HONMAN, Andrew Victor

Andrew Victor Honman was born in Williamstown on 26 February 1891 to Dr. Andrew Holman and Wilhemina Clara Mahlenbach. His father Andrew was born in St Andrew's, Scotland where he studied medicine, then worked in Egypt in 1880 assisting with the management of an epidemic of cholera. It is not known where he met his wife 'Minnie', however they married in Prussia in the early 1880's before coming to Australia in 1883, where he established a medical practice in Williamstown. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters who grew up in Williamstown. Andrew and his elder brother Carl attended Melbourne Grammer School. Andrew commenced in 1904 and in 1907 matriculated, commencing medical studies at Melbourne University in 1908, graduating M.B and Ch. B in 1913 with second class honours in Medicine and Obstetrics.From 1910-1912 he spent 2 years with the private Melbourne University Rifles.

Andrew was practising as a doctor in Melbourne when he enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps as Captain in August 1914. He embarked on 19 October 1914 joining the No 2 Field Ambulance, landing at Port Helles on 25 April 1915. Due to problems with his parathyroid gland, he was invalided to Lemnos then to England where he was hospitalised at a military hospital in Wandsworth f0r a 3-4 month recuperation period. He returned to Egypt to join the 3rd Australian Auxillary Hospital. He was taken on strength to join the 14th Field Ambulance in May 1916  appointed Temp Major, being mentioned in Sir Charles Munro's Despatches of July 1916. He was transferred to the 9th Field Ambulance and promoted to Major on 14 November 1916 after a short period of leave in the UK. On May 1917 he was appointed R.M.O to 37th Battalion, the position he held when he was injured during fighting at Bullecourt. He was taken to the 9th Field Ambulance with gas poisoning and died a few days later on 20th May, 1917. Initially there was some confusion as to whether he was killed in action. Andrew is buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres; Plot 6, Row, 26.

Andrew's elder brother Carl enlisted in Perth in December 1917. As a skilled mining engineer he joined the June Reinforcements for Tunnelling Company and was posted to France till Armistice. Their father Andrew had served in the Boer War as a medical officer. Aged 59 he also enlisted in the Great War in April 1914 and set off to the UK on the RMS 'Niagara' via the USA and Canada to report of orthopeadic practices, especially for those who had lost limbs. After a brief spell in London, he transferred to France before returning to London at Armistice.