The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Samuel Grau Hubbe, Third Bushmen, South Australian Contingent, Colonial Military Forces, Boer War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on Captain Samuel Grau Hubbe, Third Bushmen, South Australian Contingent, Colonial Military Forces, Boer War.

Captain Samuel Grau Hubbe, Third Bushmen South Australian Contingent
KIA 12 September 1900
Photograph (of grave only): P00175.102; also B3838 (http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/14294822) Image from State Library of South Australia

Story delivered 17 September 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Captain Samuel Grau Hubbe.

Samuel Grau Hubbe had led an interesting life by the time he volunteered for the Third Bushman's contingent to South Africa. He had served an apprenticeship in an iron foundry in Adelaide, had been a knockabout on a remote station, an overseer of stock, a member of a construction party building the overland telegraph line to Darwin, and the Inspector of Rabbit Districts. He had crossed the continent by horse six times. He also had extensive military experience as a "loyal officer of the civil service for twenty years" and three years in a rifle corps. When he volunteered at the age of 52 he was given the rank of captain and made commanding officer of the Third South Australian Bushmen's Contingent.

Hubbe's South Australian Bushman's Contingent arrived in the middle of a British counter-offensive against the Boers, which resulted in the capture of most of the major towns and cities of South Africa. However, the Boers gradually changed their tactics and began to conduct guerrilla warfare against the British and Australian forces.

In September 1900 Hubbe was directing an attack on a Boer stronghold near Ottoshoop in the Transvaal. He successfully led his men through "a terrific storm of bullets" to occupy the position with the loss of just one horse. However, the position proved to be untenable and an order to retire was received. This was done, again through a "perfect hail of bullets", with Captain Hubbe displaying "the utmost coolness and courage in arranging the order of retirement". Again, they all somehow avoided being hit. Hubbe rode out last to help anyone who needed it. He also doubled up behind him on his horse a trooper who had given his own horse to a wounded man. But as Hubbe paused to check that all the squadron was present, he was hit by a stray bullet in the chest, crying out as he fell that he was hit.

Hubbe's lieutenant, writing to his new widow, expressed the wish that "the knowledge that your late husband met his death as a true soldier, the greatest and most honourable death of all, will give you strength to bear your sad bereavement." Hubbe was survived by his wife and five children, the eldest of whom was 15.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with nearly 600 others from the Boer War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Captain Samuel Grau Hubbe, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.