Hurst, Rupert John
Lieutenant Rupert John Hurst - 5th Field Artillery Brigade AIF
Rupert was born in 1897 in Perth WA to John and Emma Hurst. He had an elder sister Emma, born in 1895.
Rupert's father John was an Officer in the Permanent Australian Artillery, and his Uncle was Talbot Hobbs, who later commanded the Australian Artillery at Gallipoli and then the 5th Division during World War One.
Rupert was initially educated at Scotch College WA but was then sent to Victoria and was educated at Geelong Grammar. During this time at Geelong, his father was in England as well as serving in Victoria and NSW with the Permanent Artillery. Rupert's father John was put in charge of the Fremantle Coastal defences in 1913 and Rupert then returned home to WA. He joined his father at Tuckfield Street Fremantle.
When he returned to WA, Rupert took up service with the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery with the Citizens Military Forces. During this time Rupert was also undertaking further study.
When war was declared the Gunners of the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery were mobilised and began to spend more time manning the forts around Fremantle Harbour. Many of the Permanent Artillerymen, including Rupert's father, were sent overseas in 1915, so the Militia Gunners were utilised in the full time roles at Fremantle forts. Though many wanted to enlist into the AIF they were not able to due to their role in manning the forts.
The Heavy Artillery in France did need reinforcements though, and so the Gunners like Rupert were able to enlist through 1916 to 1918. Rupert officially enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force at Fremantle on the 16th February 1916. The medical officer who passed him as fit recorded, Rupert's details as;
Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 37 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Pale Blue;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment Rupert was sent over east to complete his training and was attached to the Siege Artillery reinforcements. His group left from Sydney Harbour aboard the transport ship Beltana on the 13th May 1916. The ship arrived in England in July 1916 and Rupert was disembarked and sent to the Artillery Camp at Sheerness. On the 5th August 1916 Rupert was sent to Parkhouse Camp where he was assigned to the 6th Siege Battery.
Rupert had the next two months at this camp but was then sent to France with a draft of artillery reinforcements. On the 8th November 1916 he was officially taken on strength of the 2nd Australian Division Ammunition Column but a week later was transferred to the 14th Battery of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade. Rupert only had a month with his unit before being sent back to England to attend the Royal Artillery Officer Cadet School at St John's Wood.
The Officer Cadet training in England ran for six months and on the 3rd May 1917 Rupert was promoted to Second Lieutenant and was posted to the Artillery Reinforcements.
On the 1st June 1917 Rupert was taken on strength of the 2nd Australian Division Ammunition Column. He was with this unit till August 1917 when he was transferred to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division Artillery. He rejoined the 14th Battery and was promoted to Lieutenant.
The Australian Artillery was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres from July to November 1917. Rupert's unit was involved in heavy action, and as the Germans knew the positions of the Artillery batteries, their counter battery fire was very heavy. Rupert was wounded on the 15th October 1917 when he came into contact with mustard gas before he could put his gas mask on. After treatment at the British Red Cross Hospital at Le Treport, Rupert was sent to England for further treatment.
On arrival in England Rupert was sent to the 3rd London General Hospital. He would have a few months in England receiving treatment. On the 28th January 1918 he was returned to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny and then on the 11th February 1918 was transferred to the Royal British Artillery Camp at Heytesbury.
Rupert would have the next six months in England and only returned to France in late July 1918. On the 11th August 1918 Rupert was taken on strength of the 2nd Australian Division Ammunition Column. He had a few weeks with them and then on the 3rd September 1918 was sent to the 13th Battery of the 5th FAB. He served with them until the 27th October 1918 and was then transferred to the 14th Battery.
He saw out the war with the 14th Battery as the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Rupert would remain with his unit in France for the next few months and returned to England in May 1919.
On the 23rd July 1919 Rupert boarded the transport ship Orsova and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 28th August 1919. Rupert was discharged from the AIF on the 12th October 1919.
He then returned to Tuckfield Street Fremantle as his father was the Commanding Officer at Fremantle Forts during 1920-21. Lt-Col John Hurst was posted to NSW in 1922 and Rupert also went east, attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and gaining a posting a posting to the Staff Corps.
Rupert was married in 1926 in Sydney to Mary Clare Glasgow; and they would have four children.
Rupert was with the Staff Corps and then returned to the Permanent Artillery. During his time in NSW he resided at Vaucluse Sydney NSW. During the 1930's he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain. In 1938 he was promoted to Major and then Lieutenant Colonel in 1940.
During World War Two Rupert was in the Permanent Home forces and had been posted on Thursday Island off Queensland with the Coastal Artillery, but later joined the 2nd AIF and was given the service number QX43792. During this time Rupert was sent to command the Fremantle Coastal Artillery from 1943 to 1945. In 1946 Rupert returned to Queensland to command Queensland Coastal defences.
He was discharged on 28 May 1946 and he then returned to New South Wales to live. Rupert died on 30 August 1978 at Lady Gowrie House, Gordon, New South Wales.