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This is an artist's impression of the action at Lone Pine on 9 August 1915 for which Captain Frederick Tubb and Corporals William Dunstan and Alexander Burton, all 7th Battalion, AIF, were awareded the Victoria Cross. The situation shown occurred when a sandbagged position was blown in by the Turks preparatory to one of the many counter-attacks they made between 7 and 9 August to regain the front line trenches seized from them by the Australians on 6 June. The figure at the top firing the revolver is Lieutenant Tubb, wearing his officer's uniform and firing his revolver to keep the Turks at bay. Dunstan and Burton are pusing up sandbags to shore up the position. A Turkish bomb is exploding above Tubb's head and a wounded, or perhaps dead, soldier is also shown to suggest the mortal danger in which the three Anzacs find themselves. During the actual action, Tubb was observed to be bleeding from his scalp from wounds caused by exploding Turkish bombs. These wounds are suggested by the bandage around his head. Moments later, Burton was killed by a bomb and Dunstan temporarily blinded. [Drawing in Stephen Snelling, VCs of the First World War: Gallipoli, Stroud, 1995, p.157]

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Studio portrait of Lieutenant William Dunstan VC and signed by him 'Yours faithfully, W Dunstan'. It was undoubtedly taken in Australia and after the presentation to Dunstan of his award by the Governor-General of Australia in Melbourne on 9 June 1916 as the Victoria Cross medal ribbon can be seen above his tunic pocket to the left. From Gallipoli Chaplain Willliam McKenzie, known as 'Fighting Mac', wrote to reassure Dunstan's parents in Euroa, Victoria, when they learned their son had been injured at Lone Pine:
He will suffer considerable pain for a couple of weeks, or even four, but will probably be as right as possible again in six or seven weeks' time he proved himself a capable, intelligent, intreped young warrior in his first fight. It was one of the most desperate and stubborn nature. There is no need to worry about him. He is doing all right. There is every reason to be proud of such a son. [McKenzie, quoted in Stephen Snelling, VCs of the First World War: Gallipoli, Stroud, 1995, p.173] [AWM H06201]

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Studio portrait of Corporal Alexander Burton VC, 7th Battalion, AIF. This photograph was taken in Australia before Burton left for overseas in 1914. The VC is shown above Burton's left tunic pocket. However, this image was superimposed much later. Burton was killed in the action on 9 August 1915 at Lone Pinefor which he was awarded the VC and hence was never publically presented with it. The medal would have been given to his parents in Euroa, Victoria. Burton has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli. His officer, Captain Frederick Tubb, described Burton as:
... a bonny boy [who] always did what he was told. With his quiet smile he was always there ... Just before he died he looked at me, smiled quietly, and was then killed. His was a fine death and I almost wished I had died too. [Tubb, quoted in Stephen Snelling, VCs of the First World War: Gallipoli, Stroud, 1995, p.168] [AWM H06785]

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Studio portrait of Captain Francis Tubb VC, 7th Battalion, AIF. Tubb was actually promoted Captain on 8 August 1915, the day before the action at Lone Pine for which he was awarded the VC. This image was probably made in England where he was sent to convalesce from his wounds immediately after the Battle of Lone Pine and interestingly he is not shown as wearing the VC medal ribbon. This suggests that the portrait was made before he had been presented officially with the award. Tubb was ultimately presented with his VC by King George V before his temporary return to Australai in 1916. [AWM H06786]

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The original grave marker in the Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Belgium of Major Frederick Tubb VC, 7th Battalion, AIF. As the inscription indicates, the marker was erected by his brothers Captain Frank Tubb and Lieutenant Arthur Tubb who were also serving in the AIF. Tubb was wounded by a German sniper at the Battle of Menin Road, Ieper (Ypres), on 20 September 1917 and while he was being carried to the rear he was hit again by British shells. He subsequently died in a dressing station at Lijssenthoek to the west of Ieper and was buried in the military cemetery there. The inscription on the cross indicating Tubb was 'killed in action' is not strictly correct as he officially 'died of wounds' out of the battle. [AWM P00735.014]

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The grave in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery today of major Frederick Tubb VC, 7th Battalion, AIF. The original grave marker placed here in 1917 by his brothers would have been removed whenever the Imperial war Graves Commission (now Commonwealth War Graves Commission) was constructing the permanent cemetery at Lijssenthoek in the 1920s. It was then decided that every soldier would be given exactly the same commemoration as every other soldier. The one exception to this rule is seen on Tubb's grave - the engraving of the Victoria Cross. Men who had received this, this highest award for bravery in the British Empire and Commonwealth, had the shape of the medal inscribed on their headstones and the medal citation was also reproduced in the cemetery register. The inscription at the bottom of the headstone, chosen by Tubb's family, reads:
OUR DEARLY LOVED SON AND BROTHER CALLED TO HIGHER SERVICE
[From Stephen Snelling, VCs of the First World War: Gallipoli, Stroud, 1995, p.172]

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