Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter Hugh Jobson of 40 Mary St. Unley, South Australia, was the brother of Amos Charles Jobson and son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Jobson and Mary nee Sullivan. He was a single, 26-year-old horse breaker when he enlisted on December 9th, 1914, receiving the service number 1571, and being assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 7th Infantry Battalion.

His height was 5'7" or 171 cm, close to the average height back then and a weight of 153 lbs, a clear complexion, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was the Church of England.

On February 19th, 1915, he and the 7th Infantry Battalion embarked on the HMAT Runic to Melbourne and underwent training at Broadmeadows, and at length was declared fit for service. Along with his fellow soldiers, they arrived at Anzac on April 25th, 1915, led by their commanding officer Howard Pompey Elliot.

He then embarked on the ship Seang Bee fit for active service on April 12th, 1915, in Malta before being admitted to an unknown location due to ineligible writing after being diagnosed with Neurasthenia on April 31st, 1915, which is now known as chronic fatigue. He was then admitted to the No.11 Casualty Clearing Station in Gallipoli Peninsula after getting diagnosed with Gonorrhoea and getting transferred to a hospital ship disembarking from H.M.T Royal George from Malta, and admitted into the Military Hospital on May 29th, 1915. After one month of recovery, he was discharged from the hospital fit for active service again, leading to his discharge to Base Ricasoli. Five days later, he was transferred from Cairo back to Australia for invalidating his home, and on August 28th, 1915, he embarked on the ship Euripides back to Australia for discharge.

Reasons for being discharged are due to misconduct of unknown order. Due to ineligible writing, the official reason is unknown. A news article published on July 3rd, 1931, stated that a man named Walter Hugh Jobson was initially fined 10 pounds, reduced to 5 pounds, and imprisoned for four days for 'hawking' certain goods. This news article may help provide reasons for Walter Hugh Jobson's discharge.

After two years, 29-year-old Walter Hugh Jobson worked as a Labourer before enlisting again at Broken Hill, New South Wales, on July 11th, 1917. Around the same time as his enlistment above, precisely on July 16th, 1917, he wrote his will, stating that if he were ever to expire, his property, including his military estate, would be received by her mother, Mrs. Mary Jobson. This time, Jobson took part in a different unit called the Tunnelling Companies. He joined Company 6 Tunnelling Reinforcements as a Private once again, with the service number 12440.

His service was cut short by admittance to No. 17 AA Hospital from August 2nd, 1917, until August 17th, 1917. He was diagnosed with shell shock that originated when he was still in Gallipoli, he had been affected for two years. He was discharged on August 31st, 1917.

A news article by The Murray Pioneer published on October 3rd, 1930, describes a man named Walter Hugh Jobson, a veteran soldier, being nearly killed by shell shock. He was interviewed in his hospital bed at Loxton Hospital. He explained how it felt the first time the symptoms hit him. After that, he was sent to various locations to get fixed, namely Malta, Alexandria, Cairo, and even Australia. He explained that he would shake uncontrollably and at random intervals. He entered Caulfield Hospital, Australia, where he saw his first signs of improvement in his condition. He was able to work in construction as a laborer before crashing again, landing him in Loxton Hospital, Adelaide. He expressed his gratitude to the hospital for having exceptional care. He thanked Dr. Dorsch, the doctor who cared for him, for his expertise. He also thanked the nursing staff for being hospitable and kind.

Although there is not much information about Walter Hugh Jobson's death, one can assume he died of natural causes such as old age, or he could have died of seizures from shell shock. There are no records of any marriages; he may have lived his life as a single man.