Major Frederick Harold Tubb

Ranks Held Lieutenant, Major
Birth Date 1881-11-28
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Longwood
Death Date 1917-09-20
Death Place Belgium: Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Passchendaele
Final Rank Major
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963
Published in London Gazette in 1915-10-15
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-02-24
Description

Frederick Tubb was born at Longwood, Victoria, in November 1881. He left school to manage the family farm, and later became a grazier in his own right. He served with the Victorian Mounted Rifles and the 58th Infantry Regiment in which he was commissioned. Tubb enlisted in the AIF in August 1914 and was posted to the 7th Battalion as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in February 1915, reached Gallipoli in July, and was gazetted captain on 8 August. On the same day he took over a vital sector of trench at Lone Pine, with orders to 'hold it at any cost'.

Early the following morning the Turks launched a massive attack, advancing along a sap barricaded with sandbags. Although Tubb was blown from the parapet and the barricade repeatedly wrecked, each time it was rebuilt. At one point a large explosion blew in the barricade and Tubb, wounded in the arm and scalp, was left with Corporals Alexander Burton and William Dunstan. He led them into action, shooting three Turks and providing covering fire while the barricade was rebuilt.

After the attack Tubb was evacuated to Britain to recover, and was awarded the Victoria Cross. Rejoining his battalion in France in 1917, he took part in the Menin Road attack in Belgium in September. Again Tubb showed great courage, leading his company to its objective, but he was mortally wounded by shell-fire. He was buried in the Lijessenthoek military cemetery, Belgium.

Citation (abridged):
In the early morning of 9 August the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of a newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a trench and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only a foot of it standing. Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Strong enemy bombing parties succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Tubb, although wounded in head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness, rebuilt it and succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 28 November 1881
Date of enlistment 12 August 1914
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 24 August 1914 Appointed 2nd Lieutenant with 7 Battalion.
Date of embarkation 19 October 1914
Date promoted 01 February 1915 Appointed Lieutenant.
Date promoted 06 August 1915 Appointed Captain.
Date of honour or award 09 August 1915 Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey whilst serving with 7 Battalion, 2 Brigade, 1 Division as a Captain
Date of recommendation honour or award 20 August 1915
Date of recommendation honour or award 01 September 1915
Date of recommendation honour or award 16 October 1915
Date promoted 17 February 1917 Appointed Major.
Date of death 20 September 1917
Date wounded 20 September 1917 Wounded and evacuated, later dying from the wounds received.