Hugo Throssell Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell VC ( 27 October 1884 – 13 November 1933 ) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . Hugo Throssell was born in Northam , Western Australia on 27 October 1884 , the son of former Premier of Western Australia George Throssell . In 1914 , he joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment , Australian Imperial Force . His brother , Ric , also served in the war and died near Gaza . Throssell ' s son was named after him . As a second lieutenant Hugo Throssell fought at Gallipoli , where he had landed on 4 August . He saw action in the desperate Battle of the Nek . According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography : " This experience increased his eagerness to prove himself in battle . He wanted to avenge the 10th L . H . R . which , like so many of the Anzac troops , was battle - worn , sick and depleted . His chance came later that month at Hill 60 during a postponed attempt by British and Anzac troops to widen the strip of foreshore between the two bridgeheads at Anzac and Suvla by capturing the hills near Anafarta . Hill 60 , a low knoll , lay about half a mile ( 0 . 8 km ) from the beach . Hampered by confusion and lack of communication between the various flanks , the battle had been raging for a week with heavy losses . " A few weeks later , he fought at Hill 60 : " On 29 – 30 August 1915 at Kaiakij Aghala ( Hill 60 ) , Gallipoli , Turkey , Second Lieutenant Throssell , although severely wounded in several places , refused to leave his post during a counter - attack or to obtain medical assistance until all danger was passed , when he had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing line until ordered out of action by the Medical Officer . By his personal courage and example he kept up the spirits of his party and was largely instrumental in saving the situation at a critical period . " Whilst recuperating from his wounds in London he was introduced to Katharine Susannah Prichard , who later became a famous Australian author and socialist . He eventually returned to active service , rejoining the 10th Light Horse in the Middle East where he fought in a number of engagements , and achieved the rank of captain . He returned home in 1918 and in 1919 married Prichard . In the following years Hugo was an outspoken opponent of war , and claimed that the suffering he had seen had made him a socialist . His stance on the futility of war outraged many people , especially as they were coming from a national war hero and the son of a respected and conservative former premier . His very public political opinions badly damaged his employment prospects , and he fell deeply into financial debt . On 13 November 1933 , he killed himself ( while his wife was away on a trip to the Soviet Union ) . Hugo Throssell ' s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra . In 1983 his son Ric presented it to the People for Nuclear Disarmament . The Returned Services League of Australia bought the medal and presented it to the Australian War Memorial . The Hugo Throssell ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital , Hollywood was named in his honour .