Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Parents: - George Stubbs and Rebecca Aspery married 6th January 1883 in Sackville Reach, New South Wales, Australia.

Private Frederick John Stubbs (1893-1918)

Throughout the First World War the successful outcome of the Allies was determined by the willing contribution of both groups and individuals from various positions and roles. It was this involvement and effective management by numerous factions that ultimately led the Allies to an assured victory. Australia’s participation in the First World War echoed this, as countless numbers of volunteers, medics, soldiers, nurses, politicians, and indeed, many other everyday Australian’s offered assistance and aid to the Australian armed forces during their military support of Britain. However, from 1914-18, it was the soldiers who were the most prominent component and driving force behind the Allies victory, as they were at the forefront of all combat exhibited throughout the First World War. With Australia being a member of the British Empire at the time, they remained closely connected with the United Kingdom and played a significant role in the war effort; as observed by Australia’s eager support and involvement in the war. This enthusiasm is evident with the Labor government of the time’s pledge of 20,000 troops to support the British military, with soon to be Prime Minister Andrew Fisher stating that “Australians will stand beside the mother country to help and defend her to our last man and our last shilling." Such passion was not just portrayed by governmental officials, but by the Australian public, with many recruitment officers being forced to turn people away due to the vast amount of volunteers eager to enlist for the Australian Imperial Force. However, this initial enthusiasm soon faded, with the number of volunteers declining by 1916, resulting in a shortage of men in the Australian Imperial Force. Despite this shortage, legislation outlined in the Defence Act of 1903, prohibited members of the Australian Military Forces from serving overseas unless they specifically volunteered to do so. This law, along with the defeat of two referendums regarding the issue of conscription, made Australia one of only three participating nations that did not introduce or enforce conscription during World War One. As a result, the Australian servicemen who served in the First World War were all volunteers who willingly enlisted. Private Frederick John Stubbs, a New South Welshman, was one such soldier who volunteered to serve his country during the ‘Great War’, and will be the focus of this biographical account. As his story and experiences are not widely known, this account will provide valuable insight into the role of infantry soldiers who served during World War One.

Private Frederick John Stubbs was an Anglo-Celtic Australian man of First Fleeter descent, who was born in 1893 at Dubbo, New South Wales. He was the fourth child of six to parents George Stubbs and Rebecca Aspery, who were well known throughout the community in the Gilgandra district, despite both being natives of the Hawkesbury. Frederick grew up on a remote property in rural NSW, known as ‘Glenbrook’, located about thirty-seven kilometres south-west from the town of Gilgandra. From the time of Federick’s birth, and indeed during his childhood and early adulthood, the Stubbs family experienced first-hand the hardships and struggles of rural living and farm life. Frederick was born in the year of ‘The Panic’ during the depression of the 1890s which was defined by financial crisis that resulted in economic recession. These financial pressures, along with multiple ensuing droughts, amplified the adversities that many Australian families were already suffering, with the Stubbs’ being no exception. George Stubbs (Frederick’s father) was a wheat farmer, and although quite successful, the family farm took quite a toll during the droughts of 1902 and 1908, suffering significant financial stress due to crop failures; the droughts being the worse experienced in Gilgandra for over fifteen years, with the annual rainfall of 1908 being five inches below average. In 1913 at the age of nineteen, Frederick lost both his father and grandfather within the span of a week, leaving the already struggling family without a main income provider. Not much is known about Frederick’s life between the death of his predecessors and his enlistment, but it can be assumed that he most likely worked on the property with his older brothers in order to support their family. Growing up in a small yet close-knit rural community, Frederick developed a strong sense of duty, pride, patriotism and an unwavering spirit of adventure. His modest upbringing also instilled in him the importance of mateship and a good work ethic, characteristics that people would later fondly remember about him. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, he was among the many young men who felt compelled to answer the call of duty and enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). However, Frederick did not enlist right away as his help was still needed on the farm. In 1915, Gilgandra witnessed the Coo-ee March, a recruitment march from Gilgandra to Sydney, which motivated hundreds of men to enlist in the AIF. Inspired by all these factors, as well as tales of heroism, the allure of adventure, and a desire to protect his country, Frederick (along with a few mates, including his girlfriend’s brother, Cyril Skinner) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on January 12th 1916; where he was accepted into the 36th Battalion, also known as Carmichael's Thousand Rifle-men. The military records held by the National Archives of Australia provide an important insight into the motivations and character of Australian troops such as Private Frederick John Stubbs, along with detailing their involvement in the war throughout the duration of their service. Statistical data such as enlistment information, religion, medical history, and next of kin offer researchers and family members a crucial insight into the diversity amongst the Australian soldiers, while simultaneously providing more personal information on the individual combatant. Frederick John Stubbs was twenty-two years of age upon enlisting in the armed forces, was a farmer by trade, single (not married), and had served two years in the Gilgandra 9th Light Horse Brigade before enlistment.

Most men who enlisted during 1914, were often swept up in the hype and excitement of adventures abroad and serving King and country in a romanticised war. This enthusiasm to enlist in the war was so overwhelming, that after the first few months, the criteria for enlisting became more strict; with many men being denied entry to the armed forces based on trivial reasons, such as physical characteristics, mundane medical conditions, and marital status. However, as Private Frederick John Stubbs enlisted after the initial hype had subsided, and the true horrors of war became apparent, one must wonder if Private Stubbs’ decision to enlist was driven by alternative motives and ideas than those of his fellow soldiers who had previously joined the military. Perhaps Fred and Cyril, along with a few other Gilgandra boys, were keen to see beyond the rural Australian setting they were accustomed to. As stated above, Stubbs enlisted on January 12th 1916, three days after the Gallipoli campaign had ended; a failed operation which resulted in the loss of lives of countless young men, as outlined by casualty reports. With the absolute carnage, devastation, and senseless slaughter of the Gallipoli campaign being forefront in the minds of the Australian public at the time, it suggests that soldiers enlisting post 1915 were completely aware of the consequences of war, yet willingly chose to join the conflict regardless of the implications. Being a member of the 36th Battalion, Stubbs and his fellow infantrymen most likely possessed very little of the excitement previous enlisters displayed. Nevertheless, the increase in recruitments during 1916 indicates that the events of Gallipoli significantly impacted the Australian psyche, possibly reigniting a sense of national pride in young men who desired to avenge their fallen countrymen. Majority of the recruits in Stubbs’ battalion had been enlisted via recruiting drive, which was conducted by the New South Wales Minister for Public Information, Ambrose Carmichael, throughout the state’s rifle clubs; hence, the 36th Battalion’s alternate name ‘Carmichael's Thousand’. Stubbs’ medical records offer great insight into his physical appearance and fitness, presenting him as a healthy and strong specimen of a young man. At the time of enlistment, Stubbs was twenty-two years old, 5 ft. 8 and a half inches tall, with an expanded chest measurement of 35 inches, and weight of 136 lbs; all of which fit the original criteria of enlistment standards for the First World War. He was of a dark complexion with hazel eyes, had dark hair, and was a Methodist. It is also worth noting that Stubbs was recorded as single (despite having a girlfriend), with his next of kin being listed as his mother Rebecca, a statistic reflecting the AIF preference for single young men recruits.

Private Frederick John Stubbs enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at the Victoria Barracks in Liverpool on January 12th 1916, where he was admitted as a member of the 36th Battalion. Following his enlistment, Stubbs underwent rigorous military training, honing his combat abilities and learning fundamental skills essential for effective service on the battlefield. The 36th Battalion was an integral part of the 9th Brigade, which itself was an essential component of the 3rd Australian Division. Alongside his comrades, Stubbs embarked on a daunting and perilous journey that would forever alter the course of human history. They were deployed to the European theatre on May 13th 1916, arriving in France on November 22nd, where the battalion joined other Australian forces fighting alongside their allies. On December 4th, the 36th Australian Infantry Battalion arrived on the Western Front, where they became engaged in trench warfare against German lines. This period was made exponentially worse due to the terrible weather conditions of the winter of 1916-17. Private Stubbs experienced the brutal realities of life in the trenches, characterised by the constant threat of enemy attacks, exposure to the elements, unsanitary conditions, and the ever-present reminder of death. Enduring cold, rain, the relentless onslaught of enemy artillery, and the stench of decaying bodies, Stubbs quickly adapted to the realities of war. However, it is important to note that Stubbs was not constantly engaged in active warfare, spending large portions of his service training and recovering from injuries in England.

Sometime in mid 1916, Mrs. Stubbs, of Cobborah Street is in receipt of a letter -from her son, Gunner Fred Stubbs, from Larkhill Camp, England. “He says that the place where the camp is situated is a very pretty one, and close to Salisbury Plains, It is right on top of a hill. They had a good trip over. He had the mumps, and was isolated for about thirteen days. They were, six days in the harbour at Capetown. All who were fit got off the boat for two route marches. They were given one night's leave, and the people gave them a tea and concert, and they had a great time. There were seven deaths on the voyage, and a lot of the fellows had the mumps. They were eight weeks and three days on board. They called at Dakar, a French port on the coast of South Africa, and got a gun. They had the battle cruiser Kent from Cape town to Dakar, and the Swiftehore for about a week, and then the left, and four destroyers brought the transports into port. They are in the camp that the Canadians occupied before they went to the front. He further adds that Cyril was lucky enough to escape the mumps. There are a great many Aeroplanes flying around the camp. They are in training. He does not think his machine gun section will see much of the fighting, as they will be in training for about six months. He wishes to be remembered to all friends.”

In February 1917, Fred’s mother, Rebecca Stubbs (née Aspery), received a letter from her son, Gunner Fred Stubbs, from "somewhere in France," dated 13/12/16. He says:

“We have been in the trenches for eight days, and came out the day before yesterday.

It is pretty cold over here. There was a slight fall of snow yesterday, but it only lasted for a few minutes. Tom Morrison, from Gilgandra, was killed here the other day. A shell fell near him, and the shock exploded all the ammunition he had on him, and the bullets riddled him. He was in my battalion. We have only eight killed in our battalion in eight days.”

Rebecca Stubbs opened another letter from her son at the Front in March 1917:

Mrs. G. Stubbs, of Cobborah-street, Dubbo, has received a letter from her son, Private Fred Stubbs, from "somewhere in France," dated 10/1/17. He says the weather is very cold in France, and there had been several falls of snow. He thinks the war will soon end, and hopes to soon be back in New South Wales. He says that the French people are very funny. They work dogs instead of horses. Two dogs drag a big baker's cart, and they pull better than horses. They work the separator and chaff cutter with a dog on a treadle wheel. There is a nail behind the dog, and if he stops it sticks into him. He sends kind regards to all friends.

Private Fred Stubbs, writing from somewhere in France on 25/1/17, to his mother, Mrs. G. Stubbs. of Cobborah street, Dubbo, says : — "We came out of the trenches a couple of days ago. it was pretty lively while we were in this time. The Germans came over to our trenches, but they lost more men than we did. Poor Bert Kloester was killed. He was hit by a shell, and our Colonel and two more were killed by one shell. It was terribly cold there was snow everywhere, and standing in the trenches was not too pleasant. A couple of our lads have been recommended for distinction for some brave work. Another of our lads, named Jack Ryan, was killed. I sent you one of his photos some time ago. I hear the crops are not too good, and I am glad I am not farming this year. Kind regards to all old friends."

Private Fred Stubbs, writing to his mother, Mrs. Stubbs, from France on 18th March 1917, says:-"I am in good health. It is beginning to get nice and warm here now, but there is plenty of rain. One of my mates stepped off the duckboard the other day and got bogged. I tried to pull him out, but could not do so. He had to pull his feet out of his boots, and then it took two of us all our time to pull the boots out of the mud, you can imagine what the mud is like over here. I will be glad when this is over, and we get back to N.S.W., out of the mud and away from the roar of the guns. Those who are in Australia have no idea what it is like over here. If they had any idea they would not have the cheek to look a soldier in the face. I mean those who have no one to look after at home and who stay there and let us lads fight for them. Remember me to all old friends.

May 1917 Gunner Fred Stubbs, writing to his sister, Mrs, E. G. Adams, from France:

“I am well, and so far have missed the bullets. Things are very quiet, here now (19/2/17), and there is not much doing yet awhile. The weather is becoming a bit warmer, we see the sun once in a while and the snow and ice are beginning to thaw, and the mud is everywhere. We get plenty of work and not much rest. We were very lucky this trip in the trenches. We had one killed and one wounded. The Macedonia campaign is being pushed forward vigorously, the artillery being active along the whole front.”

Mrs. E. G. Adams, of "Mount Pleasant," Dubbo, has received a letter from her brother, Gunner Fred Stubbs, from France, dated 8/5/17. He says:

"I am O.K., and have been doing a good deal of duty lately. Captain Fitz-hardinge is in the hospital with a bad back, but it is nothing serious."

When Stubbs arrived in England, he initially spent an estimated four months completing his training at Salisbury Plains, Wiltshire, before being sent to the France with the rest of the 36th Battalion to commence fighting on the Western Front. Very little documentation about Stubbs’ personal accomplishments during his training are available, however, it can be assumed from the records available that Stubbs and his comrades would have been trained specifically in counter-attacking and advancement methods. The advancement methods equipped the Australian soldiers of the 36th Battalion with the knowledge on how to effectively penetrate enemy lines with an initial rapid advance, followed directly by another slower advance; whereas the tactics of counter-attacks provided the men with the knowledge to regain lost territory and immediately attack the enemy force that had encroached on home ground with both speed and intensity. These training methods would become essential in the battlefield, being implemented in the battle of Messines in mid 1917, and the first battle of Villers- Bretonneux in 1918, both of which Stubbs was personally involved in. In addition to training, Stubbs spent an estimated five months of his service recovering from wounds he had received in battle in multiple hospitals in England, spending much of this time in the Lakenham Military Hospital at Norwich. Military records indicate that his legs, face and hands were injured. However, Private Fred Stubbs offers a deeper insight into his injuries and how he sustained them in a letter that he had written to his sweetheart, Hazel Skinner, back in Gilgandra. In the letter Stubbs’ details that he, and four of his comrades, had been hit by a shell, with Stubbs having seventeen pieces of shrapnel entering into his body as a result; which he assures Hazel that none were serious, with the worst injury being in his leg. Stubbs then goes on to explain that both hands, his neck, and his face were also affected by this explosion; with a piece of shrapnel going through his top lip and breaking a tooth off. These wounds occurred during the 36th Battalion’s first major battle – the battle of Messines – which commenced June 7th 1917. The battle of Messines took place in the West Flanders area of Belgium, and resulted in an estimated 6,000 Australian casualties, with a further estimated 4,100 Australian soldiers being wounded. It was three days into this battle on June 10th, that Stubbs and his fellow Australian soldiers suffered their injuries from the explosion. The 9th Field Ambulance admitted Fred with gunshot wounds to his legs, arms and face. Of particular concern are wounds in his right thigh and right cheek. A transfer is made to the Casualty Clearing Station in Belgium. The 32nd Stationary Hospital in Wimereus treated Frederick on 11 June. With wounds so severe Fred is repatriated to England aboard H5 Jan Breydan on 17 June. This same day Fred arrives at Norwich Military Hospital in Lakenham. After 34 days recuperation, Fred is discharged to Weymouth Barracks on July 24 1917.

Miss Hazel Skinner, of "Oakleigh," Gilgandra, has received the following letter from Private Fred Stubbs, The written from Lakenham Military Hospital, Norwich, England, under date June 18th:

“I got wounded on June 10th in the battle of Misseanes. Four of us got hit with the one shell, in a shell hole between our trench and Fritz's.

Cyril got his right knee smashed and hit in the right arm. Young Howard was with as. He has been with Cyril and I ever since we went into camp. I got about seventeen pieces in me altogether, but none were serious, the worst was in the leg. I got some in both hands and in my neck, and one piece went through my top lip and broke a tooth off. We were only about three hundred yards from where the mines exploded. The way they shook the ground was terrible. I pity the poor Germans that were near them. There were Germans lying dead everywhere after the battle, as well as our own boys. The Germans must have had terrible heavy casualties, for I do not think we lost half as heavy as them. I can hear a terrible bombardment going on now. I think that it must be on the water, for we could not hear it from the firing line.”

Gunner Fred Stubbs, writing from No. 2 Ward, Military Hospital, Norwich, England, under date 18/6/17 (the same date), to his mother, Mrs. G. Stubbs, Cobbora- street, says:— "I am getting along well. I did not get any bad wounds, but there were about 17 of them. I got a bit of shell in the right hand, and several pieces in the neck and face. One piece went through my top lip and broke a tooth. I got another piece in the right knee, and the rest in the left hand and leg; but none of them are very bad. Cyril was with me, and he got hit in the right knee and had his arm broken. There were four of us together in a shell hole between our trench and that of the Germans. I was only 200 yards from where two mines went up. It was a terrible noise, and we were nearly shook off our feet. The Germans never showed fight—they did not even have their bayonets on. I think that the explosion frightened them. I have not seen Skinner since they took us out of the hospital train at Boulogne, in France."

August 1917, the Stubbs family received another letter from Fred who writes from his ward in the Military Hospital, Norwich, England, under date 18/6/17:

“I am getting along well, I did not get any bad wounds, but there many of them. I got a bit of shell in the right hand, and several were lodged in my face. One piece went through my top lip and broke my teeth, another piece in the right knee and the rest in the left hand and leg; but none of them are very bad. Cyril was with me, and he got hit in the right knee and had his arm broken. Cyril took shelter in a shell hole between our trench and the front line of the Germans. I was only 200 yards from where two mines went up. It was a terrible noise, and we were nearly shook off our feet. The Germans never showed fight, they did not even have their bayonets on. I think that the explosion frightened them.”

On 22 Seplember 1917 Fred Stubbs is posted to No 3 Command Depot in England in readiness to return to active duty. Doctors poked and prodded: 58 days in hospital, multiple wounds; one unhealed inner thigh, no permanent disability. Overseas training brigade takes Fred on strength on October 30 1917. Did Fred keep his cheeky blasé outlook when faced with a return to the trenches? Or perhaps he kept images of horror in his head and dreaded returning to duty? No time to waste! Upon recovery, Stubbs re-joined his battalion in late November 1917, where he spent the next five months in reserve, alternating periods of rest, labouring, training, and service. Due to his recovery period, Private Stubbs did not participate or have an active role in the battle of Broodseinde Ridge or the events at Passchendaele.

January 18 1918, Rebecca Stubbs has receipt of a couple of letters from Sand Hill Camp, England, from her son, Gunner Fred Stubbs. The letters are dated 11/11/17 and 14/11/17. He says:-

“I am O.K, excepting for my leg. There is a piece of shrapnel in my leg still, and it is stinging a bit. I am going to the doctor to see about an operation to get it out. I started for France twice this week, once on Tuesday and again on Friday, but was brought back. If I do not get an operation I will be going away on Friday. Most of my mates have left for France, Lithgow and Matthews being amongst them. If I get an operation I will be in England for Xmas, but if I should fail I shall be in France in less than a week’s time. The other chap, who got hit by the same shell as Skinner, Sewttv and myself, is going back to Australia. His name is Howard, so three of them will be home, and I will be in France. He said if ever he went to Dubbo he would call on you. I gave him your address. He is a very nice chap, and we have been mates from the first day we went into camp. He lives at Mudgee, and sometimes at Gosford. Skinner will call and see you when he gets back, which will be in about a month's time. It was five months yesterday since I got my wound. June 10th was the day upon which I got my issue.”

In the letter of the 14th November Gunner Stubbs said he was leaving for France next morning, as the doctor had declined to operate upon him.

By the time Rebecca reads her son's letter he has been back in the thick of action for two months. Only one more piece of information regarding Fred's war is recorded:

Died from wounds France 4 April 1918.

In the spring of 1918, Stubbs entered the front line with his unit in order to counter the German spring offensive. On March 30th, Stubbs was involved in a counter- attack at Hangard Wood, along with another at Villers-Bretonneux on April 4th. The surprise late afternoon counter-attack at Villers-Bretonneux was a successful campaign, resulting in a German retreat. However, it was during this battle on the late afternoon of April 4th 1918, that Stubbs made the ultimate sacrifice. Private Frederick John Stubbs was killed in action in France during the first battle of Villers- Bretonneux. The circumstances surrounding Stubbs’ death are detailed and confirmed throughout numerous Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing enquiries. These report files offer valuable insight into the final moments of Frederick John Stubbs’ life. Of the eleven eye witness accounts, all descriptions of the location and circumstance of Frederick’s death – namely ‘killed by a stray bullet through the head’ – are consistent; with inconsistences being evident in their knowledge of his last words, age, place of birth, physical appearance, time of death, and burial location. All the reports agree that Stubbs was a remarkable and well-liked man, and was a corporal of the Lewis Gun section at the time of his death. Upon his death, Stubbs was posthumously awarded a British War Medal, and Victory Medal for his involvement in the Great War, in which he displayed immeasurable courage, remarkable resilience and camaraderie with his fellow soldiers. Stubbs was reportedly buried near the place of his death in Villers-Bretonneux, France, where he remains today. He is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial, located at Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France, with his name also being located on the Roll of Honour in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial on panel 127 of the commemorative area. Along with this, Frederick’s older brother, William Stubbs, decided to honour the memory of his late younger brother by naming his son after him; with Private Frederick John Stubbs’ nephew and namesake being my paternal grandfather (Pop) Frederick John Stubbs.

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground (Hill 104) behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. Villers-Bretonneux became famous in 1918, when the German advance on Amiens ended in the capture of the village by their tanks and infantry on 23 April.

On the following day, the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions, with units of the 8th and 18th Divisions, recaptured the whole of the village and on 8 August 1918, the 2nd and 5th Australian Divisions advanced from its eastern outskirts in the Battle of Amiens.

Villiers-Bretonneaux Military Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other burial grounds in the area and from the battlefields.

Probate of Fred's will was granted to his mother, Rebecca Stubbs (nee Aspery) in Sydney on 9 December 1918, Horatio Beveridge, solicitor of Gilgandra, acting on behalf of the estate. An Assurance policy held by Frederick with the Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Co Ltd was paid out to Rebecca. Frederick's personal effects (two blank discs, letter, cards, photos, wallets, book, steel stirrer fountain pen, religious and two unit colours) were sent home via Australorag on 12 February 1919.

June 14 1918, Rebecca Stubbs receives a letter dated France. 6/4/18, from Private W. E. Matthews who was with her son when he met his death in France:
“I don't know how to start this letter to you or what to say to express my heartfelt sympathy for you in your reparable loss. I know by the time you receive this you will have learned of poor Fred's death and I feel reluctant to intrude further into your grief. Ever since Fred came away with the battalion he and I were the best of pals. So when I had the opportunity I thought I would write to you and let you know how he died. It was during an attack on the enemy and Fred was at his best, smiling and laughing as usual, when a bullet struck him in the head, and he passed away without suffering a minute's pain. The conditions made it possible to give him a decent burial and we erected a nice cross over his grave with his name and battalion inscribed on it. You have the Company's sympathy as Fred was one of the most popular boys in the battalion and a fine lad through and through. As a man I have never met anyone like him, for he never gave a thought for himself when he could help others.”

In conclusion, Private Frederick John Stubbs' service as an Australian soldier during the First World War offers a poignant insight into the traumatic realities experienced by those who fought on the front lines. The First World War marked a significant turning point in human history and had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals, including brave soldiers like Stubbs. The valour and sacrifice of this Australian soldier from Gilgandra, will never be forgotten. From his first taste of life in the trenches, the horrors of constant shell bombardment, and recovering from wounds, his will to survive was continuously tested. Like many soldiers, he would have been affected by the psychological toll of warfare, witnessing the loss of friends and the destruction of lives and landscapes. His unwavering bravery and profound sacrifice serve as a lasting testament to the courage exhibited by thousands of men who fought valiantly on the Western Front. Through the detailed biographical account of his experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by men like Stubbs who fought on the frontlines during this tumultuous period, honouring their memory and ensuring that their stories are never forgotten.

Lest We Forget.