A.H. Hastings
The story of Alexander Hugh Hastings
22 year-old civil servant Alexander Hugh Hastings enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. Initially assigned to the 19th battalion he was sent to the 2nd battalion upon arriving in the Middle East from Australia in February 1916.
He left the Middle East in March on the troopship Ivernia and began to serve on the Western Front. However, in July during the battle of Pozieres Hastings was killed by a shell son after leaving the trench. Buried in the field he is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux memorial and the Gosford memorial (as HA Hastings)
Research notes:
1) It would appear that he went by the name Hugh and was known by the nickname Hughie.
2) His cousin was killed during the same action.
3) He worked for the Fisheries Department.
