The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Rubery
- First Name:
- Herbert Michael
- Nick Name:
- Bert & Code
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7474
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 6.08.1940
- DOB:
- 7.03.1918
- Place of Birth:
- Gosnells, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Michael John Rubery
- Mothers's Name:
- Esther Mary Rubery (nee French)
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 6, Age 24.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- POW#:
- 1/12199
- Cause of Death:
- Dysentery, Pneumonia and Toxemia
- Place of Death:
- A. G. H. Roberts Barracks Changi
- Date of Death:
- 23.02.1943
- Buried:
- Grave No. 79, A.1.F. Cemetery Changi
General Description
Funeral service was conducted by Chaplain C. G. Sexton from 2/20th Battalion. Bert died of illness 23 Feb 1943 at Australian General Hospital Roberts Barracks, Singapore.
Rubery was with A Coy No. 4 Platoon
Below: Rubery – Pioneering family – Bert’s grandfather died 1901.
In about 1906 Michael Rubery married Esther French in Fremantle. The Rubery family were living at Gosnells when their second child and first daughter, 4 week old Katheleen Mary died of whooping cough on 18 November 1910 and was buried at Kenwick Pioneer Cemetery. The family grew with the arrival of a further five children following on from their eldest son John (Jack). Herbert born in 1915 was their second son. In total there were three daughters and three sons.
It is not known when the Rubery family moved to Byford, however Rubery attended school at Byford.
Herb Rubery last resided at Byford before enlisting. His father died in 1950 at Byford and his mother in 1954.
Please read Byford War Memorial.
Please read Gosnells War Memorial.
His name is also included Armadale War Memorial.
When the ‘Aquitania’ anchored in Gauge Roads off Fremantle on 15 January 1942, Rubery was one of the large number of 2/4th soldiers who left their ship against orders. They wanted to see their families before they headed off for war. The 2/4th had been away from WA in training at SA and NT for 6 months.
Fortunately for Bert he was able to board ‘Aquitania’ the next day on 16 January before it sailed at midday. Nearly 100 men missed their ship. He was fined two pounds!
Bert had ben AWOL on several occasions since enlisting – his punishments included monetary fines, confined to barracks and loss of pay! Bert was obviously a young man who did not mind pushing the boundaries and accepted his punishments in good faith. He was a likeable larrikin.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
