A Soldier, A Poet, A A Soldier, A Poet, A HumanHuman

By Ryan HarwoodBy Ryan Harwood

On one fateful day on the On one fateful day on the 28 June 1914 28 June 1914 the assassination of Archduke Franz the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked a War between Ferdinand sparked a War between the Serbian’s and the Hungarian's, the Serbian’s and the Hungarian's, this soon later had many other this soon later had many other nations joining in to fight in this epic nations joining in to fight in this epic battle.battle.

In Australia there was one man that In Australia there was one man that wanted to sign up to fight in this war. wanted to sign up to fight in this war. His name was Hubert James Junior he His name was Hubert James Junior he was a very young man only of age was a very young man only of age 19.19.

Hubert was a strong-minded young man Hubert was a strong-minded young man with a contentious nature, driven partly by with a contentious nature, driven partly by boredom in his course and partly, as some boredom in his course and partly, as some have suggested by a desire to escape the have suggested by a desire to escape the perceived oppression of his father and to perceived oppression of his father and to carve his own identity, Hubert reacted to carve his own identity, Hubert reacted to the declaration of war by travelling to the the declaration of war by travelling to the nearest place he could find for officer nearest place he could find for officer training and signing up.training and signing up.

Hubert was on holiday’s in Australia at Hubert was on holiday’s in Australia at the time, and consequently he was the time, and consequently he was enlisted in the enlisted in the 1st Australian Field 1st Australian Field Artillery BrigadeArtillery Brigade, travelling to France , travelling to France as a captain in May 1915.as a captain in May 1915.

The The 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade contained another captain who was gifted contained another captain who was gifted with writing poetry, Siegfried Sassoon, the with writing poetry, Siegfried Sassoon, the two soon met, supposedly after Hubert two soon met, supposedly after Hubert found a copy of his notes and work on a found a copy of his notes and work on a mess table; recognising the work as that mess table; recognising the work as that of an poet, Hubert peeked at the inside of an poet, Hubert peeked at the inside cover and discovered Sassoon's name. cover and discovered Sassoon's name.

The pair struck up a friendship and The pair struck up a friendship and Sassoon soon became a major this Sassoon soon became a major this influenced Huberts' early poetic influenced Huberts' early poetic style. style.

Nevertheless there was a war on, and Nevertheless there was a war on, and Hubert fought in both the Battle of Hubert fought in both the Battle of Loos and the Battle of the Somme, Loos and the Battle of the Somme, where his men were reduced to where his men were reduced to under 400. Soon after Hubert was hit under 400. Soon after Hubert was hit by shellfire as he waited for by shellfire as he waited for reinforcements.reinforcements.

Despite being wounded and evacuated Despite being wounded and evacuated to a hospital, Hubert was quite to a hospital, Hubert was quite literally dead to the world for a few literally dead to the world for a few hours, as the Colonel was told that hours, as the Colonel was told that Hubert had died and The Australian Hubert had died and The Australian published his obituary accordingly. published his obituary accordingly.

The mistake was soon discovered, but The mistake was soon discovered, but Hubert's wounds caused a long Hubert's wounds caused a long period of convalescence. Hubert period of convalescence. Hubert Junior published the first volume of Junior published the first volume of war poetry, than after that he war poetry, than after that he returned back to the returned back to the 1st Australian 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade where he Field Artillery Brigade where he fought along side his comrades fought along side his comrades again.again.

After returning back to the 1st After returning back to the 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Field Artillery Brigade, they were attacked they were attacked at there outpost. at there outpost. The onslaught lasted for several The onslaught lasted for several days.days.

His men fought bravely but the His men fought bravely but the overwhelming power of the enemy overwhelming power of the enemy forced his men to retreat but Hubert forced his men to retreat but Hubert standing his ground to fight for his standing his ground to fight for his country if that meaned dying for it.country if that meaned dying for it.

Hubert was injured by wild fire, he saw Hubert was injured by wild fire, he saw his life flash before his very own eyes. his life flash before his very own eyes. He thought he was going to die but a He thought he was going to die but a black shadow stormed the room and black shadow stormed the room and saved Hubert. He was than taken to saved Hubert. He was than taken to hospital where he recovered from his hospital where he recovered from his injuries.injuries.

This inspired Hubert to write his second This inspired Hubert to write his second volume of war poetry. After Hubert volume of war poetry. After Hubert had finished the poetry his old friend had finished the poetry his old friend and inspiration Siegfried Sassoon and inspiration Siegfried Sassoon approached Hubert when he tired to approached Hubert when he tired to rejoin the 1rejoin the 1stst platoon. platoon.

He had some very bad news for Hubert, He had some very bad news for Hubert, he told him that he had been he told him that he had been discharged from the platoon. He was discharged from the platoon. He was shocked on what he was just told by shocked on what he was just told by his fellow comrade.his fellow comrade.

After the discharge Hubert continued on After the discharge Hubert continued on with the of volumes of his poetry. He with the of volumes of his poetry. He made 8 more volumes based on what made 8 more volumes based on what he seen in war.he seen in war.

He considers these volumes to be his He considers these volumes to be his life's work and on reflection if he had life's work and on reflection if he had never been seriously wounded he never been seriously wounded he would of never completed the poetry would of never completed the poetry volumes.volumes.