SCHUBERT, Harold Herbert
| Service Numbers: | 2332, 2332B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | OB Flat, South Australia, 10 June 1897 |
| Home Town: | Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Schooling: | OB Flat School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 30 September 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
White House Cemetery, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mount Gambier War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 16 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2332 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2332, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Itria embarkation_ship_number: A53 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2332, 5th Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Itria, Adelaide | |
| 30 Sep 1917: | Involvement Private, 2332B, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2332B awm_unit: 5 Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-09-30 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Cusack
Harold Herbert Schubert was born at OB Flat, South Australia on the 10th of June 1897 to Johann and Johanna, both of whom were born in the Adelaide Hills, having moved to the Mount Gambier area with their respective families when they were children. Harold worked with his family farming a property at OB Flat prior to joining the Army.
Harold had six older siblings and one younger, of them, an older brother Edward also served in WW1 and his younger brother Albert served with the RAAF in WW2, thankfully for the family both brothers survived their respective conflicts.
Harold enlisted on the 16th of May 1916, aged 18 years and 11 months, completing his initial training in Adelaide, which included a spell in hospital suffering from a bout of measeles. On the 14th of August 1916 he boarded the "Itria" at Outer Harbour in Adelaide, arriving at Plymouth, England on the 30th of October 1916.
Harold then attended an intensive two month training where he received specialised Pioneer Training. He completed the course on the 30th of December 1916. The pioneers were a very specialist group, trained in many tasks required to lead an attack, one of their main roles was to provide safe passage for the assault troops to make their way to the German trenches.
Harold proceeded to France aboard the "Princess Victoria" on the 31st od December 1916, upon landing Harold was given two weeks orientation and then assigned to the Australian 5th Pioneer Battalion on the 11th of February 1917. The Battalion was to be engaged in many assaults along the front, clearing the way for the advancing Infantry troops.
The Battle of Polygon Wood commenced on the 26th of September 1917 and was part of the overall "Third Battle of Ypres" and here Harold participated in this action where the Australians forced the Germans to retreat 1,400 yards (1.3 Km's).
This gallant action by the Australians was where Harold and 81 of his collegues lost their lives on the 30th of September 1917, where they had paved the way for further advances. The tactics successfullly devised within the Battalion became the standard for future actions, which forced the Germans to totally change from offensive to defensive tactics and ultimately to their defeat.
Harold was buried with his mates at the White House Cemetery, St. Jean-Les-Ypres in Belgium.
A poingant extract from a letter written by Harold's mother, Johanna, replying to correspondence from the Army advising her of the details of his grave location.
"I received your letter concerning the Imperial Graves Commission and I am thankful that my dear son's grave is receiving attention. It seems quite impossible that any of us can go to see it and it's nice to know that my dear son's grave is not forgotten. Signed, Mrs. J.P. Schubert, August 1920.
Lest We Forget
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