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Hubert Peter Demasson (1880 - 1917)

Private Hubert Peter (Bert) Demasson
Born in Guildford, Western Australia, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , , , , , and
Husband of — married 1903 in Canning, Western Australia, Australiamap
Father of , , , , and
Died at age 36 in Langensalza, Thüringen, Germanymap
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Biography

Bert Demasson is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Hubert "Bert" was born on 17 November 1880 in Guildford, Western Australia.[1] He was the son Peter Demasson and Nora Hitchcock.

In the 1903 Australia, Electoral Rolls (1903-1980) Hubert Peter Demasson was recorded living at Swan Street, Guildford, Perth, Western Australia, employed as a labourer.

Bert married Lilian Blanche Minchin (the daughter of William Minchin and Mary Louisa Hitchcock) in Canning, Western Australia in 1903[2]. Their union caused a ripple amongst the family, because they were first cousins.

They went on to have six children:

  1. Jack Read Demasson (b. 15 Dec 1903, d. 11 Dec 1910 accidentally drowned)
  2. Ronald Hubert Demasson (b. 6 Jun 1905, d. 19 Jun 1967)
  3. Colin William Demasson (b. 14 Apr 1907, d. 31 Jan 1962)
  4. Kathleen Adina Demasson (b. 19 Mar 1909, d. 13 Jul 1957)
  5. Bayly Gordon Demasson (b. 1911, d. 1963)
  6. Lillian Jean Demasson (b. 22 Sep 1916, d. 24 July 1970)

By 1910 the family were living at Olive Street, Guildford, Fremantle where he was a railway employee.

Bert worked for the West Australian Government Railways, first as a shunter and then as a guard. When the 1st World War broke out, he asked for leave from his railway job and enlisted in the 16th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. His attestation papers were signed on 4 June 1916 at Perth. He was 35 years and 10 months of age, 5ft 10 1/2 inches, and he was deemed medically fit for active service. His Service No. was 6501.

He entered military camp at Blackboy Hill (the birthplace of Western Australia’s Anzac forces[3]), and soon after he left his wife Lilian and their five young children (who were all under the age of 12) and sailed out of the port of Fremantle bound for France and the Theatre of War.

Bert kept a journal and wrote letters and postcards home to his family at 14 Olive Street, Guildford, Western Australia . His journal was later published. Called To All My Dear People it is an account of his life as a soldier, a husband and a father, and less about the atrocities of war. His last letter to his son Ronald was dated 28 March 1917, in which he instructed his son to "take care of Mother" and be a good boy.
Roll of Honor
Private Bert Demasson was a prisoner of war during The Great War.
Roll of Honor
Private Bert Demasson died while prisoner of war at Germany during The Great War.

On 11 April 1917 Bert was reported missing. He had been captured by the Germans and died of illness on 19 September 1917 whilst in Limburg Prison [4]. [5]

Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Friday ,8 March 1918, Page 1:

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN HEROES.
PTE. H. P. (Bert) DEMASSON. (Died of illness whilst prisoner of war in Germany.)[6].

He was buried at Niederzwehren Cemetery, Niederzwehren, Stadtkreis Kassel, Hessen, Germany[7]. PLOT: Langensalza P.O.W. Cem. Mem. 8.

Inscription:

TO THE MEMORY OF
6501 PRIVATE
H. P. DEMASSON
16TH BN. AUSTRALIAN INF.
19TH SEPTEMBER 1917, AGE 37
WHO DIED AS A PRISONER OF WAR
AND WAS BURIED IN
LANGENSALZA
PRISONERS OF WAR CEMETERY NO. 2
BUT WHOSE GRAVE
CANNOT NOW BE FOUND
GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT

Sources

  1. ↑ WA Birth Index 1880/21180
  2. ↑ WA Marriage Index 1903/105
  3. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-19/blackboy-hill-perth-ww1-army-camp/5678794
  4. ↑ War Service Record, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1482321
  5. ↑ World War 1 Service: Veteran Details for Hubert Peter Demasson for Service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Regimental Number: 6501; Rank: Private; Unit: 16th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement; Enlistment Date: 23 Jun 1916; Died of disease 19 September 1917 Link to UNSW AIF Project Record: accessed 10 Dec 2023
  6. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37446976?afterLoad=showCorrections
  7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18401012/hubert-peter-demasson : accessed 10 June 2022), memorial page for Pte. Hubert Peter “Bert” Demasson (1880–19 Sep 1917), Find A Grave: Memorial #18401012, citing Niederzwehren Cemetery, Niederzwehren, Stadtkreis Kassel, Hessen, Germany ; Maintained by Jack Edwards (contributor 49577555)




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Categories: Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Lake Wendouree, Victoria | Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen | Anzacs, World War I | Died of Disease, Australia, World War I | Guildford, Western Australia | Railway Guards | 16th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, World War I | HMAT A23 Suffolk, Oct 1916 | British War Medal | Victory Medal | Colony of Western Australia (1832-1900) | Prisoners of War, Australia, World War I | Died while Prisoner of War, Australia, World War I