Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herman Fritz Hubbe

Parents: Samuel and Edith HUBBE. 

By the time of Herman's enlistment, his family had made their mark in South Australia and his parents were both very prominent identities in the local community.  They were among a very large number of people of German heritage who had made South Australia their home. Herman was second generation Australian born.

His grandfather Ulrich, who had emigrated to South Australia in 1842, had been a co-author of the Torrens Title system of land title management, in concert with Sir Robert Torrens.  The Torrens Title system is based on the Hanseatic system used in Ulrich Hubbe's native Hamburg, and for which he provided an English translation.

Samuel Hubbe (father of Hermann) was killed in action in the Boer War as a senior officer in the 3rd South Australian Bushmen's Contingent.  

Herman Hubbe's mother Edith, features strongly in local community history as well.  She was a leading advocate of tertiary education for women and for many years (until 1921) she ran a school for girls in what was then known as Knightsbridge (these days called Hazelwood Park), on Statenborough Street. A Commemorative plaque marks the site.

Herman Fritz Hubbe, 12th Battalion was a 20 year old clerk from Statenborough Street, Knightsbridge (these days Hazelwood Park), South Australia when he enlisted on 4 August 1915.  Educated at Prince Alfred College, he had been a member of the Adelaide Rowing Club from whence his image was originally sourced.  He was an active and accomplished athlete, and an officer in the Militia, to which he devoted a great deal of energy.

He sailed from Adelaide to Fremantle with the 8th Reinforcements for the 12th Battalion on 26 August 1915 aboard P&O Morea and then embarked for overseas from Fremantle aboard HMAT Anchises on 2 September 1915.

On 13 March 1916 he transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion.

By 23 July 1916 he and his unit were on approach to the fighting at Pozieres when he was hit by shrapnel from an enemy artillery strike. He subsequently died of his wounds in the evacuation chain. Captain Hubbe is buried at Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

"OBITUARIES. Capt. H. F. Hubbe.

A cablegram was received in Adelaide on July 28 stating that Capt. H. F. Hubbe, of the 1st Pioneer Division A.I.F., had died from wounds received in action on July 23. He was promoted to a captaincy last month. As he attained the age of 21 years as recently as last May, he was among the youngest officers of his rank in the Australian forces. He was born at Knightsbridge, and represented the third generation of the Hubbe family who have rendered good service to South Australia. His father (Capt. S. G. Hubbe) did much valuable work in exploring the interior of this continent, and organized and commanded the South Australian Bushmen's Contingent in the South African war. During the campaign he was killed in action. Capt. S. G. Hubbe's father (late Dr. Hubbe) gave us that translation of the Hanseatic land law which has now become our Real Property Act. The late Capt. H. F. Hubbe was a fine athlete. He played many games well, but in his later years he had devoted all his spare time to the study of the great game of war, in which he was an enthusiast. He went to Egypt last year as a subaltern with reinforcements of the 12th Battalion, and his zeal and energy soon marked him for speedy promotion. He was transferred to the pioneer division, in which he became captain and adjutant. His elder brother (Lieut. M. U. Hubbe) is in the same division. Mrs. A. A. Simpson is a sister. The mother and two other daughters reside at Knightsbridge." - from the Adelaide Observer 05 Aug 1916 (nla.gov.au)

Steve Larkins 11 Jan 2016