Military History

Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 28th Infantry 20th Reinf. Bn. AIF.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Borda’ A30 for the UK 15.4.1917.
Hitchcock disembarked at Plymouth 25.8.1917 and marched in to the 7th Training Bn. at Rollestone 26.8.1917. He was admitted Sutton Veny Hospital with tonsillitis 3 .12.1917 then transferred to King George Hospital 1.2.1918. He was discharged to Fovant. After 8 months of intensive training and a period in hospital, he proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone 15.4.1918. He was taken on strength with the 28th Bn. 6.5.1918 and fought against the German Spring Offensive. In June 1918, the 28th Bn. fought at Morlancourt. The action occurred at night and continued through to the next morning. The Allies advnaced forward taking trenches with relatively light losses(50 wounded) (AWM28th Bn. War Diaries) Hitchcock was wounded in action with a GSW to his arm (severe compound fracture of the humerus) and taken to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station 10.6.1918. He was transferred to the 53rd General Hospital at Boulogne, then invalided to England per the HS ‘Pieter de Coninck’ 22.6.1918. Hitchcock was hospitalised at the Central Military Hospital Eastbourne before being transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford 21.7.1918. Hitchcock was discharged to the 2 Command Depot at Weymouth and listed for early return to Australia for ‘a change’.
Embarked in England per ‘Runic’ D23 for Australia 27.9.1918.
Disembarked/ Returned Fremantle 8.11.1918.
Discharged 21.4.1919.
Final Rank Private, 28th Bn AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided with GSW and severe compound fracture to left humerus.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Note Died 4.11.1938 (West Australian Newspaper 17.11.1938)

Photo Pte. W/L/ Hitchcock. The Sun 14.5.1916 p3
           HMAT 'Borda' departing Melbourne Wharf 1916. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB0277
           9.2 inch Howitzter used by the Artillery to support the Australian Troops at MorlancourtJune 1918.Photographer unknown, Photograph
           source AWM E04836   
           Dugout in collapsed road, Morlancourt 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0470
           HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R.Teague, photograph source AWM P00707.027

Information Source
AWM PB0277. HMAT 'Borda' departing Melbourne Wharf 1916. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04836. 9.2 inch Howitzter used by the Artillery to support the Australian Troops at Morlancourt June 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E0470. Dugout in collapsed road, Morlancourt 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00707.027. HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R.Teague, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM-423/45/39 Part 1. War Diaries of the 28th Battalion, June 1918 Appendices 1-4. https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1003890.pdf
AWM Embarkation Rolls William Llewellyn Hitchcock
NAA: B2455, Hitchcock W L 6837
Pte. W.L. Hitchcock.The Sun 14.5.1916 p3
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

65 James St Guildford. WA.
Avon Tce. York. WA.(wife)

Associated Images