STEELE, Hubert
| Service Number: | 2228 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Edenhope, Victoria, Australia, 28 May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shearer and Railway Employee |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 4 August 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France, Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Edenhope War Memorial, Kowree Shire Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2228, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2228, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide |
Lost Love
Hubert Steele was the boyfriend (poss fiancé) of my grandmother Gladys Smith. They met in 1911/12 at the Naracoore Show, and continued to correspond with each other when Gladys moved from Naracoorte to Kingston SE, South Australia.
When he enlisted for the war, he didn't want her to wave goodbye to him at the Outer Harbour, so they said their goodbyes at Naracoorte train station, amid a crowd of 'the boys' who were also destined for overseas. In her words she said "I was one of the last to get a kiss and they called out 'never mind love, he'll come back - on top of a Christmas tree' ".
On the eve of him travelling to Outer Harbour to for embarkation, Gladys gave him a fob watch as a keepsake. Upon his arrival in Pozieres and the night before he 'went over the top' of the parapet to fight, he gave the fob watch to a mate and said 'if anything happens to me make sure Gladys get this back'. Some two years later Nan received the now slightly shell damaged watch, which is currently in the possession of Gladys's daughter.
Submitted 5 August 2016 by Lorraine Masters
Biography
"THE LATE PRIVATE HUBERT STEELE.
Private H. Steele was killed in action on August 4 in France. He was born in Edenhope, Victoria, 24 years ago. He was well liked and highly respected by all who knew him. Private Steele came to South Australia a few years ago, and was employed in the Railway Department until he enlisted. He sailed from Adelaide on September 21 last year." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 18 Nov 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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