Charles De Burgh HOGG
Charles Hogg was born on 29 April 1896 in Surrey Hills, Victoria. His parents were Thomas and Florence Knowles (née Miller) Hogg. He attended Scotch from 1912 to 1914. In 1913 Charles was a member of the Firsts Athletics team – a trophy-winning team - and the First Rowing crew. He also played football for the Second XVIII and was a member of Cadets.
Charles was a salesman when he enlisted on 5 October 1915 at Melbourne. He served in the 22nd Field Artillery Brigade with the rank of Gunner. His Regimental Number was 10422. His brother James, also a Scotch Collegian, won the Military Cross. Charles died on 31 December 1916 at Ginchy, France. He was 20 years of age.
Service record
Charles, an outstanding athlete, was reportedly the Victorian champion at 120 yards Hurdles (16.8 seconds): an event he had also won at Scotch and in the Combined Sports. Soon after enlistment he was allotted as a Gunner to the Field Artillery reinforcements at Broadmeadows.
In February 1916 he joined the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column at Zeitoun in Egypt. In March 1916 he joined the 4th Field Artillery Brigade and was posted to the 19th Battery. Ten days later, on 19 March, he arrived with his unit in France. There in May he was transferred with the rest of the Battery to the 22nd Field Artillery Brigade. On 31 December he was killed by a shell that hit five men sheltering in the same dugout. Another of them was fellow Old Scotch Collegian and member of the 22nd Brigade, Hamilton Ferguson. Their graves are separated by just one other grave.
Charles Hogg is buried in the Guards' Cemetery (Plot VI, Row Q, Grave No. 8), Lesboeufs, France.
Photographs and Documents:
Charles Hogg is semi-seated at far left in this photograph of the 1913 Rowing crew. J.R. Morrison, G.O. (Geoffrey) Roberston and J.S. Sproule were all at Gallipoli, where Sproule was twice wounded. Like Charles, Geoffrey Robertson would die in 1916.
Charles Hogg is sitting at front left.
Sources:
- Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour
- Mishura Scotch Database
- National Archives of Australia – B2455, HOGG C DE B 10422
- Scotch Collegian 1917
- The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=140329
