24/09/1914- To 16th Battalion ‘ B ” Company as Private
12/04/1915- Embarked Alexandria Egypt with Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces for Gallipoli Peninsula
13/05/1915- Promoted CORPORAL in the field Gallipoli
24/05/1915- Promoted SERGEANT in the field Gallipoli
27/05/1915- Evacuated/Admitted 1st Stationary Hospital Lemnos ( Tonsilitis ) ex Hospital Ship Gallipoli
1/06/1915- Discharged to Duty in the field Gallipoli
22/06/1915- Promoted SECOND LIEUTENANT in the field Gallipoli
25/08/1915- Admitted 4th Australian Field Ambulance Anzac Gallipoli ( Diarrhoea )
27/08/1915- Evacuated/Admitted Hospital Mudros Lemnos ex Hospital Ship Gallipoli
16/09/1915- Evacuated/Admitted 2nd London General Hospital England
12/11/1915- Medical Board Report at London Hospital- Found fit for General Service
20/12/1915- Disembarked Alexandria Egypt to Ismailia ex England
3/01/1916- Rejoined 16th Battalion Ismailia Egypt ex Sickness
5/02/1916- Admitted 1st Australian General Hospital Ismailia Egypt ( Acute Orchitis ) ex 4th Australian Field Ambulance
5/03/1916- Discharged to Unit Tel-el-Kebir Egypt ex Sickness
12/03/1916- Promoted LIEUTENANT Tel-el-Kebir Egypt
27/04/1916- Promoted CAPTAIN Serapeum Egypt
9/06/1916- Disembarked Marseilles France ex Alexandria Egypt
11/04/1917- Reported Wounded in Action ( Gunshot Wound Fractured Left Humerus ) & Reported MISSING IN ACTION France
11/04/1917- Reported Captured & Taken as PRISONER OF WAR at REINCOURT France- Interred Karlsruhe Camp Germany
15/04/1917- Awared MILITARY CROSS
1/01/1919- Repatriated PRISONER OF WAR- Arrived Ripon England
14/02/1919- To 1st Training Battalion Sutton Veny England for Return to Australia
28/02/1919- Embarked Devonport for Australia per ” Anchises ”
10/04/1919- Disembarked Albany
10/06/1919- Discharged from Service
MILITARY CROSS
Date of Recommendation : 15 April 1917
” This officer is brought to notice for his exceptional powers of leadership , organization, and bravery under very trying conditions. He led his Company in the charge against the HINDENBURG LINE near BULLECOURT on the morning of the 11th April 1917. He was the first of his Company into both the first and second objectives , and by sheer bravery and example carried his men with him over absolutely untouched barbed wire into the second objective. He was the Senoir officer of the Battalion in the line ( Major BLACK having been killed after taking the first objective ). He superintended the organization and distribution of the men in all parts of the line captured and held by us. He was always to be found at the points of greatest danger assisting , encouraging and leading his men with a remarkable disregard for his own personal safety. It is due to the resourcefulness of this officer in husbanding ammunition and organizing troops to the best advantage that our troops were able to hold on to a most hazardous and difficult position for so long. He refused to leave the trenches until he and the handful of men remaining were surrounded on three sides. He then dirtected the getting away of these men, and saw that they had got a fair start for our trenches before he himself left on the hazardous return journey. He was seriously wounded when returning to our trenches and was subsequently picked up and made Prisoner by the enemy. For his magnificent courage and devotion to duty he is very strongly recommended for the highest distinction “.
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette : 29 April 1920
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette : Page 623, Position 3
Date of London Gazette : 30 January 1920
Location in London Gazette : Page 1220, Position 3.
PRISONER OF WAR – RED CROSS FILES SUMMARY
9/05/1917- London – Certified by Information from American Express Co. by Phone 8/05/1917- ” Prisoner of War- Interred Karlsruhe “.
The American Express Co. phone call clarified Captain Hummerston’s survival, which had been uncertain, due to the following statements:-
11/05/1917- C. Zeffertt- ” I saw Capt. Hummerston whom of course I knew , dead in the trench at Bullecourt on April 11th 1917. I am absolutely sure he was dead . The Germans afterwards recaptured the trench. There cannot be a possible doubt that he was stone dead when I saw him ” Informant Sgt. H.B. PYKE 322 16th Battalion ” A ” Company, 1st City of London Miltary Hospital Clapton England.
19/05/1917- J. H. Hallam- I have been told by Sgt. PYKE of ” A ” Company No. 2 Platoon that Capt. HUMMERSTON was in charge of a party near BULLECOURT which was cut off by the Germans on the 11th April 1917. Sgt. PYKE escaped but left a number of men including Captain HUMMERSTON behind. Sgt. PYKE says that Captain Hummerston is wounded and a Prisoner. Private PURDY ( 2692 ) of 16th Aust. Imperial Force also heard Sgt. PYKE give the above information “. Informant- Pte. W.T. SAW , 5785, 16th Aust. Imperial Force Stirchley Hospital Birmingham.
14/06/1917- London- Certified by Post Card from Lieut. G. D. McLEAN 16th Batt, giving information on 3/05/1917- ” Prisoner of War- TransferredCrefeld “.
26/06/1917- London- Certified by Post Card received by Mrs Woodhall from Officer undated received on 25/06/1917- ” Prisoner of War- Transferred Strohen “.
13/07/1917- London- Certified by Information from German List dated 29/05/1917- ” Prisoner of War- Transferred Crefeld from Karlsruhe “
8/08/1917- London- Certified by Information from German List dated 3/07/1917- ” Prisoner of War- Transferred Strohen from Crefeld “.
8/01/1919- London- Certified by Information from Headquarters dated 2/01/1919- ” Repatriated Prisoner of War- Arrived Ripon 1/01/1919 “.