Hemme, Herbert Hilton
1327 Private Herbert Hilton Hemme - 10th Light Horse Regiment
Herbert Hilton Hemme was born in Smithfield New South Wales in August 1886 to Matthias and Helene Hemme. He was one of six siblings born into the family with, Alexander 1876, Reginald 1879, Ruby 1882, Pearl 1882 and Stanley 1884.
Sadly Herbert was still young when his parents died, his father in 1893 and mother in 1895.
Herbert had his early years in New South Wales but came to Western Australia in his teens.
Prior to the Great War was living in Leake Street Fremantle.
On the 12th July 1915 Herbert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 10 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 151lbs;
Chest Measurement - 37-39 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment, Herbert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Depot training Company. Herbert requested to be in the Light Horse and after passing his riding test was assigned to the 10th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment.
On the 13th October 1915 Herbert and his group departed from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Themistocles. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there in November 1915.
As plans were underway to evacuate Gallipoli, Herbert and his reinforcement group were retained in Egypt. He was taken on strength of the 10th light Horse Regiment when they returned to Egypt in January 1916.
He served with them until the 11th April 1916 when he was evacuated ill with general debility. Herbert was sent to the 1st Australian General Hospital and was diagnosed with rheumatism. He also soon developed pneumonia and in May 1916 was sent to the 3rd Australian General Hospital.
Due to his ill health it was decided to send Herbert back to Australia. On the 24th June 1916 Herbert boarded the transport ship Port Sydney and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 15th July 1916.
He was then disembarked and sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle.
Herbert was discharged from the AIF on the 21st October 1916.
After leaving the AIF he went to work as a Linesman and was living at West Guildford.
Herbert married on 3rd March 1917 to Susannah Kathleen McHugh and they had two daughters Kathleen in 1918 and Roma in 1923.
In the 1920's he was working as a taxi driver and living at Bayswater. They lived here through to the 1930's.
Herbert died on the 4th August 1937 in Harvey WA aged 48. He had begun working as a shearer when he suddenly fell ill and died shortly after. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican WB 0217.