Lance Corporal Norman Farquhar Bruce Huon – First World War
RSL Victoria remembers the sacrifice of Lance Corporal Norman Farquhar Bruce Huon who gave his life in service of his country during the First World War.
Norman Huon was born in February 1890 in Wodonga, one of seven children born to William and Florence Huon. His family were amongst the early pioneers of Wodonga, establishing the de Kerilleau estate named after their ancestor Gabriel Louis Marie Huon de Kerilleau who had fled France during the revolution and set out for Australia in 1794. His mother, Florence, was the niece of explorer Hamilton Hume.
Norman’s father died in 1907, aged 82, at about the same time Norman was finishing high school at Albury Grammar. Norman’s mother and siblings moved to Melbourne where he took up a position as bank clerk with the National Australia Bank.
Norman enlisted in the Australian Army on 17 November 1915 and did his initial training in Seymour where he was attached to the 8th Light Horse Regiment.
In August 1916 he transferred to the 3rd Light Horse and arrived at the Moascar training camp in Egypt. He soon transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps where he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Norman’s younger brother Geoffrey Huon enlisted in the Australian Army in July 1916, at just over 18 years of age and departed overseas in October 1916 bound for England and then France with the 57th Battalion.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Lance Corporal Houn and the Imperial Camel Corps were preparing to be part of the allied attempt to push Turkish forces out of Palestine. On 22 December 1916 it was decided to make surprise attack at Magdhaba by crossing 19 miles of desert under the cover of darkness.
The attack, under Major General Harry Chauvel’s ANZAC Mounted Division and Camel Corps, overwhelmed the Turks and with a further attack at Rafa it marked the beginning of the end of the Turks on the Sinai Peninsula.
Sadly, the war ended for Norman Huon on 23 December 1916 in the attack on Magdhaba. The Wodonga and Towong Sentinel newspaper reported news of his death on 2 March 1917 quoting from a letter sent to his mother by Lance Corporal Huon’s commanding officer on 25 December 1916.
“Egypt, Dec. 25, 1916.
Dear Mrs Huon, - Allow me, on behalf of the officers and men of this company, to convey to you our sympathy in the loss of your son. We have not only lost a good soldier and valuable member of this unit, but those of us who were intimately acquainted with your son feel that we have lost a personal friend, and one whose place is very hard to fill. He was a most capable and conscientious worker, particularly had I noticed his devotion to duty and the fine example he set his comrades.
Personally, I feel his death very keenly, no words of eulogy would express my admiration for such a noble character as that of your son. It was at about 3.30 in the afternoon of the 23rd inst., while we were attacking a strong enemy position, that he was struck down, a bullet piercing his head, causing practically instantaneous death. He was then in the advanced firing line with his fellows and fighting well. Shortly afterwards the enemy surrendered. We had gained a victory. More than one heart, though, lamented the death of two noble comrades who had fallen from the ranks of this little company in the achievement of our success. I trust that you will be comforted in the knowledge that your son did his duty nobly and died for a noble cause.”
His brother Geoffrey Huon went on to fight in France until 1 October 1918 when he was wounded in action.
He survived and returned to Australia in 1919. He married in 1935, the year his mother Florence died, and had two children. The first was Gael and the second, named for his brother, was Norman.
RSL Victoria pays tribute to Lance Corporal Norman Huon, his family and all those who have sacrificed in the service of their country.
Lest we forget.
