Pte Hubert William Marks
Australian War MemorialHubert Marks was born in Wellington, New South Wales in late 1896. He was the eldest of six children born to William Marks and his wife Bridgett.
The family lived in the Naima Falls area of Wellington throughout Hubert’s childhood, where he likely attended the local public school for his education. Little else in known of Hubert’s early life, beyond the fact he spent six months a a member of the local militia at some stage after finishing his schooling.
Hubert enlisted in the Australia Imperial Force on the 15th of July 1915, and was allotted to the 10th reinforcements of the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion with the rank of private. After three months training in Australia, Private Hubert Marks departed Sydney in HMAT Warilda on the 8th of October 1915, bound for Egypt.
Hubert arrived in Egypt as the Australian forces were preparing to evacuate Gallipoli, and instead spent the winter of 1915-1916 training in Egypt. He joined the 4th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir in late January, and only a few weeks later was taken on strength of the newly-formed 56th Battalion as part of the “doubling” of the AIF.
Only a month after joining the 56th Battalion, Hubert was transferred to the 5th Division Artillery, and was taken on strength of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade on the 17th of March. After another two months of training in Egypt, now with the artillery, Hubert was again transferred to a new unit, this time to the 5th Pioneer Battalion in mid-May.
Hubert and the rest of the 5th Pioneer Battalion left Egypt on in mid-June 1916, and arrived in France a week later. Pioneer Battalions provided light infantry who were able to undertake some engineer functions, including digging trenches, labouring, constructing light railways, and undertaking battlefield clearance. Typically, members of pioneer battalions possessed relevant trade qualifications or had experience working in mines or construction.
Serving with the 5th Australian Division, the battalion began its Western Front experience in norther France, laying telephone cables and constructing railway lines before supporting the disastrous attack at Fromelles on the 19th of July.
After the battle, the pioneers remained in the area, undertaking construction work around Fauquissart. They stayed in northern France for the rest of the year and the bitter winter, continuing to undertake construction and repair works.
In spring 1917, the pioneers took part in the pursuit of German forces following their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. In May, the supported the Second Battle of Bullecourt, helping to construct a defensive mine to the east of the town.
Like many of the Australian forces, in mid-1917 the 5th Pioneer Battalion moved from France into Belgium to support the fighting around Ypres. By September, they were constructing plank roads behind the lines around Zillebeke, enabling artillery and supplies to reach their positions ahead of the planned offensive later in the month.
On the 15th of September, Hubert suffered a bomb wound to his right thigh and was eventually evacuated to England for further medical treatment. He spent the next three months recovering from his wound at the Military Hospital in Boscombe, and passed the winter in camp in England preparing to return to the Western Front.
After seven months away from his battalion, Hubert rejoined the pioneers at the end of April 1918, just in time to blunt the German spring offensive and take part in the minor attacks that followed.
In August the allies launched their Hundred Days Offensive, and the pioneers were brought in to support actions around Peronne at the end of August and the subsequent advance.
In late September, the 5th Pioneers fought in their final action of the war during the Battle of St Quentin Canal. The Germans had been using the canal as an additional defensive barrier ahead of the Hinendburg Line, and Australia, American, and British troops were brought in to attack the position. Beginning on the 27th of September, the allies had broken through part of the Hindenburg Line defences on the Canal by the 2nd October and opened up a gap over approximately 17 kilometres in the line. This success had come at a cost, however. The operation cost the 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions 2,577 casualties.
Along with providing engineering support for the action, the Pioneers were also frequently caught up in close quarters fighting against pockets of German resistance, and were involved in capturing several machine gun positions.
At some stage in the morning of the 3rd of October, prior to the battalion being relieved from their frontline positions, Hubert sustained a severe shrapnel wound to his head. Although he was rushed to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance, little could be done to save him. Private Hubert Marks died of his wounds later than day.
He was 21 years old. Huberts remains were buried in Templeux-le-Guerard Communal Cemetery Extension in Picardie, France.
