Hubert Maitland Armstrong MM
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Death | 31 May 1956, aged 67 |
| Place of Death | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 32 years, 7 months |
| Description | 5' 9½ " (1.77m) tall; weight 155 lbs (70.3 kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair |
| Occupation | labourer |
| Religion | Salvation Army |
| Address | NOK "The Hermitage", Karragullen, Western Australia. |
| Next of Kin | Sister Mrs Olivia Hanbury |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3014 |
| Date of Enlistment | 5 Oct 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 51st Battalion, 7th Reinforcements / 13th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Date of Return | 28 Aug 1919 - 15 Oct 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A61 Kanowna |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott |
Pre War
Although working in Wagin at time of enlistment, gave Kelmscott as his permanent address.
War Service
In camp during week 1 is allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, before transferring to 6/44, and then a week later to 7/51. Hubert is one of 13 men from reinforcement drafts on board the Argyllshire who had links to the Armadale-Kelmscott district. The others being: Arthur Thomas Orton (12th Battalion); George Henry Aspinall, Robert Prior Bailey, and Isaac Robert Powell (16th Battalion); William Wilfred Gerald Liddington (28th Battalion), William Bingham, Robert Frank Bickford, Robert Hastings Joyce, Beverley Loxton Bennett and Norman Leslie Skewes (44th Battalion), Albert Nock (48th Battalion), and Charles Leonard Lockhart (51st Battalion like Hubert).
On arrival in England Hubert was sent to the 13th Training Battalion in Rollestone After 3 months training he travelled to France via Folkestone and joined his Battalion on 15 Apr 1917at Becourt where they were resting behind the lines.
On 13 Oct 1917 he was hospitalised in France, a day after performing the act that led to him being awarded the Military Medal. On 15 Dec 1917 amidst snow and cold winds he rejoined his unit at Templeux-la-Fosse between Bapaume and St Quentin, but by 8 Jan 1918 he was again ill and on 15 Jan he embarked on HMHS St Andrew for England where he was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham with severe Nephritis.
Whilst in England Hubert was court martialled (2 May 1918) for being AWOL but was found not guilty; being considered to have been ill with Nephritis. In April and May 1918 he spent time in Bulford Hospital, being treated for Venereal Disease, before returning to France via Folkestone on 22 Sep 1918.
Hubert rejoined his unit on 27 Sep 1918 in Guynemicourt where they were training, but on 15 Oct 1918 he was again in hospital. Returned to Australia in Aug 1919 due to defective vision as a result of meningitis, and discharged 5th Military District as unfit after a lengthy period of treatment on 3rd April 1920.
Armstrong reacted to a call for stretcher bearers during a heavy retaliatory bombardment that followed the Australian unsuccessful attempt to capture Passchendaele Ridge on 12 October 1917.[1] Casualty List 382 "seriously ill".[2] 450th Casualty List..ill .Pte Herbert Maitland Armstrong, M.M., second occasion...[3] " 456th Casualty List - ill - Pte Armstrong Hubert Maitland (M.M.), (Kelmscott) third occasion"...[4]
Post War
In 1925 he was living at 77 Brisbane street North Perth, working as a labourer; in 1931 with wife Elizabeth (nee Collett who he married in 1926) in Gingin as a timber worker; in 1936 at 81 King George street, South Perth no occupation listed; in 1943 had moved to 107 Berwick street, Victoria Park, and remained there until he dies. Elizabeth died in 1949 aged 71.
Notes
Award Commentary: Military Medal "In operations near BROODSEINDE on 12th October 1917, these men did splendid work as Stretcher Bearer in going to the assistance and collecting wounded men under very heavy shell fire and at great personal risk. It was entirely due to their gallantry and devotion to duty that casualties were cleared quickly and many lives saved." (Two others recommended for gallantry award with Armstrong)[5]