Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Barkly Hyett and Elizabeth Bornes Hyett, of Ascot Park, Bendigo.

Discharged from the AIF in March 1917 and given a commission in the Royal Flying Corps.

His brother, Lieutenant Alan Newcombe Hyett 38th Battalion AIF was killed in action 2nd June, 1917. Age 27. 

Another brother Captain Harold Rupert Hyett served with the Australian Army Medical Corps and returned to Australia 23 September 1919.

Reginald Frederick Hyett, known as Rex, was born on Good Friday, the 27th March 1891 at Sandhurst, Bendigo VIC.  He was the 3rd eldest son and 5th child of 9 children born to his parents Barkly and Elizabeth (Bessie) Hyett.  His older siblings were Claude, Lucy, Annie and Alan with younger siblings Rupert, Dorothy, Irene and Cecil.  Lucy, Annie and Irene all died in infancy.  

His education took place at St Paul’s Preparatory School and Quarry Hill Private School.  He was a member of the Senior Cadets for 2 years.  After completing his education he worked as a Station Manager. 

Rex enlisted for WW1 on 31st July 1915 at Bendigo VIC aged 24.  He’s described as being 5ft 7ins tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.  His service number was 7996, his rank Gunner and he was assigned to the Field Artillery Reinforcements.  His initial training took place at Maribyrnong Camp at Broadmeadows VIC then in late September he transferred to the 16th Battery of the 6th Field Artillery Brigade based at North Essendon VIC.  He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Persic on 22nd November 1915 and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 21st December 1915.  He proceeded to Aerodrome Camp at Heliopolis outside Cairo.  In mid-January1916 the 16th Battery moved to Tel-el-Kebir Camp and then to Ferry Post Camp in early February.  They then proceeded to Australia Hill in Sinai for reconnaissance of battery positions for frontline defences and then commenced digging in of the selected positions on the frontline.  They moved back to Ferry Post Camp in late February then in early March moved the guns out to the frontline gun pits at Australia Hill where they did some shelling practice.  In mid-March 1916 the Brigade proceeded to Alexandria where they embarked on HMT Arcadian and disembarked at Marseilles, France, on 23rd March 1916.  They entrained for the front proceeding to Bois Grenier in early April to take over the frontline defences. 

Rex, with the Brigade, took part in the Battle of Armentieres in May-June and the Battle of Pozieres in July-August.  In mid-August he moved to Mash Valley on the Somme and in early April entrained from Albert for Belgium and arrived at Ypres in early September.  After relieving other brigades for the whole of September they retired to Steenvoorde to rest till mid-October 1916.  They moved into the frontline again till late October then proceeded to Flers. 

On 9th November Rex proceeded to England to join the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) Officers Cadet Battalion. 

Pilot trainee volunteers were first sent to one of several depots or to the Recruit Training Centre at Halton Camp before being sent to a Cadet Wing. Here they underwent a two month basic military training course which included physical training and drill, rifle shooting, map reading and navigation, military law and morse code.  Aviation related coursework included lectures and demonstrations on airframes and aero engines, their construction and functions.  At the end of the course and a physical examination which included balance and coordination tests, the trainees were able to put a white band around their caps which signified they were now Flight Cadets.

From the Cadet Wing, trainees were sent to one of the Schools of Military Aeronautics, later renamed Schools of Aeronautics.  Over two months the Flight Cadets would learn the theory of flight, compass theory, map reading and aerial navigation.  How to rig airframes as well as practical aero engine workshops where many different models of engine, both fixed and rotary, were mounted on stands with propellers attached.  Cadets were taught to start and run these engines, as well as cure common faults with them.  Practical photography with aerial cameras was taught as an introduction to the use of aircraft as reconnaissance platforms.  Both the Vickers and Lewis .303in machine guns were studied, fired, stripped, cleaned and reassembled until the cadets could do it in their sleep.  The current types of bombs were studied, including instruction in fusing and defusing them as well as the theories of dropping them accurately.  Basic aircraft handling skills like taxying, starting up and shutting down were all practiced out on the airfield.  Use of the wireless and morse code to assist in the artillery and infantry co-operation roles were taught, and finally the use and workings of flight instruments which completed the course.  At the end of these packed eight weeks were a series of examinations which would decide if the cadets passed on to the next phase.

The next phase was flying, with 25 hours of basic handling being taught over three months at one of Training Depot Stations (TDS).  Cadets would stay at the same TDS for the second, advanced phase of their training which consisted of 35 hours of cross country and formation flying, reconnaissance and gunnery and at least five hours of experience on advanced, front line aircraft.  Finally, the Cadets earned their “Wings” at one of the specialist combat flying schools.  These would teach the student air to air combat, bombing, reconnaissance or artillery observation depending on what kind of unit the student was destined for and were of various lengths depending on the subject.  By 1918, the process had been streamlined somewhat and the average student went from civilian to combat pilot in around eleven months.  The training was dangerous and often took place in a variety of types, some of which were not really suitable as training aircraft.  Consequently, by the war’s end, around 8,000 cadets had died in training accidents.

After completing his course with the Officers Cadet Battalion Rex proceeded to Brasenose College School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford in late January 1917 and then to the RFC flying school at Denham Aerodrome in February.  On 16th March 1917 he was discharged from the AIF to take up a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the RFC.  He was assigned to the 2nd (Reserve) Squadron and proceeded to the RFC Military School at Ruislip which later became known as RAF Northolt when the RFC became the RAF in April 1918. 

From newspaper reports is seems that in June 1917 Rex was flying alone when his plane flipped and crashed as he was landing.  He sustained a fractured ankle and concussion to the spine and was admitted to one of the RFC Hospitals in London. 

Not being able to access his RFC service records it is not known what his history was from then till 12th December 1918 when he embarked from England on HMT Burmah for return to Australia.  He disembarked at Melbourne on 29th January 1919. 

Two of Rex’s brothers also served in WW1 in France and Belgium…Rupert as a doctor with the Australian Army Medical Corps and Alan with the 38th Infantry Battalion.  Rupert returned safely to Australia but Alan was killed in action on 2nd June 1917 at Ploegsteert, Belgium.

Rex married Lorna Nixon Wade at Scotch College Chapel on 26th October 1929.  They welcomed 2 sons, John and Richard. 

Rex was appointed Commissioner of the Supreme Court and Notary Public for all States and worked at his father’s solicitor’s firm.  When his father died in early January 1936 he took over as chairman of the Bendigo Gas Company.  He was also Vice-President of the Bendigo RSL for a time. 

Rex passed away on 23rd March 1957 in Bendigo VIC aged 65…just 4 days short of his 66th birthday.  He was buried at the Bendigo Public Cemetery.  He is commemorated on the St John’s Church Epsom Honour Roll, Mitiamo War Memorial and the East Lodden Memorial Pillars. 

Reginald Frederick Hyett was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 28th July 2023.

Sources

http://www.egld.com/1916.html