Summary
Diary of Private John (Jack) Chugg, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, AIF. The diary covers the period 24 September 1914 to 24 August 1915. The diary records Chugg's experiences at Broadmeadows Camp, 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, and Mena House No. 2 General Hospital. It also contains a newspaper clipping titled: 'Historic Badge Given to the RACV' and a handwritten poem titled: 'The Last of the Emden' written by Alf P.K. Morris, HMAS Southern.
Private John Chugg was 19 years old when he enlisted with the Australian Infantry Force on 2 September 1914. He was the eldest of two sons born in Scotland to John and Jessie Chugg; there is some evidence to suggest that his younger brother, Richard, may also have enlisted but this remains difficult to determine.
Chugg served with the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance as an X-ray Electrical Specialist in Egypt, before transferring to Mena House No. 2 General Hospital in August 1915. Chugg was later promoted to Lance Corporal and served with the No. 3 Australian General Hospital in Brighton, England. In October 1918, Chugg married Elizabeth Hannah Attwells in England before returning to Australia in November of the same year. By this time Chugg had been made Sergeant, although it is unclear when this promotion occurred.
Although Chugg applied for free passage in order for Elizabeth to join him, this does not appear to have been granted, although the couple were eventually reunited in Australia. The obituary notice in The Argus for John Chugg's father (also John Chugg) lists his four grandchildren, one of whom - Robert (Bob) John Chugg - appears to have been the son of John and Elizabeth; however, it is difficult to determine his birthdate. Another son, Victor Raymond Chugg, who was not listed with the grandchildren in the obituary, died in 1929. The parents of the remaining three grandchildren in the notice - Dorothy, Douglas and Gordon - remain unknown.
John Chugg died in 1975 in Heidelberg, Victoria; Elizabeth appears to have outlived her husband, although her date of death remains unknown.
Description of Content
DIARY OF PTE. JACK CHUGG, 1ST. LIGHT HORSE FIELD AMBULANCE, A. I. F., 24:9:1914 TO 24:8:1915. BLACK COVERED NOTEBOOK. RECORDS EXPERIENCES AT BROADMEADOWS CAMP, 1ST, AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, HELIOPOLIS AND MENA HOUSE NO. 2 GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Physical Description
Black covered diary
More Information
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Collection Names
Military Memorabilia Collection, Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection
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Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Public Life & Institutions, Medicine & Health
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Victorian Branch, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL), Mrs E. Chugg, 26 Oct 1981
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HMAT Karroo (Troop Transport), Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd, London
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SS Empress of Russia (Steamship), Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
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Format
Book
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Language
English
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Inscriptions
[extensive text]
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Object Measurements
120 mm (Width), 10 mm (Depth), 187 mm (Height)
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References
John Chugg's war record can be accessed at: [Link 1] An entry for an undigitised service record belonging to a Richard Chugg can be seen on the NAA website at: [Link 2] [See Supp. File for further information]
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Keywords
Diaries, Militaria: Australian, Military Memorabilia, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918