Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick Harold Tubb was born on November 28th, 1881 in Longwood, Victoria. When he was young, he left school to work on his family’s farm. Tubb was commissioned from the Victorian Mountain Rifles and the 58th Infantry and was enlisted into the AIF on the 24th of August 1914. Tubb was posted to the 7th Battalion as a second lieutenant and was promoted to lieutenant on the 1st of February 1915. He later reached Gallipoli in July 1915 and was promoted to captain on the 8th of August 1915. He took over a vital sector of the trench at Lone Pine on the same day with orders to ‘hold it at any cost’.

In the early morning of the 9th of August 1915, the Turks advanced along a sap barricaded with sandbags and launched a huge attack. Tubb was blown from the parapet. Each time the barricade was destroyed, it was rebuilt but eventually, enemy bombing parties succeeded in blowing in the barricade twice, and on both occasions, Tubb held his ground and rebuilt the barricade, even while Tubb was under heavy bomb fire and he was wounded in the arm and scalp.

Tubb evacuated to Britain to recover after the attack on Gallipoli and was awarded the Victoria Cross for the action at Lone Pine. Tubb re-joined his battalion in France in 1917 and he took part in the Menin Road attack in Belgium in September 1917. Tubb showed great courage again after the Lone Pine attack and led his company to their objective but he was wounded by shellfire. He was evacuated and later passed away from the wounds he received and blood loss on the 20th of September 1917. Tubb was named on the roll of honour for all of his bravery he showed in Gallipoli during World War 1.

Lest we forget

Tubb, Frederick Harold (1881–1917)
by H. Murray Hamilton

Frederick Harold Tubb, soldier and grazier, was born on 28 November 1881 at Longwood, Victoria, fifth child of Harry Tubb, teacher, and his wife Emma Eliza, née Abbott, both English born. His father, head teacher at the local school, subsequently took up a selection in the area. Fred obtained his merit certificate and left school to manage the farm; he later worked his own land. He was 5 ft 5¾ ins (167 cm) tall, an extrovert and a born leader. After volunteer service with the Victorian Mounted Rifles (1900-02) and the Australian Light Horse (1902-11), he joined the 60th Battalion, Australian Military Forces, and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1912. He transferred to the 58th Battalion in 1913.

Appointed to the Australian Imperial Force on 24 August 1914 as a second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Tubb was promoted lieutenant on 1 February 1915. He reached Gallipoli on 6 July and was gazetted captain on 8 August. On the same day he took over a vital sector of captured trench at Lone Pine, with orders to 'hold it at any cost'. Early on the 9th the Turks launched a furious attack, advancing along a sap which had been barricaded with sandbags. From the parapet, with eight men, Tubb fired at the enemy; two corporals in the trench caught enemy bombs and threw them back or smothered them with greatcoats. Although Tubb was blown from the parapet and the barricade repeatedly wrecked, each time it was rebuilt. He inspired his men, joking and shouting encouragement. A huge explosion blew in the barricade and killed or wounded most of the defenders. Wounded in the arm and scalp, Tubb was left with Corporals A. S. Burton and W. Dunstan; he led them into action, shooting three Turks with his revolver and providing covering fire while the barricade was rebuilt. A bomb burst, killing Burton and temporarily blinding Dunstan. Tubb then obtained additional help, but the Turks did not renew the attack.

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/tubb-frederick-harold-8865 (adb.anu.edu.au)