The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 18 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 23 March 1916.

Found guilty, 24 March 1916, of being absent without leave from 1500 hours to tattoo roll call, 23 April 1916: awarded 14 days confined to camp, deprived of 6 days' pay by Captain H. B. Favell and forfeits 1 day's pay.

Found guilty, 25 March 1916, of being absent from 2200 hours defaulter's parade: admonished by Captain Favell.

Taken on strength 31st Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 1 April 1916.

Admitted to No. 15 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 13 May 1916 (varicose veins); discharged to duty, 18 May 1916; rejoined 31st Bn, Ferry Post, 20 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19 July 1916.

On 28 August 1916, 553 Pte H.J. Hudson provided the following statement: 'I knew Hyams; he was in No. 7 Section of B.VII and was lying alongside me when about 400 yards beyond the 1st line of German trenches, when he was hit by a shell in the back of and the groin, which killed a man in the 53rd. Bn. on his right and knocked me away to the left. We were then ordered to move along to the right and just as I left I saw Hyams head drop forwards, face downwards on the ground as though he were dead. This was about 7 p.m. on the 19th July at Fleurbaix. We retired [th]at night to the German trench from the right of his position. If alive he must be a prisoner. He was known as Hobbler Hyams and was the only man of that name in B. Co. VII and the only one I know of in B.Co. He was a Rft.'

Mrs E Hyams, Pte Hyams' mother, asked in a letter to Base Records dated 28 November 1916: 'It is now over four months since he [Private Hyams] was amongst the missing and I can get no news of him[,] the Red Cross found out he was last seen 400 yards over the German trenches[,] also one of his mates saw him last 800 yards over the trenches but the boy who saw him was himself killed. Could he possibly be amongst the French soldiers in a French Hospital [?] I am very anxious to hear of him as I do not believe he has been killed. Hoping you can soon let me have news of him.' The Officer in Charge of Base Records replied, 4 December 1916, and noted: 'I have to state since the report his was missing 19/7/16 no further reports have come to hand concerning your son ... '.

German list received by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society, 4 November 1916, it states 'identification marks found on the Prisoner of War, are inspected by the General War Bureau, and shown in the list as under:- DEAD.'

'Identity disc received from Germany. No particulars afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported KILLED IN ACTION, 19 July 1917' on the authority of the Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, 24 February 1917.

Handwritten note at the bottom of B.103 states, 'buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, Sh[eet] 36 NW'.

A translation of a German message dated 27 October 1919 stated, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Officer with 6th Army H. Q. 12/10/16. Australian Pte. S. Hyams, 2028, 31st Bn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles.'

Note on Red Cross File No 1400702: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11/16'.

Note on file: 'Buried Fleurbaix Sh. 36 N.W. Cert. for Hders (sic) List for Lt. Spedding.'

Note on file: 'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to next of kin 20 [June?] 1917.'

Statement, 433 Pte H.J. HUDSON, 31st Bn, 28 August 1916: He 'was lying alongside me when about 400 yards beyond the 1st. line of German trenches, when he was hit by a shell in the back and the groin, which killed a man in the 53rd. Bn. on his right and knocked me away to the left. We were then ordered to move along to the right and just as I left I saw Hyams (sic) head drop forward, face downwards on the ground as though he were dead. This was about 7 p.m. on the 19th July at Fleurbaix. We retired that night to the German trench from the right of this position. If alive he must be a prisoner.'