Haswell Charles MAXWELL MM

MAXWELL, Haswell Charles

Service Numbers: 580, V355385
Enlisted: 3 October 1914
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 23rd (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Forth, Tasmania, Australia, 19 September 1894
Home Town: Kindred, Central Coast, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farm labourer
Died: Leongatha, Victoria, Australia, 6 March 1976, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Leongatha Cemetery
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

3 Oct 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 580, 9th Light Horse Regiment
6 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 580, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Surada, Melbourne
6 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 580, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Surada embarkation_ship_number: A52 public_note: ''
20 Apr 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 9th Light Horse Regiment
15 Oct 1918: Honoured Military Medal, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations

World War 2 Service

2 Apr 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, V355385
15 Oct 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, V355385, 23rd (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Haswell enlisted at 20 years of age during 1914 in the 9th Light Horse Regiment. He landed at Gallipoli with the Light Horse Regiments during May 1915. He survived the campaign, though slightly wounded in the back during October 1915.

His younger brother, 2875 Pte. David Lewin Maxwell 12th Battalion AIF, was killed at Bullecourt in May 1917. Both had been born and raised in Kindred, Tasmania.

Haswell was awarded a Military Medal in 1918 for bravery during the Charge at Khan Ayash which occurred on 2 October 1918 about 25 kilometers north of Damascus in Syria. Although thrown from his horse during the charge he remounted and led a vigorous charge against the Turks displaying great courage and leadership, under very heavy fire and very broken country.

He returned to Australia in 1919, having been serving overseas for over 4 four years. He married and settled in Leongatha during 1922.

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