Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell VC (26 October 1884 – 19 November 1933)
Hugo Throssell was born in Northam WA on 26 October 1884. In 1914, he joined the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF. His brother, Frank Erick Cottrell Throssell, known as Ric, also served in the war and died near Gaza.
As a 2Lt Hugo Throssell fought at Gallipoli, where he had landed on 4 August. He saw action in the desperate Battle of the Nek::
"This experience increased his eagerness to prove himself in battle. He wanted to avenge the 10th L.H.R. which, like so many of the Anzac troops, was battle-worn, sick and depleted. His chance came later that month at Hill 60 during a postponed attempt by British and Anzac troops to widen the strip of foreshore between the two bridgeheads at Anzac and Suvla by capturing the hills near Anafarta. Hill 60, a low knoll, lay about half a mile (0.8 km) from the beach. Hampered by confusion and lack of communication between the various flanks, the battle had been raging for a week with heavy losses."
A few weeks later, he fought at Hill 60:
"On 29–30 August 1915 at Kaiakij Aghala (Hill 60), Second Lieutenant Throssell, although severely wounded in several places, refused to leave his post during a counter-attack or to obtain medical assistance until all danger was passed, when he had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing line until ordered out of action by the Medical Officer. By his personal courage and example he kept up the spirits of his party and was largely instrumental in saving the situation at a critical period."
Sent to London to recuperate from his wounds, he eventually returned to active service, rejoining the 10th Light Horse in the Middle East where he fought in a number of engagements, and achieved the rank of CAPT. He returned home in 1918 and in 1919 married.
In the following years Hugo was an outspoken opponent of war, and claimed that the suffering he had seen had made him a socialist. His stance on the futility of war outraged many people, especially as they were coming from a national war hero and the son of a respected and conservative former premier. His very public political opinions badly damaged his employment prospects, and he fell deeply into financial debt. On 19 November 1933, he killed himself.
Hugo Throssell's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial here in Canberra.