Hatchett, Richard Joseph
8445 Corporal Richard Joseph Hatchett - 7th Field Ambulance
Richard Joseph Hatchett was born in Emerald Hill Victoria in 1883 to Richard and Alicia Hatchett, being one of seven siblings.
The family moved to WA in the 1900's and took up residence at "Queenscliffe" 24 Quarry Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 15 Quarry St). Richard's father was working for the Adelaide Steamship Company.
Richard's Father died on the 5th October 1910 in Fremantle. After his Father's death, the family moved to "Swansea" 16 Queen Street Fremantle. Richard was working in Fremantle as a Printer's Machinist.
On the 22nd September 1915 Richard enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;
Weight - 123lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Dark Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment, Richard was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Australian Army Medical Corps. For the first few weeks he was put to work in the camp hospital to see if he was suited to medical corps work.
On the 16th November 1915 Richard was assigned to the 13th Reinforcements to the 4th Field Ambulance. He trained with this group for a few months. This group then departed from Fremantle aboard the HMAT Borda on the 17th January 1916. After reaching Egypt, Richard was sent to the Base Details Camp and on the 5th March 1916 he was assigned to the 7th Field Ambulance. He didn’t have long with this group in Egypt as just a week later the 2nd Division set sail for France.
On arrival at Marseilles, the 2nd Division was sent north to the Armentieres sector where they gained their first experience on the Western Front. Richard fell ill in April 1916 with influenza but was only absent from his unit for a few days.
They remained in Armentieres till June 1916 and then headed for the Somme battlefield. Richard served through the Somme campaign with his Field Ambulance unit in what was a very busy time for the stretcher bearers as they evacuated casualties from Pozieres and Mouquet farm.
In September 1916 they were sent to Ypres in Belgium for around six weeks but then returned to the Somme battlefield.
Richard served through the freezing 1916/17 French winter in the horrendous conditions on the Somme apart from a few days sick with influenza. Conditions were very trying for the medical men as they evacuated casualties through the thick mud.
The 7th Field Ambulance went with the infantry units as they followed up the German withdrawal in March 1917. Richard was being kept very busy with evacuating casualties from Lagnicourt and Bullecourt through March, April and May 1917.
In June 1917 the 7th Field Ambulance, as part of the 2nd Australian Division was given a three month rest period out of the line. Much of this time was taken up with training and sporting activities. On the 8th July 1917 Richard was given a two week furlough to England.
In September 1917 the 7th Field Ambulance moved to Belgium where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. From September 20th 1917 when the Australian infantry took part in the Battle of Menin Road, through further actions at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele, Richard was kept very busy evacuating casualties. He was fortunate to come through without being wounded as the Germans were sending a huge amount of shellfire on the battlefield evacuation routes.
In December 1917, the Australians were moved south east of Ypres and would hold the line for the next three months between Hollebeke and Messines. In December 1917 Richard was granted a week's leave to Paris.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had broken through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme region to help stop this German advance. The 7th Field Ambulance, as part of the 2nd Division headed south.
The 2nd Australian Division came into contact with the Germans around Hangard Wood, Dernancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then remained around Morlancourt through May and June 1918, taking part in the capture of that village. They then moved to the Villers-Bretonneux front through July 1918.
A large advance was due to commence on August 8th 1918 and the 2nd Australian Division advanced from Villers-Bretonneux. The 7th Field Ambulance helped evacuate the casualties from this action and then continued to follow up the infantry work for the next several weeks.
On the 23rd August 1918 Richard was given two week furlough to the UK so missed the action at Peronne and Mont St Quentin, but returned to his unit for their final actions of the war in September and October 1918.
When the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918, the 7th Field Ambulance were still resting out of the front.
When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The 2nd Australian Division was sent to Charleroi in Belgium. Richard remained with his unit till April 1919 and was then sent to England.
Upon arrival back in the UK Richard was put to work at the AIF Camp hospitals at Sutton Veny then Fovant.
On the 1st June 1919 Richard was assigned as part of the nursing staff on the transport ship Somali. The ship then set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.
Richard was discharged from the AIF on the 31st August 1919.
He then returned to live at Queen Street and resumed working for Detmold as a printer.
In 1926 he married Jean Oldham and June and Richard were born in 1928.
His mother died on the 24th September 1928 in Fremantle.
By 1931 Richard and his family were living at Saladin St Swanbourne and was still working for Detmold's as a printer. This firm soon became Spicer's and Detmold.
Sadly his wife Jean died in September 1936 in Swanbourne.
Richard remained in Swanbourne for the rest of his life.
He died on the 18th November 1973 Swanbourne aged 90. Richard was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Presbyterian BC 0306.