Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

AWM Summary

Capt Claude Henry Stubbings MC, was a clerk from Zeehan, Tasmania, who enlisted in the AIF on 20 August 1914 and was appointed colour sergeant of D Company, 12 Battalion, with the service number 407. He was aged 22 and had previously served in the militia, with 91st Infantry Regiment (Tasmanian Rangers). Stubbings embarked for overseas service at Hobart on 20 October 1914 aboard the transport A2 HMAT Geelong. He was present at the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and was promoted to second lieutenant three days later. On 4 August he was promoted to lieutenant but was evacuated sick to Malta on 21 August, suffering from severe gastro-enteritis. He rejoined his unit on Gallipoli in October. In March 1916 Stubbings transferred to 52 Battalion before leaving for service in France. He was promoted to captain in May 1916 and was appointed adjutant of the battalion in August of that year. The following month he was given the command of the battalion's A company. Stubbings was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the Battle of Messines in 1917. The recommendation for the award reads, 'In the fighting North East of MESSINES from 7th to 11th June 1917, this Officer showed much ability and initiative. His Commanding Officer was wounded whilst leading the Battalion up to the jumping off line and he took over Command. The responsibility of assuming Command of a Battalion just prior to being committed to action was enormous, but this Officer accepted the situation courageously and the success of the Battalion's operation was in no small measure due to his initiative and acumen. He was wounded on the 10th June, whilst leading the Battalion up to the jumping off tape for the second attack.' Stubbings wounds on this occasion were slight and he was able to rejoin his unit in the same month. On 10 August 1918 he suffered a serious gunshot wound to the left thigh, which also fractured his femur. After hospitalisation in France and England his condition was sufficiently stable to allow him to be repatriated to Australia at the beginning of 1919. On arrival in Melbourne he was transferred to 11 Australian General Hospital at Caulfield, housed in a private mansion called 'Glen Eira'. Here he endured a further eight operations on his leg, between April 1919 and February 1921and also contracted osteomyelitis. While still confined to a wheelchair bed he was presented with his Military Cross by the Governor of Victoria. His bed was sometimes towed by a car to Caulfield Racecourse so that he could enjoy a day at the races. Stubbings fell in love with his hospital masseuse (physiotherapist), Catherine Campbell Bothroyd, and they married in 1921 after he was finally discharged from the AIF. He took up a soldier settler block at Red Cliffs in Victoria where he produced citrus fruit. During the Second World War Stubbings was involved with wartime manpower administration. He died in 1950.