Captain William Ross Hoggart Clicking on Photo will return to Page H, I, J

HOGGART Captain William Ross B Coy., 14th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force Born 22nd August 1876, at Buangor, Victoria [Birth cert. 1876 14249 Beaufort Vic] Educated: Flinders School, Geelong, Victoria & Melbourne University (B.A.) & State Teacher Training College , Carlton, Victoria Married; Schoolmaster, Melbourne CEGS, of 164 St. Kilda Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria Next Of Kin: Wife; Rebecca Jane Hoggart (nŽe Aedy), of Care of Mrs Gilbert, 164 St. Kilda Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria Photos of Captain Hoggart are known to exist in the following locations: Victorian Education Department p56. University of Melbourne Record of Active Service p21. War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-18. Melbourne Herald 5 May 1915 p8. Argus 6 May 1915 p8. Age 6 May 1915 p8. Sydney Mail 12 May 1915 p10. Table Talk 13 May 1915 p18. Melbourne Leader 15 May 1915 p30. Sydney Sun (Sunday ed.) 16 May 1915 p22.

Killed In Action
27th April 1915
at Quinn's Post, central Anzac
Aged 38

14th Battalion, AIF

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Grave:
Quinn's Post cemetery


Headstone Inscription:

Their Glory Shall
Not Be Blotted Out

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Notes:

Father; Alexander Hoggart, born Ross-shire, Scotland. Mother; Elizabeth Hoggart (nee Dockerty), born Perthshire, Scotland. Parents married 1874, Victoria.
CWGC lists wife's address as: 35 Domain Road East, South Yarra, Victoria.
Bean lists Capt. Hoggart's address as: Geelong, Victoria.
Wanliss states Captain Hoggart to have been of Geelong and Brighton, Victoria. (p358).

Married Rebecca Jane Aedy, 1907 (Certificate no. 70), Victoria. Wife born 1881, Oakleigh Victoria.

Uncle and Aunt: John Hoggart [born Ross-shire, Scotland] and Susan Hoggart (nŽe Boyd).
ÔWilliamÕ (no ÔRossÕ) Hoggart born 1876 Beaufort, Victoria. Parents Alexander Hoggart & Elizabeth DOCKERTY. [This is Captain Hoggart].
ÔWilliam RossÕ Hoggart b. 1879 Terang, Victoria. Parents John Hoggart & Susan BOYD.

Though 'Ross' is not found in Captain Hoggart's birth register name, it seems reasonable to assume the both he and his cousin (also named William) are named 'Ross' after the area of Scotland in which their fathers were born.

Previously served as officer, Senior Cadets. 'Before enlisting was on the staff of Melbourne Grammar School, where he had charge of Cadet Corps. Killed while trying to locate a machine gun, which was firing on his lines.' Referee for further information given as Sister; Mrs W. Finnin [?], 87 Fairview Avenue, Newtown, Geelong, Vic. (AWM 131 Informant widow, of 35 Domain Rd East, South Yarra, Victoria. This address is crossed out and '3 Quat Quatta Avenue, Elsternwick' - 1930 - inserted).

Teacher at Melbourne High School, joined the staff of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in 1908. Commanded the school's Cadet Corps. (War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-18'. p88, 125) & (Melbourne Herald 5 May 1915 p1). (Melbourne Herald 5 May 1915 p1).
'Leaves a widow and young family.' (Argus 6 May 1915 p8), (Kalgoorlie Miner 6 May 1915 p5).
Seven years a master at Melbourne CEGS, where he trained the cadets. Wife and two children, 104 St Kilda Street, Middle Brighton Vic. (The Age 6 May 1915 p10).
Casualty list Sydney Town & Country Journal 12 May 1915 p16.

Staff of Melbourne High School, Warrnambool High School. Staff of Melbourne CEGS 1908. Officer Commanding Cadets. Capt. 14th Battalion 9 Oct 1914. Embarked 22 Dec 1914. (University of Melbourne Record of Active Service p21).

Trained as teacher at State Training College, Carlton, when Mr. F. Tate (Director of Education) was principal. (The Daily Herald Adelaide 6 May 1915 p5).

His colonel wrote: 'He was one of my most capable leaders and one of the most reliable. His experience as a master had afforded him many qualifications which few other officers possessed; he knew men and could handle and lead them. On many occasions I sought his advice and acted on it. For two days it was impossible to reach the spot where he fell, but now he lies buried not far away at the top of a steep valley known as Quinn's Post.' (War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-18'. p88).

Embarked at Melbourne aboard HMAT A38 'Ulysses', 22nd December 1914.
27/4/15 Buried on Quinn's Hill Gallipoli Peninsula. Officiating Chaplain Rev. A. Gillison.' (Form C.2024).

The 14th Battalion War diary lists date of death as 28 April.

Killed while holding what would eventually become Quinn's Post, 27th April.
'...on Thursday, the 29th, the 14th Battalion in Quinn's Post was relieved by six officers and about 220 men of the 15th under Captain Quinn. In the three days and nights during which they had held the post the companies of the 14th had lost one of their commanders, Captain Hoggart, and nearly a third of their men, mostly struck down by machine-gun fire as they tried to dig in.' (Bean V1 p579).

Private E. Ross, A Company, 14th Battalion, of Leongatha, Victoria, wounded in right arm, witnessed Captain Hoggart's death: 'Captain W.R. Hoggart, of Brighton, stood up with his field-glasses in his hand to try and locate it more clearly, but he was killed instantly, eight bullet wounds being discovered in his side. He was hit by the machine gun fire most probably. He had his usual smile on his lips when they buried him after the fight.' (Argus 17 July 1915 p6).

'...Capt. Wright proceeds to scotch the story that Capt. Hogarth [sic] had thrown his life away. Capt. Hogarth, he states, was killed as he bravely ran out with his field glasses to try and detect an enemy machine gun. 'I was, perhaps, the only officer to see what happened with the exception, perhaps, of Ray Cox or Keith Crabbe, and in my opinion, Hogarth's action helped very considerably to restore the confidence of the men when they were badly shaken, and, in fact, almost ready to bolt.' ' (Wright, Lt. Col. F.H. 'First Days On Gallipoli: Officer's Notes.' Reveille Vol.4 No.7; 31 Mar 1931 p34). (A Sergeant Reynolds, wounded in the jaw, also witnessed Capt. Hoggart's death).

Part of a letter from Major R. Rankine (14th Battalion), written to his wife and dated 2 May 1915, reads:
'Gillison has proved a fine man. He sneaked up the hillside and we got poor Captain Hoggart's body, and as soon as it was dark enough we gave him a decent burial, but the din never ceased a moment.' (Melbourne Herald 3 July 1915 p1).

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