Tubbs Hill, near Euroa, early 1970s.
Photo: John Arnold
It's a Kenworth John drove for Cameron's Transport and it was taken at Tubb's Hill, on the old Hume Highway near Euroa, in the early 1970s. If you are interested this is a S-model Kenworth, with a GM 6V71 engine and a 12 speed Spicer gear box (and see more here)
Anyway, I wondered why Tubb's Hill was named that and discovered that it was named after World War One, Victoria Cross recipient, Frederick Harold Tubb. In the same area is a Maygar Hill, named after Boer War Victoria Cross recipient, Leslie Cecil Maygar. It's an interesting way to recognise war veterans and a bit different from an Honor Board or Avenue of Honor. It's probably peaceful now, but Tubb's Hill and Maygar's Hill wouldn't have been very peaceful until they were by-passed in the 1980s or 1990s - there would have been a continuous stream of trucks going through the gears night and day in the early days.
North Eastern Ensign, May 4 1934
Captain Frederick Harold Tubb - the namesake of Tubb's Hill
Image: Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013425
Frederick Harold Tubb (1881-1917), was born at Longwood, near Euroa, the son of Harry and Emma (nee Abbott) Tubb, of St Helena, Longwood. He enlisted on August 12, 1914 at the age of 34. He was a grazier. His brothers, Alfred, Arthur and Frank also enlisted. Frederick was awarded his Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Lone Pine. Captain Tubb Died of Wounds September 20, 1917.
This is Captain Tubb's citation from the London Gazette of October 15, 1915.
Was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9th August 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieut. Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew up a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing but Lieut. Tubb led his men back repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion, Lieut. Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under heavy bomb fire. Corporal Burton, see below, was also awarded a Victoria Cross for the same incident.
Captain Tubb has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, you can read it here. You can read his full military history in file at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie Cecil Maygar - the namesake of Maygar's Hill
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013287
Leslie Cecil Maygar (1868 - 1917) was born at Kilmore to Edwin and Helen (nee Grimshaw) Maygar He served in the Boer War, in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, which was where he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He also served in the First World War, where he enlisted on August 18, 1914 at the age of 43. His occupation was grazier and his address was Strathearn, Longwood. He Died of Wounds November 11, 1917.
Lieutenant- Colonel Maygar's Victoria Cross was reported in The Leader - The action for which Lieutenant Maygar receives the cross "for valor" was performed in a fight at Grelhoutboom. One of his men was left dishorsed on an open plain, under heavy Boer fire, and Lieutenant Maygar, dismounting, placed the man on his own horse, himself running the gantlet of the Boer fire of foot until he could reach cover. (The Leader February 15, 1902) During the Great War, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned in Dispatches, three times.
Lieutenant-Colonel Maygar has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Corporal Alexander Stewart Burton
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1498
Alexander Stewart Burton (1893 - 1915) Service Number 384. Alexander was born at Kyneton, the son of Alexander and Isabella (nee Briggs) Burton, and he enlisted at the age of 21 on August 18, 1914. His occupation was ironmonger and he was living at Binney street in Euroa. Alexander was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on either August 8 or 9, 1915.
Corporal Burton's citation reads -
For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine Trenches in the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 9th August 1915.
In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporal Burton and Dunstan and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb with the two Corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantry building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.
Corporal Burton has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Corporal William Dunstan (Service Number 2130) of Ballarat was also awarded the Victoria Cross, I have written about him here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-chalet-geneve-on-albert-park-lake.html
Trove list
I have created a sort list of articles on the three men on Trove, you can access it here.
I have created a sort list of articles on the three men on Trove, you can access it here.
There is a Victoria Cross Memorial Park in Kirkland Avenue, Euroa, which has statues of the three men. See more details here http://www.nevictoria.com/euroa.htm
