GRUBB, John Coleman
| Service Number: | 7276 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 12 July 1885 |
| Home Town: | Zeehan, West Coast, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia , 26 October 1949, aged 64 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Plot - Methodist, Dd, Number 341 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7276, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 7276, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 7276, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Bee, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Dianne Dimartino
Private John Coleman Grubb
b. 12.07.1885 – d. 26.10.1949
Service No: 7276 – 12 Battalion A.I.F.
John Coleman Grubb was born on 12 July 1885 in Hobart, Tasmania, the seventh child of George and Mary Ann (nee Kay) Grubb. John had 5 brothers and 4 sisters, his youngest sister Alice is my grandmother. His family were one of the early settlers of Zeehan, Tasmania, relocating there in 1891/1892. John’s mother Mary Ann didn’t like it at Zeehan, rumour has it, his father George said “I am never getting on a ship again”, this was the only mode of travel to get to the west coast of Tasmania in those early days and the seas could be treacherous. They would disembark at Trial Harbour, tendered to shore on a small boat. To reach Zeehan was either a long walk or by horse and coach. John’s family remained in Zeehan.
John's family and relatives were well known in Zeehan for businesses and contribution to the West Coast which was very isolated in the early days. They owned a hotel, mines and his uncle was a surveyor and responsible for construction of many roads, bridges, tramways etc in the area.
John was 25 when he enlisted in the A.I.F. at Claremont, Tasmania on 31.10.1916. He was assigned to 24th RFTS (reinforcements), 12th Battalion. John was described as being 5ft 8.5ins, 148lbs, medium complexion and hair with blue eyes. His religion was listed as Church of England.
John embarked from Adelaide aboard “A48 HMAT Seang Bee”[1] on 10.02.17 and disembarked at Devonport, U.K. on 2.05.17. His records indicate they marched into 3rd Tng. Bn. Durrington Camp (approximately 221 kms). He would have remained there until they embarked to France from Southampton on 09.10.17. “Taken on strength ex Rfts” Belgium 16.10.17.
Unfortunately, John’s military career was plagued with medical issues, he contracted “Trench Feet” and admitted to Ontario Military Hospital at Orpington U.K. on 7.1.18. He did return to his unit for a short period of time in 1918 and was readmitted to hospital again towards the end of 1918 for “Trench Feet” and was also impacted mentally.
John returned to Australia on the “Borda” embarking from England on 09.12.19 disembarking in Melbourne on 26.01.20. A letter to his father dated 23.12.19 (his father had already died on 15.05.1917) which would have been received by his sister Maud, conveyed “…it is not possible to deal with mental cases in Tasmania arrangements have been made for him to receive treatment in Victoria…..”
John was discharged on 07.09.1920 due to medical grounds. It is assumed he remained in care in Victoria until he was well enough to be discharged.
John returned to Zeehan in Tasmania and there isn’t any additional information about him from his relatives/descendants who resided there with whom I still have contact.
Looking at the Electoral Rolls, he is recorded in 1922 as a labourer in Zeehan, from 1928 onwards as a miner living at Wilson River, Rosebery District on West Coast of Tasmania to the last Electoral Roll in 1949. He died at Repatriation Hospital in Hobart on 26 October 1949 and is buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.
Wilson River was an area of numerous small workings for “osmiridium”. John would have lived an isolated life in an inhospitable climate and surrounds. Maybe living a solitary life enabled him to cope with his experiences and trauma of the first world war.
Forever in our hearts.
Dianne Dimartino (great niece)
20/1/24
[1] Owned by Lim Chin Tsong, Ragoon originally passenger ship built in 1891 – Leased by the Commonwealth until 12 May 1917
Your service and sacrifice remembered always.