VALE, Hubert Chamberlain
| Service Number: | 2913 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 July 1916, Enlisted at Moore Park, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Cheltenham, England, 8 January 1882 |
| Home Town: | Hurstville, Kogarah, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fireman |
| Died: | Streptococcal Septicaemia following wounds received in action, Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England, 30 April 1918, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury, England Row N, Grave 9286. Headstone inscription reads: - Abide with me. Interred on 4 May 1918, Rev. H. A. Wilson officiated. Coffin consisted of polished elm. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Municipality of Hurstville Pictorial Honour Roll No 1, Sydney Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2913, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Enlisted at Moore Park, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2913, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2913, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 9 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2913, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Multiple shell wounds to the head and thigh. Embarked for England 12 April 1918. |
Help us honour Hubert Chamberlain Vale's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Hubert Chamberlain Vale was born in Cheltenham, England on 8th January, 1882 to parents Benjamin & Elizabeth Vale (nee Stratford). (Information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour records that Hubert Vale was born in Wales).
Elizabeth Vale, mother of Hubert Chamberlain Vale, died on 1st September, 1891 at Prestbury, Gloucestershire, England.
His father - Benjamin Vale remarried in 1893 to Ada Maria/Marie Thompson.
Hubert Chamberlain Vale joined the Royal Navy on 14th November, 1899 stating his date of birth as 11th February, 1881. He was issued a Service number of 293708 (Portsmouth) & signed on for 12 years. Hubert Vale served in Duke of Wellington II as Stoker 2nd Class then served in Mars.
The 1901 England Census recorded Hubert C. Vale as a 20 year old Stoker as a member of the crew of His Majesty’s Ship Mars which was a Battleship First Class, captained by Henry D, Barry & was positioned at Gibraltar on Sunday night, 31st March, 1901, the date of the 1901 England Census.
He also served in Duke of Wellington, Warrior, Fire Queen II & Euryalus as Stoker. His last entry was “Run” on 8th March, 1906 while on Euryalus. (Run = deserted)
According to information supplied by his wife for the Roll of Honour, Hubert Chamberlain Vale came to Australia when he was about 20 years old.
Hubert Chamberlain Vale married Christina Elizabeth Roeder in 1910 in the district of Rockdale, NSW.
A son, Hubert Walter Roeder Vale, was born to Hubert & Christina Vale, on 3rd October, 1910. He was baptised on 27th November, 1910 in St. Paul’s Church, Cleveland Street, Sydney, NSW.
Hubert Chamberlain Vale enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 31st July, 1916 as a 34 year old, married, Fireman from Hurstville, NSW.
On 13th August, 1916 Private Vale was posted to “A” Company, 2nd Depot Battalion at Cootamundra for recruit training. He was transferred to 1st Pioneer Battalion, 8th Reinforcements on 23rd August, 1916. Private Vale was appointed Acting Corporal on 5th October, 1916. Acting Corporal Hubert Chamberlain Vale was transferred to 3rd Pioneers, 5th Reinforcements on 13th October, 1916 & appointed as Acting Sergeant on 30th October, 1916.
Acting Sergeant Hubert Chamberlain Vale, Service number 2913, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Benalla (A24) on 9th November, 1916 with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, 5th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 9th January, 1917.
He had been written up on 30th December, 1916 while At Sea – 1. Disobedience of orders & 2. Using obscene language to an N.C.O. He was reprimanded by Lt. Col. P. W. Fallon on 3rd January, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
Acting Sergeant Hubert Chamberlain Vale was marched in to Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire, England on 10th January, 1917. V. O. (Voyage Only) Sergeant Hubert Chamberlain Vale reverted to rank of Private on 11th January, 1917 on arriving in England at Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire.
From 21st January, 1917 Private Vale was to be Corporal (E.D.P – extra duty pay). He was sent sick to Brigade Hospital on 22nd January, 1917 & rejoined his Unit on 2nd February, 1917.
He was to be Temporary Corporal from 1st March, 1917 on becoming Permanent Cadre with Pioneer Training Battalion (under para 213 AIF Orders dated 19th August, 1916).
Temporary Corporal Vale was written up for an Offence while posted at Larkhill – A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from midnight on 10th March, 1917 to 7 am on 12th March, 1917. He was awarded a total forfeiture of 2 days’ pay & also reverted to permanent grade of Private by Major T. F. Rutledge on 12th March, 1917.
On 20th March, 1917 Private Vale proceeded overseas to France from Pioneer Training Battalion. He was marched in to 3rd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 21st March, 1917. Corporal Vales was marched out to his Unit on 8th April, 1917 & was taken on strength of 3rd Pioneer Battalion in the Field on 9th April, 1917 from 5th Reinforcements.
Private Vale was sent sick to Hospital on 18th September, 1917. He was admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance on 18th September, 1917 with Macula then transferred & admitted the same day to 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques with “def. vision”. Private Vale was transferred to his Unit on 22nd September, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from Hospital the same day.
He was sent to Bombing School at Morbecque from 4th November, 1917. He rejoined his Unit in the Field on 19th November, 1917.
Private Hubert Chamberlain Vale was wounded in action on 9th April, 1918. He was admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance on 9th April, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to face & thigh then transferred the same day to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital. Private Vale was admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 11th April, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to face & thigh. He was transferred to England & embarked on Hospital Ship Panama on 12th April, 1918.
On 13th April, 1918 Private Vale was admitted to Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England with shell wounds to face, head & right thigh – severe.
Private Hubert Chamberlain Vale died at 9.40 pm on 30th April, 1918 at Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England from Streptococcal Septicaemia following wounds received in action.
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England – Plot number N. 9286 (Soldiers Plot) and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
Newspaper item – Gloucestershire Echo, England – 4 May, 1918:
HEROES FROM THE ANTIPODES
Australians’ Funerals in Cheltenham
Touching Scenes
The funerals of four Australian soldiers who have given their lives for the Empire took place in Cheltenham on Saturday. The first, that of Corpl. Herbert Chamberlain Vale, third son of Mr B. Vale, of 3 Suffolk-square, Cheltenham, who died at the County War Hospital, Epsom, of wound, was private, but in accordance with military regulations, the remains being laid in the local cemetery during the morning. The other three, who had died in Cheltenham military hospitals, in each case was the result of gas poisoning, were buried in the afternoon with full military honours. Of these Private J. H. Fenton, and Private Sidney G. Turner, both aged 27, ____ at the St. John Hospital, Gloucestershire and the third, Private James Warren ____ at Suffolk Hall.
There were present at the funeral of Cpl. Vale his parents, four sisters and two brother (Sec.-Lieut. H. A. Vale, ___ter Regt., and Air Mechanic C. B. Vales, R.N.A.S.) and his brother-in-law (Sergt. G. L. Swann, of the Canadians). with ___was a regimental sergeant-major representing the Australian Administrative __ London. The coffin was draped with a Union Jack, and the colours of Australia were on the hearse. The Rector of Cheltenham (Rev. H. A. Wilson) officiated. In addition to the family wreaths there was one from the nursing staff of the County War Hospital, Epsom, and one from Sir John and Lady Searle…..
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/cheltenham.html
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Arrived in Australia at the age of 20. Son of Mr & Mrs B. Vale of Suffolk Square, Cheltenham, England. Previously served in the Royal Navy for seven years. Brother of Lt. H.A, Vale of the 14th Gloucester Regiment.
Husband of Christina Vale of Wright Street, Hurstville, NSW
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Click images to start slideshow.