S20159
BONNEY, Hurtle Oliver
| Service Number: | 2033 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 July 1916, Enlisted in Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Happy Valley, South Australia, 16 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer |
| Died: | Adelaide, Australia , 15 January 1970, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Athelstone Independent Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Payneham District Council Roll of Honor, St Peters Heroes of the Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2033, Enlisted in Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2033, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2033, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 37th Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength from 3rd Re-inforcements | |
| 10 Dec 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 10th Machine Gun Company, Transferred from the 37th Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, 10th Machine Gun Company, Gassed | |
| 26 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2033, 10th Machine Gun Company, Gassed second occasion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 2033 | |
| 3 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2033, Discharged at the 4th Military Disstrict | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2033, 37th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Oliver was born in October of 1894 in Adelaide, South Australia. Oliver was the second son to Elizabeth Bonney. His older brother Patrick was 3 years older than him. The Bonney family lived on Aveland Avenue, North Norwood, South Australia. Before he ventured off to war, Oliver worked as a bricklayer. Both Oliver and Patrick were quite religious, however they both believed in different religions. Oliver was a Baptist, while Patrick was a Methodist. Oliver had blue eyes and brown hair.
On the 13th of July 1916, when Oliver was just 21 he enlisted for the Australian army. Patrick enlisted for the same army the previous day, he was 24. He was about 5 ft 5 and 136lbs when he enlisted. Oliver received the service number of 2033 with a private ranking. Their ship HMAT Anchises A68 embarked on the 28th of August that same year from Adelaide. Both brothers were sent over to be a part of the 43rd Infantry battalion.
The 43rd battalion was made in March 1916 and was South Australia’s contribution to the 3rd division. The battalion stopped briefly in Egypt and then continued the journey over to England for some more training, unfortunately they suffered an infectious disease called mumps which affects the salivary glands, while they were in England. Eventually the 3rd division made their way to the western front in December of 1916. The battalion was involved in the trench warfare during the first half of 1917. The first major battle that the battalion fought as a whole in was at the Messines on the 7th of June 1917 with 4th division in reserve. They later fought in the Third Ypres campaign, in 1918 they fought at Villers-Bretonneux and then on the 4th of July at Le Hamel and in the “last hundred days” campaign.
About the 9th of June, Oliver was wounded after being gassed during action, he was then transmitted to the Richmond Military Hospital in England. On the 31st of August he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary hospital. After being in hospital for about 6 months, Oliver was sent to be a part of the 10th machine gun company on the 6th of December. Those in the unit were equipped with the Vickers medium machine gun that they mounted on a tripod and was used by a crew of three. While on the German side they had similar gun with the Maxim ’Spandau’ MG08. The Vickers gun was known for maintaining a high rate of fire for extended periods of time due to its design, this also let the gun be shot as far as 3,000 yards.
Oliver was then wounded a second time by being gassed during battle around the mid of 1918, he was admitted to Frensham Hill Military hospital and then a month later he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital. On December 2nd of 1918 he re-joined the 3rd Australian machine gun battalion, then returned back to Australia on the 10th of May 1919, after spending 2 years 8 months and 12 days in the war. His brother Patrick actually returned safely back to Australia on the 27th of August 1917. Oliver received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his bravery and honour towards his country.
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Henry Bonney and Mary Elizabeth Bonney nee Easton.
Brother of Patrick Bonney who returned to Australia on 27 August 1917 having served with the 43rd Battalion. Theodre Daryl Wolfe Bonney, Charles Sydney Smithers Bonney, Faith Hope Charity Bonney, John Wesley Bonney, Edith Australia Bonney, Ruth Maryann Bonney, Sylvia Grace Bonney, Victoria Adelaide Bonney, Margaret Eliza Easton Bonney, David Henry Hoyles Bonney, Leonard Levi Bonney, Lydia Olyvia Bonney and Jessie May Bonney
On 23 June 1921 Hurtle married Ethel Catherine Bonney nee Ley in the Methodist Church, Maylands, SA
His address at the time of death was 23 Edwin Avenue, Tranmere, SA
Commenced return to Australia on 10 May 1919 aboard HT Wahehe disembarking at Adelaide on 26 June 1919
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal