Hugh Alexander Waters

Hugh Alexander John Waters was born on 9th January 1893 in Corryong, Victoria, to John Waters and Mary Jane Steel, nee Harris. The Waters children attended Corryong State School. In 1907, a concert was held in aid of the State School prize fund and the new hall fund. As the Corryong Courier reported: “The character song from 'The Country Girl', Yo-ho! Little Girls! By Thomas Playle, Alex and Hugh Waters and Chas. Lebner and a number of little girls, was given in a very spirited manner …”

Prior to enlisting, Hugh was working as a farmer on the property ‘Kelvyn’ near Corryong.

On 1st September 1915, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 23-year-old clerk from Corryong, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 1442 and placed in the 1st Reinforcements for the 29th Battalion. Hugh Alexander John gave his next of kin as his mother, Mary Harris. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius at Melbourne, Victoria, on 10th November 1915.

Hugh disembarked at Suez on 7th December 1915. Early in the new year, he was taken on strength with the 29th Battalion. By the 23rd June 1916, the Battalion had reached France and headed to join the Allied forces on the Western Front. On 17th July, he was admitted to hospital with a septic toe and would remain there for a week before rejoining his battalion. Two days before Christmas, he was back in hospital, this time with a septic foot. 

In late July of 1917, Hugh was granted a two-week leave. Arriving back at the battalion, he was admitted to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance with a dose of gonorrhea. He would be sent to various hospitals in France for the next 167 days. After arriving back at the battalion, he was transferred to the base depot at Le Havre as a general duty orderly.

He rejoined the 29th on 12th June 1918. Three months later, he was wounded with a gunshot wound to the right hand. He was evacuated to England on the Grantilly Castle and admitted to the Exeter War Hospital. Four days before the signing of the Armistice, Hugh was discharged from hospital and sent to the No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny in Wiltshire. 

On 13th March 1919, he returned to Australia with the rank of Private. Upon being discharged, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.

Returning from the war, Hugh continued to farm at his property ‘Wyreema’ in the Corryong area. When war with Germany came again, he enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces at Wangaratta. He was allocated the Service Number V81957.

His brother, Hugh William Waters, Regimental Number 1443, also served in the 29th Battalion, returning to Australia on 21st December 1918.

Hugh passed away on the 25th February 1955 at Corryong, Victoria and was buried in Corryong Cemetery.