Bachelor of Medicine) and BS (Bachelor of Surgery).  While at the university he was a member of the cricket team and also served with the University Rifles for 3 years.  He was resident surgeon at Melbourne Hospital for 1916-1917. 

In May 1917 Rupert was commissioned then he enlisted for WW1 on 23rd July 1917 aged 24.  His rank was Captain and he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) Reinforcements.  He proceeded to the Caulfield Base Hospital then embarked from Melbourne on 4th August 1917 on HMAT Themistocles.  He disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland, and proceeded to the AAMC training Depot at Parkhouse Camp on the Salisbury Plain in England.  Almost immediately he was hospitalised with the mumps and admitted to the military hospital at Parkhouse.  There had been an epidemic of the mumps on the ship during the voyage from Australia.  Upon being discharged he proceeded for duty to the 1st Training Battalion at No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.  In late December he proceeded for duty to the 2nd Training Battalion at Fovant Camp.

In early January 1918 Rupert was attached for duty to the Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery (RBAA) at Heytesbury then in February to the 1st Training Battalion now at Fovant Camp.  On 27th March 1918 Rupert proceeded to France via Folkestone for duty with the 2nd Australian General Hospital (2AGH) at Wimereux.  In April, he was detached for duty with the 51st British Division to the 3rd Highland Field Ambulance and participated in the Battle of Lys from 9th - 29th April.  In a letter to a friend in Bendigo dated 11th May 1918, while serving with the 3rd Highland Field Ambulance, Rupert wrote: "There was a village here once, but it is now no more.  A few brick walls and debris are all that remain of it.  It was the scene of activities a year ago, and the landscape is characteristic of the front war zone.  The kilties are a great lot, and can fight 'some.'  The Boche refers to them as 'the ladies from hell.'  We would have liked to be with our boys, but are with the next best, so are very lucky."

In mid-July he proceeded for duty to the 3rd Australian General Hospital (3AGH) at Abbeville.  He was there for a month before being posted to the 13th Field Ambulance in mid-August 1918 at Fouilloy and then to the 4th Field Ambulance a week later at Harbonnieres.  In early September he was attached to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade as the Regimental Medical Officer at Camon.  He re-joined the 13th Field Ambulance in late September who were then at Saveuse.  In early October 1918 he took leave to England rejoining his unit in late October. 

In late February 1919 Rupert took leave to Nice then in late April proceeded to England and was granted leave to do post-graduate work in London.  His leave was extended to late August when he proceeded for duty to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford (3AAH).  He embarked from Devonport for return to Australia on HMAT Ascanius on 23rd September 1919 and disembarked at Melbourne on 6th November 1919.  His appointment was terminated on 6th December 1919.              

Two of Rupert’s brothers also served in WW1 in France and Belgium…Rex with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade and then the Royal Flying Corps and Alan with the 38th Infantry Battalion.  Rex returned safely to Australia but Alan was killed in action on 2nd June 1917 at Ploegsteert, Belgium.

Rupert married Lois Marie Chandler on 23rd February 1921 at All Saints Church at St Kilda, VIC, and they settled in Geelong where Rupert commenced his practice.  They welcomed 3 children…Peggy, Bruce and Shirley. 

In 1925 Rupert was appointed the Geelong Hospital’s first and only Honorary Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, a position he held till 1966.  He was also only one of two Geelong practitioners to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. 

In 1934 Rupert had built a stately home at Latrobe Terrace, Geelong, called “Narbethong” which housed his medical practice as well as being his home.    

Rupert passed away on 30th September 1976 at Geelong VIC aged 83.  He was buried in Altona Cemetery VIC, now known as Altona Memorial Park.  He is commemorated on the St John’s Church Honour Roll at Epsom VIC along with his brothers Rex and Alan. 

Harold Rupert Hyett was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 31st July 2023.

Sources

https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/common/Public/Consultation/attachments/8cd0d03374268b0-!Ashby%20Heritage%20Review%20Jan%202010%20Part%20A.pdf

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89099623?searchTerm=Rex%20Hyett