Hubert Victor Rizzo

RIZZO, Hubert Victor- – – – SPC 1907

DoB:- – 1894, Hamilton, VIC

Father:- – Antonio (Anthony) Rizzo

Mother:- – Rosina (Rose), nee McCrystal

Service No:- 11889

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 3rd Divisional Motor Transport Coy (MTC)

Hubert Rizzo enlisted on the first occasion on 19 July 1915. However this enlistment was cancelled and he was discharged due to being medically unfit, -‘not due to misconduct’. He had defective vision in his left eye, to the extent that he could not see a hand held up at a distance of three feet.

He enlisted again on 25 March 1916, and on this occasion was accepted. Perhaps his poor eyesight was not detected? On this occasion he was 22 years and five months old, a single man working as a clerk. He was five feet, seven and a quarter inches tall, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and black hair.

Private Rizzo embarked from Melbourne for overseas service on 5 June 1916, aboard the Afric. He disembarked at Southampton on 24 July. On 25 November 1916, he proceeded overseas to France.

There was not much detail or information in his war file covering the next two years. On 9 July 1918 he had to answer to the crime of, -‘in the field while on active service, neglecting to obey an order given by an officer, in that he did not clean a motor cycle when told to do so.’ His punishment was being deprived of three days’ pay. While still in France he was admitted to hospital, sick with influenza in September 1918.

On 1 April 1919, Private Rizzo returned to Australia from England aboard the Shropshire. He was discharged from the AIF at Melbourne, being medically unfit -“ his disability was neurasthenia (a term meaning -‘shell shock’) and slight fibrosis of lungs (usually caused by inhalation of gas used in war).

Hubert Victor Rizzo died on 8 September 1939 aged 45, in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle, NSW. The College could not establish if he had married, or where he was buried.