Hoare, Michael
1407 Private Michael Hoare - 12th Battalion AIF
Michael Maurice Hoare was born in Victoria in 1892 to John and Nora Hoare. He had six siblings, James (1885), Edward (1889), Patrick (1889), Mary (1891), John (1896) and Josephine (1904).
The family moved to Western Australia in the early 1900's and took up residence in Victoria Avenue North Fremantle. (Later renamed to 115 Stirling Highway)
Michael completed his education at St Anne's North Fremantle and after leaving school he found work with the fire department. Prior to the Great War he was working as a fireman in Kalgoorlie.
On the 11th November 1914 in Kalgoorlie Michael enlisted into the AIF. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches;
Weight - 178lbs;
Chest Measurement - 38 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment Michael was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp at Helena Vale. He spent a few weeks in the Depot training camp and was then assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements to the 12th Battalion AIF. This reinforcement group was made up of Tasmanians, South and West Australians, which mirrored the make up of the 12th Battalion. The WA section of Michael's reinforcement group departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 22nd February 1915 abord the transport ship HMAT Itonus.
After arriving in Egypt in March 1915 the 2nd Reinforcements were sent on to Lemnos Island which is where the 12th Battalion were located.
It appears that Michael was taken on strength of the 12th Battalion in April 1915 and that he landed with them on April 25th 1915 at Anzac Cove. On the 3rd May 1915 Michael was shot through the thigh and after being given medical aid at the field ambulance on the beach, he was sent on to a hospital ship which took him to Egypt.
He was then admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Cairo. Michael was here for the next few months while he recovered. By August he was back at Gallipoli but on the 4th September he fell ill and was sent to the 1st Field Ambulance. He was then returned to hospital in Egypt. It was initially labelled as NYD or Not Yet Determined but was then diagnosed as general debility. He was sent to No.1 Australian General Hospital and was released to Base Camp on the 6th December 1915.
As Gallipoli was going to be evacuated Micheal was retained in Egypt until the 12th Battalion returned. He would be at the base camp until his full fitness returned, so Michael did not rejoin the 12th battalion until the 18th March 1916.
On the 29th March 1916, the 12th Battalion left Egypt for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916. After arriving the men were entrained north to the Armentieres region and they would have their first experience of the Western Front in this sector.
For the next three months they served at places such as Bois Greiner and Fleurbaix. In July 1916 the 1st Australian Division were sent to the Somme battlefield and on the 23rd July 1916 the 12th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Pozieres village. Casualties were heavy but Michael came through this and the subsequent action at Mouquet Farm in August 1916 unscathed.
In September and October 1916 the 12th battalion spent time in Ypres in Belgium but then returned to the Somme battlefield. On the 10th November 1916 Michael was sent to hospital suffering from rheumatism. He only had a few days at the 1st General Hospital at Etretat and was then sent to the 4th Convalescent Depot at Le Havre.
On the 19th November 1916 Michael was sent to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. He would remained here for the next two months while he regained his health.
On the 17th January 1917 Michael rejoined the 12th Battalion. They were still on the Somme battlefield and remained there till the end of February 1917. The 12th battalion attacked enemy positions at Le Barque and shortly after this the Germans began their strategic withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive positions known as the Hindenburg Line.
The Australians and British pressed the Germans all the way and several sharp actions took place among what was known as the Hindenburg Line outpost villages. In early April 1917 Michael took part in the capture of Boursies village. Though the village was captured, casualties were heavy and Micheal was one of those wounded. He had been shot through the thigh, suffering a fractured femur.
He was given medical aid, initially at the 5th Field Ambulance, but was then sent to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent on ambulance train to the French town of Rouen where he was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital.
Michael would have several weeks as a patient at Rouen as it wasn't until the 26th May 1917 that he was deemed well enough to be sent to England. On the 26th May 1917, Michael was sent aboard the Hospital ship HS Western Australia which took him across the English Channel.
After arriving in England, Michael was sent to the 1st London General Hospital. He was a patient here for the next few months. On the 6th October 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital. He was now deemed well enough to returned to Australia, so on the 25th November 1917 Michael was put aboard the ship Balmoral Castle and set sail for home, disembarking at Fremantle on the 4th January 1918.
After being disembarked Michael was then sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for further medical treatment. He was a patient there until his discharge.
Michael was discharged from the AIF on the 7th April 1918.
Once he was healed Michael was able to return to his fireman duties. He was living at Victoria Ave North Fremantle and through the 1920's was working as a locomotive fireman.
His Father John died in North Fremantle on the 4th August 1927.
Through the early 1930's Michael continued to live in Victoria Ave North Fremantle
Michael died on 30th July 1935, sadly it appears to have been an overdose as reported on the 14th September 1935 in the Western Australian newspaper;