There was a large crowd of family and friends gathered on the Port Melbourne pier to bid farewell to these Australian soldiers who were heading off to war – an emotional time for all.
Harry sent this postcard of his ship’s departure to his dear friend Louisa in Kyabram:
Dear Louie, The boys saying their last Goodbye at Port Melbourne pier – “Till they Meet Again” singing as she left “It is a Long Way to Tipperary”. Note the ribbons – it was a lovely sight well worth seeing.
So goodbye Louie – Hoping we will meet again – Kind regards to your sister. I remain Yours Every Truly – Harry.
Harry Stubbs was born in England in 1891, arrived in Australia in 1911 and was known to be working on an orchard in Kyabram in 1914.
He enlisted on July 20, 1915, where his address was stated as Bradley St, Kyabram. He served in Egypt and France on the Western Front and was invalided home to Australia in April, 1917, and returned to Kyabram.
Private Harry Stubbs was elected chairman at a meeting held at Mate’s Hotel Kyabram in February, 1918, to discuss forming a Kyabram returned soldiers’ association. They wanted to form a club in Kyabram to keep the men together; to help one another and to get people to help them.
In 1918, while living in Bradley St, Kyabram, Harry purchased a soldiers’ settlement block near Tongala. He married Louisa Margaret Fuller (recipient of this postcard) in December, 1918.
Thank you to Rex Stubbs and Chris George for their contribution.
• Compiled by Eileen Sullivan, Kyabram Historical Society voluntary librarian.
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