Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hubert enlisted on the 11th September, 1916 as a Private in the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 23rd Reinforcement.  He was assigned to the 3rd Machine Gun Squadron.

His next of kin was listed as his mother, Frances (Fannie) Gowling which changed to his father William Gowling due to his mother’s death on the 25th December, 1917.

Hubert sailed from Melbourne to Egypt aboard the HMAT A45 Bulla on the 16th January, 1917.

The HMAT A45 Bulla was originally launched in 1905 as the Hessan under the German Empire.  As the Hessan she sailed into Melbourne on September 3rd, 1914 unaware of the outbreak of the war.  She was seized by the Australian forces and used as a troop carrier under the name of HMAT Bulla.  In 1926 she was sold to W. Schuchmann in Nazi Germany and renamed Weissesee.  She was eventually sunk by an aircraft attack at Hamburg on the 25th July, 1943.  Her wreck was raised in 1949 and scrapped.

It is unclear as to the specific battles Hubert was involved in during his tour in Egypt during World War 1.  The synopsis below briefly outlines the 9th Light Horse Regiments involvement during the timeframe that Hubert was on tour.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment was a mounted infantry in the Australian Army.  It was raised in October 1914 and assigned to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment.  The 9th Light Horse Regiment was awarded 15 battle honours for its role during World War 1,

Once landed in Egypt the 9th Light Horse Regiment was assigned to the Australian Mounted Division in 1917 and subsequently fought in the unsuccessful 1st and 2nd battles of Gaza.

In October 1917 the Australian Mounted Division was involved in the Battle of Beersheba which led to the fall of Gaza.  The Ottoman forces withdrew into Palestine and the Australian Mounted Forces were involved in the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917.

Throughout 1918 the regiment was involved in some unsuccessful raids but in September captured Jenin and Sa’sa’ and entered Damascus in October.

The Armistice was signed in October 1918. 

Hubert returned to Australia from Cairo on the 22/4/2019 aboard the HMAT Warwickshire due to a diagnosis of Malignant Malaria and Secondary Syphilis.  Throughout Hubert’s tour of duty he spent many days in hospital due to the above ailments.

It is believed that Malaria won the war for the Allies due to the way the mosquitos and the effects of Malaria were managed to lessen the effects.  There was a two week window which the Allies utilized while the Ottomans where laid low from the effects of Malaria.  If the Allies hadn’t done this the outcome of World War 1 could have been very different. 

It has been documented that 60,000 troops were affected by Syphilis.  Many medical breakthroughs in the treatment of Malaria and Syphilis came out of the war.

Hubert disembarked in Australia on the 25th may, 1919 and was discharged on the 14th August, 1919.

Upon returning home Hubert returned to his father’s property at Gowling Landing, via Mannum on the River Murray in South Australia and became a farmer. 

At some stage Hubert moved to Victor Harbour.  It is unclear when this occurred.  He also married Kathleen and had 7 children, Douglas, Joyce, Lewis, Constance, Keith, Patricia and Trevor.

During his farming days it is known that Hubert lost a leg due to a farming accident, which led to his death.

Hubert died on the 17th August, 1954 aged 60 years old.  He was survived by his wife, Kathleen and 7 children.  He is buried in the Victor Harbour cemetery.  Kathleen survived into her 90’s.

Hubert was my maternal grandfather’s step brother.  Hubert’s father William Gowling married Annie Hoffman in 1919 after Hubert’s mother had died.  From this second marriage there was a further 4 children of which my Grandfather Kenneth Gowling was one.

This has been an amazing experience, researching and discovering a part of my family history which would have gone unknown.  I am now aware of and have a great respect for my ancestors part in ensuring Australia became the country it is today.