HOYES, Ormond James

Ormond James Hoyes enlisted on 18 August, 1914 and was attached to the 6th Battalion, H company. He was 28 years and 3 months old, a clerk by occupation, married  in 1913 to Mabel, nee Brigham, and living at 6 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.

The 6th Battalion soldiers, along with those of the 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade. They left in the first convoy to Gallipoli, sailing on board HMAT Hororata A20 for Albany on 19 October, 1914. Here the Victorian ships joined the other Australian ships of the convoy and left for Egypt. They spent four further months training in Egypt, before leaving for the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the 6th Battalion was part of the second wave landing.

It was in this first battle that Ormond Hoyes got his injury, one that would prevent him going into combat again. It is written as occurring on 26 April, 1915, a gunshot or shrapnel wound to the back of his right hand, with the exit wound through his palm. He was sent back to Alexandria and admitted to the No. 12 Genreal Hospital, then transferred via HS Gurkha to England, where he was admitted on 16 May, 1915 to the 2nd Western Hospital, Manchester. The report of his injury stated that 'Ever since he has had great weakness in grip. Caused by shell. Scars as stated. Marked wastage of interossei between metacarpal bones of right thumb and right forefinger. Thumb grip is weak.' Having recovered his general health, but being unfit for active duty, Ormond Hoyes returned to Egypt on 25 March, 1916.

He returned to England three months later, disembarking at Plymouth on 12 June, 1916, but did not return to the 6th Battalion, then in France. He was sent first at Weymouth, then Perham Downs, finally marching into Administrative Headquarters, London, on 1 September, 1916 and was taken off strength of the 6th Battalion on 9 September. From then on he served with the Australian Army Pay Corps at Head Quarters in London and on 20 February, 1917, was made 2nd Corporal. 

By then, however, he was sick, sent first to Harefield hospital again, then on the the 1st Auxiliary Hospital. He was having trouble with his heart and lungs. he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and reported as bing 'debilitated ... prominent clavicles ... sputum slightly blood-stained and contains minimum t.b. ... Tachycardia'. It was decided to send him back to Australia. He left hospital on 29 March for the No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth and was to be returned to Australia on HS Wandilla. Ormond Hoyle died of a haemorrhage on 21 April, 1918, while at sea in the Gulf of Aden.

His wife, Mabel, moved to England in the the immediate post-war years, was living at 17 Newcomen St., Redcar. Hoyle's medals and Memorial Plaque and scroll were sent to her there. He is remembered in a memorial at Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton, Hampshire Engalnd, and on the Roll of Honour Cards 145 Australian War Memorial.