Collings, Hubert Leonard

883 Corporal Hubert Leonard Collings - 5th Broad Gauge Railway

Hubert Leonard Collings was born in Mallala South Australia on the 4th February 1883 to George and Rachel Collings. He had several siblings, Arthur (1874), Lawrence (1876), Mabel (1878), Edwin (1880), Leslie (1885), Wilfred (1888), Norman (1890) and Gilbert (1892).

Hubert was educated in South Australia at North Pine State School and after leaving school took up work on the railways.

Hubert came to Western Australia in 1910 and was employed by the WA Government Railways as a Locomotive Driver.

In 1911 Hubert married Annie Peters in Perth and they would take up residence at 23 Hubble Street East Fremantle. (later renamed to 9 Hubble Street). A daughter called Rachel was born in 1912 followed by a son called Thomas.

On the 8th January 1917 Hubert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 4 & 1/2 inches;

Weight - 145lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Black.

Due to his Railway experience, Hubert was immediately sent to the Railway Corps reinforcements. Hubert was promoted to Corporal prior to embarking overseas.

On the 29th January 1917 Hubert and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades and set sail for England. After the long sea voyage the ship arrived at Devonport Harbour on the 27th March 1917.

After being disembarked Hubert was marched into the Railway Corps Depot Camp at Bordon. He spent over six weeks here undergoing training.

On the 12th May 1917 Hubert arrived in France and he was taken on strength of the 59th Railway Operating Company. This unit was later renamed the 5th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company.

For a time they were responsible for running what was known as the 'Midland Line'. This ran from north of Poperinghe to Regensberg north of Ypres and then to St Julien. 

They later operated from near Abbeville and ran services to Boulogne and Dunkirk as they were connected to the main French rail network.

They took supplies from the base depot to closer to the front lines. Though not in the front lines the railway lines were often under long range shellfire and aircraft bombing attacks.

On the 27th December 1917 Hubert was given leave to England and was able to spent two weeks away from his unit.

Hubert then remained with his unit until July 1918 when he was given a leave pass to Paris. He returned on the 3rd August 1918 and then remained with his unit until the Armistice.

After the Armistice the Railway units were busier than before with the need to return troops and stores that had been stockpiled near the front lines.

On the 7th January 1919 Hubert had two weeks of leave in England but then returned to the Railway Company on the 22nd January 1919. He remained in France for the next few months.

On the 1st May 1919 Hubert returned to England and waited to be repatriated to Australia. On the 21st June 1919 he boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.

Hubert was discharged from the AIF on the 10th September 1919. His two brothers who were living in South Australia, Gilbert and Norman, also survived the Great War, having served with the 27th Battalion and 10th Battalion respectively.

After returning home from the Great War, Hubert resumed his work for the WA Government Railways.

In the 1920's they were living in Toodyay and in the 1930's they were based at Pinjarra.

Hubert died on the 18th June 1958 in Pinjarra aged 75 and was buried at Pinjarra Cemetery.