Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Roy William and his twin brother, Edgar Murray were born in North Adelaide on the 13th March 1917 to Edgar William and Florence Archer Grubb. The twins also had a sister, Airlie Archer. For a time, the family lived at Murray Bridge where Edgar was employed as a truck officer with the South Australian Railways. There, he was an instigator in seeking more equitable payment for freight clerks who also assumed responsibilities of the station master when they were off duty at break-of-gauge stations. It was while posted at Murray Bridge that tragedy struck the family. Firstly, Roy’s twin, Edgar died after a short illness on November 8th 1927 aged just 10 years. Three months later and just prior to Roy’s 11th birthday, his mother, Florence died on the 23rd March ’28. She was interred with her young son at Murray Bridge.
Because of his father’s work with the Railways, the family moved to Peterborough, the busy mid-north town, which was ideally placed at the intersection of the East-West Railway linking Broken Hill and Port Pirie, and the North South railway between Adelaide and Alice Springs. Both Edgar and Roy became heavily involved in the local golf club. Roy was fortunate to have met highly regarded local Peterborough lawyer, Fred Adams who had begun his practice in the town in 1926 before moving to Adelaide in 1940 where Roy was articled to him. Adams had been Honorary Solicitor for the Soldiers' Memorial Hospital as well as being retained by the Corporation, and the District Councils of Peterborough and Orroroo. He initiated the formation of the Literary and Debating Society, also acting as an adjudicator at the Peterborough Competitions. Like Roy and his father, Adams played both golf and tennis. Roy had commenced his law studies at Adelaide University, in March topping the ‘Elements of Law and Legal and Constitutional History’ subject in March ’38. He completed a further three units of study however, when WWII erupted, he put his education on hold, enlisting just after his 23rd birthday on the 21st June ’40.
Initial days for Roy were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Brief pre-embarkation leave followed before the 2/48th the Battalion contingent then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where Roy’s Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. Soon after arriving in Gaza, Roy was unfortunate to contract mumps but was able to return to his battalion via a placement in the cash office but still with his 2/48th battalion.
By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk. Conditions were constantly challenging and dangerous, with the list of injuries, deaths and captures being reported back home.
In an early book by Murray Farquhar, ‘Derrick VC’ explains that by April ’41 Roy had turned his writing skills to more important fields than law essays. ‘Early in the siege, budding journalists in the Force brought out a daily rag, The Dinkum Oil. It served a variety of purposes. It was always readable, although some cruder minds suggested it would be better put to a non-literary use. And it countered enemy propaganda. Not to be outdone, on 30 April, the 2/48th Battalion brought out its own news sheet. Early on it carried the grand title, Grubb’s Gazette. Roy Grubb, its editor, was on the battalion orderly room staff. He is now a district court judge in his native South Australia. Later to became the Khamaseen Kronicle. Oddly enough, it circulates to this day, keeping surviving unit members in touch with each other.’
John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ expands on the need for such a publication and the positive effect it had on troops. ‘Stationary was scarce, and the issue of one sheet of writing paper to each man, and one envelope between four did not do much to help. Towards the end of April the unit paper, Grubb’s Gazette, had come into being. This news-sheet was edited by Corporal Roy Grubb, with George Bonney, who, like Grubb was from battalion headquarters, as assistant. These two men did a great job in getting the news of the outside to the men in the line. By May the paper was a regular feature, popular with everyone. Copies went forward with the stores at night when quartermasters sent food and ammunition to the companies. Articles, poems and sketches were sent in, and many of these appeared in print. The paper did much to squash rumours, and it let the men know what was happening in other companies and battalions. It was particularly welcome in the Salient, where a man’s world was his post, and no contact with other platoons was possible.’
Back home on leave in July ‘41 Joyce Winifred Watson from Forest Gardens, the Watson’s only child and Roy announced their engagement. Later in the year and again back overseas in September, Roy wrote to the local Times and Northern Advertiser expressing his appreciation for the handknitted pullover he had received from a Mrs Kahle. ‘The appreciation expressed in the letter is very encouraging to those who spend so much time doing knitting for our "boys" of the Fighting Forces.’ Roy wrote: “Dear Mrs. Kahle, I am writing to convey to you my sincerest thanks for a beautifully knitted pullover, which was issued to me yesterday through the F.F.C.F. and which, according to the slip middled, was knitted by you. What added considerably to my pleasure at receiving the pullover, was the fact that it had come from Peterborough, for that town was my home for five years prior to my enlistment. Since embarkation however I understand that my parents have been transferred to Adelaide. I hope however through my work always to have an interest in Peterborough. I suppose you know of Alex Harding and Bill Snider. They are both in this battalion and I see them quite frequently. They are both doing good jobs. (Alex has recently been promoted to the rank of Corporal). The F.F.C.F. has been doing a wonderful job for us out here and, believe me, we do appreciate all you at home are doing for us. Thanking you once again, and with kindest regards, yours sincerely, R. W. Grubb.” Within a year, the news reached Peterborough that Cpl. William George Snider was wounded in action on July 18 and that Alex Harding was killed on the 22nd July ’42.
Whilst in the Middle East, in April ’42 Roy was promoted to Sergeant. A brief return home was then followed by service at Milne Bay in New Guinea. On returning to Australia, Roy was detached to Headquarters, 9th Australian Division.
Lieutenant Roy was able to return with his father to Peterborough just prior to his marriage to Joyce on the 26th April ’45 at St John’s Church in Halifax street before enjoying a month of leave, then an overseas stint at Wewak. By August Roy was then appointed to the Australian Army Education Service with regimental Seniority, before being detached to Headquarters 6 Australian Division.
The following year Roy’s parents moved from Peterborough and were given a farewell by members of the Peterborough Golf Club, which he had served so well. In February ’46 Roy was transferred to the Education Service, SA before finally being discharged. The following January, their daughter, Judith Anne was christened in the same church where her parents were married. In a memorable historic touch, reported by the Advertiser ‘She will wear the Duncan-Lawes family christening robe, which was hand made by the Canterbury Cathedral Women's Guild for that family and is an exquisite robe of lace and tucked fine madapolam. The godmothers will be Misses Gertrude Duncan-Lawes. Daisy Wells, and Anne Riches. After the christening relatives and a few intimate friends will be entertained at the home of Miss Daisy Wells, who is godmother to Mrs. Roy Grubb as well as her baby daughter.’
Post war, Roy was able to return to his law studies, eventually being admitted to the Bar in ’48 with 14 others, a record number since April, 1938. Roy was one of seven whose parents had not been lawyers. He was fortunate that in December, the Full Court granted an exemption from ‘certain rules for admission to the Bar, to Roy William Grubb, of Leader street, Forestville, on the grounds of his war service.’ He was also able to continue the partnership with his early mentor, Fred Adams in Adams & Grubb. Sadly, 53-year-old Fred, a prominent Adelaide Barrister and Solicitor died unexpectedly in 1950.
Within months, Roy was involved in a fatal accident with a motorcycle. Despite trying to swerve to avoid the collision, the motor cyclist struck the near-side front door of Roy’s car. It was a particularly challenging event.
Roy returned to his interest in performing with the Independent Playhouse, an interest that had lapsed because of the war. He joined the Adelaide Repertory Theatre with productions of Esther McCracken's delightful comedy. "Quiet Week-End" where Roy was reported as having some funny scenes to put over, doing particularly well with his ‘golf and baby Richard’ stories. In the euphoria of peace, The Repertory Theatre hosted a fancy-dress Christmas party at the Tivoli in ’47 with the News reporting that ‘Mr. Roy Grubb came as a Christmas fairy. His wife was a little girl of the Victorian era dressed in pantaloons. checked gingham. and with bows in her hair.’ Many other productions followed including Lesley Storm's play 'Great Day,’ where Roy was praised for his ‘neat characterisation’, ‘The Gleam’ where he was lauded for his ‘excellent individual performance’. Roy and Joyce were also part of the celebration for Mitcham’s Centenary in March ’53 where the couple played the roles of Sir Henry Fox Young and Lady Young. Many other plays followed, usually at the Tivoli including ‘Don’t Listen Ladies’, 'Night Was Our Friend,' ‘Music at Night’ and ‘I remember Mamma’. He and Joy also turned their talents to being producers of Christopher Fry's clever Old English comedy, 'The Lady's Not For Burning’, acclaimed as being the Repertory's best all-round performance of the season in ‘54.
Such was Roy’s passion for theatre that when Adelaide's Old Vic performed Richard III, in April ’48 the News reported that ‘First in the queue was Mr. Roy Grubb, a Repertory actor. He had arranged relief by his wife, Joy Watson, who appeared in the last Repertory play, "Susan and God," a niece, Mrs. Gwen Pritchard, and a nephew, Mr. Noel Rose.’ He had queued for almost 26 hours.
By ’72 the Commonwealth Gazette had announced a ‘military title equivalent to the substantive, temporary or honorary rank shown, 29 April 1972’ to Royal Australian Army Educational Corps—SX6059 Lieutenant R W Grubb. He had served Australia well.
Aged 74, Roy died at North Adelaide on the 18th March ’91 and is now buried at Centennial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.