War - Ww1 Vc - Western Australia - Hugo Throssel, Vc Poem by Paul Warren

A Western Australian who joined in the 1914 call
In the 10th Light Horse in the Australian Imperial Force volunteers all
As a second lieutenant he landed on Gallipoli's fatal shore
On the 4th of August 1915 he fought in the battle of The Nek war
From this experience it meant he wanted his revenge
For the 10th Light Horse members who had met their end

To the Hill 60 battle near Anafarta he led his men to the Turks line
It was the 29th of August and his wounds were not kind
He stayed with his men fighting it out during a counter attack
The Turks fought and the Australians stood hardy not one step back
When it was safe he went to the Casualty Clearing station for each wound
He wouldn't leave until the MO ordered him off after seeing him swoon

For his personal courage and leadership that long day
He received the Victoria Cross at the Palace in that way
To London he went to treat his wounds for a recovery demand
He met Katharine Prichard a writer who took a socialist stand
When he had recovered he re-joined his troop in the Middle East
With his brother Ric who died near Gaza before the war ceased

So the war meant he had lost a brother so dear
And so badly wounded losing his life was near
Back to Australia and Katharine as his wife
He became a campaigner against the war strife
This wasn't popular and his employment was ended
He could not see why this stand was so badly comprehended

As the years went on and his finances were not well
He struck up a plan to help his family and release him from hell
In 1933 with Katharine in the USSR and his son was away
He took his service revolver and shot himself in the head that way
His thought as a VC hero his country would see his family right
What we now know was his war experience meant a PTSD fight

© Paul Warren Poetry