July 19, 2016 marked the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles.
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The centenary of Wellington’s Ted Hubbard’s death during that battle, was one of those officially listed as ‘Missing’ .
Ted’s parents made enquiries with Red Cross about whether he was actually taken prisoner or if one of this comrades within the battalion may have known of his final moments?
Three of Ted’s colleagues from B Company, Private’s McKell, Crossley and Taylor, responded and all agreed Ted had been killed outright (as a result of a head wound) as the 53rd Battalion men had advanced towards the German lines.
Private Arthur McKell, Private Herbert Crossley were both captured during Fromelles, andspent the remainder of the war as POWs in Germany.
McKell was actually Edgar Nixon, he declared his true name while in the prisoner camp. He hailed from Orange, while Crossley hailed from Kogarah.
Private Eli Taylor had been in the same platoon as Ted (7 Platoon) .
Ted was from Maryvale near Wellington and survived the bloodbath at Fromelles, and continued to serve with the 53rd Battalion.
Wounded in April 1917, he was brought home.
Ted’s father, Arthur wrote to the army from his home at ‘Seatonville’ at Maryvale in August 1917.
Arthur wrote: “Re No 3327A Edwin Arthur Hubbard (Dec’d) late 53rd Battalion.
“I being his father. I would be glad to receive any moneys due prior to his death. Also personal effects such as watch, trinkets & disc if possible (but don’t send his uniform).”
Ted’s father was sent his Victory Medal, and the death plaque (known as the dead man’s penny).
He never appears to have been sent any of the ‘trinkets’ he requested.
Marj Smith from Wellington (Ted’s niece) has never forgotten Ted, she provided information on Ted in ‘Wellington’s Finest’ book and has keenly followed the excavations of the graves at Pheasant Wood, from where so many of the Fromelles missing have been identified.
Ted (to date) has not been identified as one of those men.
Marj has added a plaque to Arthur Hubbard’s headstone at Wellington cemetery.
Ted’s name is there acknowledging he lies a long way from home over in France.