Hyde, John Norman

312 Private John Norman Hyde - 28th Battalion AIF

John was born in Coolgardie WA in 1898 to John and Sarah Hyde, and he had two sisters, Ethel and Gladys. The family lived in Boulder for the first ten years and he was educated in Boulder but the family then moved to Fremantle where they took up residence at 159 Holland Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 88 Holland Street)

On arrival in Fremantle John completed his education and served in the 86A Cadets in Fremantle. After leaving school he took up employment as a shop assistant with Bennett and Burnside in Adelaide Street Fremantle and then continued his service in the Fremantle Company of the 86th Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces.

On the 6th February 1916 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording John's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;

Weight - 115lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-34 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment John was sent to Claremont Camp where he was assigned to the Infantry Training Depot. After a month at the depot John was assigned to "B" Compny of the 44th Battalion AIF.

John trained with the 44^th Battalion for the next few months in WA while they waited for the departure orders to arrive. These finally came though and on the 6^th June 1916 the 44^th Battalion boarded the transport ship HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour. The journey to England took just over six weeks and the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 21^st July 1916.

After being disembarked the 44^th Battalion were sent to the 3^rd Division Training area on the Salisbury Plains and remained there till November 1916. During this time the men were also given leave and John would have seen London or other parts of England.

While they were training in England, a call came for reinforcements to the Australian units already in France. John volunteered and had been sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp. John would now be assigned to the 28th Battalion AIF, though he remained at the training battalion till the 1st November 1916. The following day he wet across to France.

On arrival John was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He would spend two months at this camp and only was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 9th January 1917. The 28th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield near Flers. He would serve with them in this sector till March 1917.

The Germans then began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australians and British pressed their withdrawal closely and several sharp battles were fought around what was known as the outpost line villages. The 28th Battalion helped capture the French village of Lagnicourt on the 26th March 1917.

During the action John was wounded when hit by shrapnel hit him in the chest and back, damaging his spine. He was taken by stretcher bearers to the 5th Field Ambulance where his wounds were initially treated and from there was taken to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Further medical attention was received here and John was then sent to the French town of Rouen where he was admitted to No.10 General Hospital.

While he was a patient at No.10 General Hospital John was not going well and he was listed as 'dangerously ill'. He was a patient here till the 25th April 1917 when he was shipped to England. On arrival John was sent to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley but only had a few days here before being shipped to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.

John would be a patient at Harefield for the next few months. Due to his bad wounds, John's war was now over and it was only when it was deemed safe to undergo a two month sea voyage that he would be released from hospital. On the 3rd July 1917 John boarded the hospital ship Karoola and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 18th August 1917.

After being disembarked John would be sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for more medical checks. He would remain under medical care here for a few more months but at least he was close to home and his family could visit.

On the 18th February 1918 John was discharged from the AIF. His mother was assigned a pension of 30/- per fortnight to help look after John.

John was then taken home to Holland Street where his mother would take care of him. They lived in Holland Street till the early 1930's, residing at 16 Arundel Street (later renumbered to 30 Arundel) and then at a lodging house at 13 Suffolk Street Fremantle.

John died on the 13th December 1935 in Fremantle aged 37. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican MON A3 0855. 

The West Australian newspaper of 16th December 1935 reported on John's death and stated that;