Stuart Alan Webb

Stuart Alan Webb

While a POW in Germany. courtesy Bernd Gossen
Personal Information
Date of Birth	18 Jul 1889
Place of Birth	Esk, Queensland
Death	30 Jun 1964
Place of Death	Newcastle, New South Wales
Age at Enlistment	25 years old
Description	5' 11½" (1.82m) tall ; 170 lbs 77.111 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Miner
Religion	Methodist
Address	Cardiff, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Annie May Webb
Military Information
Reg Number	2247
Date of Enlistment	26 Jul 1917
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement C Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	4 Oct 1915 ‒ 27 Oct 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A20 Hororata
Date of Return	29 Jul 1919 ‒ 27 Sep 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Main
Fate	Wounded in Action 27 Jun 1916, Fromelles area Wounded in Action 16 Nov 1916 Gueudecourt, later Prisoner of War Repatriated to the UK 17 Dec 1918 Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (South panel) The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

During 1913 Stuart married Annie May Davis (1893 - 1965) in Collie, Western Australia. Daughter Eileen May, born 18 Jun 1913, died 5 Feb 1956.

War Service

Three weeks after entering camp, Stuart was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and travelled with them to Egypt where on 19 Jan 1916 Stuart was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt, shortly after the battalion had arrived back from the Dardanelles.

On 14 Mar 1916 the battalion travelled to Alexandria where they arrived at 6:30am the next day, and boarded HMAT A32 Themistocles for France which they entered via Marseilles, at 3:30pm on 21 Mar 1916. On 28 Mar 1916 Stuart was promoted to Corporal, and on 24 Jun 1916 to Acting Sergeant. In the evening of 26/27 Jun 1916, Stuart received a shrapnel wound to the left buttock while the battalion was taking over the front line trenches from the 26th Battalion in the Bois Grenier area near Armentieres. Treated by the 73rd and 72nd Field Ambulances, he was admitted to the 25th General Hospital in Boulogne, before moving to the No 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne.

He recovered in time to rejoin the 28th Battalion on 2 Aug 1916 as a Corporal near Pozières as they prepared to attack the German trenches north of the Pozières ruins. On 13 Aug 1916 he was promoted Temporary Sergeant (confirmed in that rank on 6 Sep 1916). After rebuilding its strength, on 14 Nov 1916 the 28th Battalion, with others, attacked the German front line at a point known as The Maze, capturing a section of their trenches.

However, two days later, a sudden German bombing (hand grenades) attack resulted in a number of men becoming isolated and forced to surrender after an hour battling the Germans. During this fight Stuart received shrapnel wounds to his right shoulder and both thighs.

1610 Pte Jack Brown later advised authorities that he had seen Sergeant Webb, and had left him in the German lines wounded, but was certain that he had been brought out and was in hospital in Cambrai. Reported Missing in Action by his CO, he had been interned at Group IV, Minden, Westphalia, Germany and Gefangenenlagers, Friedrichsfeld, Germany..

Repatriated after the Armistice, he was processed through Rippon in northern England on 17 Dec 1918. Given leave, he reported to the No 2 Command Depot Weymouth on 22 Jan 1919. During March 1919 he spent a week in hospital before returning to Australia where he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 29 Nov 1919.

Post War

Wife was initially living in Cardiff, a small township near Collie. By July 1916 his wife had moved to Pelaw Main, NSW, but by March 1919 she is again in Cardiff where Stuart rejoins her post discharge. Still there on the 1922 Electoral Roll.

By 1930 they have moved to Aberdare street, Kurri Kurri, NSW where Stuart is working as a miner. In 1935 Stuart has become a furnace man and they had moved to 51 Kitchener parade, Mayfield, NSW and then by 1949 to 18 Margaret street, Mayfield and remain there until after the 1963 Electoral Roll.

Stuart Alan jnr, born 1923, an assistant surveyor, lived at 3 Kitchener Parade in Mayfield.

Notes

The photo is one that he gave to a French friend and fellow POW Emile Remes. I was later purchased on e-bay by Bernd Gossen. Stuart's connection to Kelmscott is not clear, however he was the only S. Webb who enlisted in WA. 6840 John Stephen Goodman Webb signed his name 'Stephen Webb', but his connection is even less likely.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial
• Ballarat POW Memorial