7/2019 Captain Hubert Satchell Harley, MC, (16/4/1893-2/10/1916). "great courage and skill"

Captain H. S. Harley, whose death in action at the front has just been announced, came down to the Waitaki Boys' High School from Nelson as a boarder together with the late Lieut. Athol Hudson in 1908. He played a prominent part in the athletic and social life of Waitaki. In 1908 he won the junior swimming championship, and for three years in succession, 1910-1912, he carried off the senior swimming championship, and proved himself one of the three finest swimmers the school has turned out. He was lieutenant in the School Cadets Corps in 1911 and 1912. He was also a member of the first fifteen. He took a keen interest in the musical life of the School, and was a member of both military band and orchestra. Captain Hurley was most popular among Waitakians, and the news of his death will be widely deplored.  -North Otago Times, 13/10/1916.

Hubert Harley was with the 12th (Nelson) Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment when they attacked German trenches in the Battle of the Somme in Oc tobr, 1916.  The Regiment's Official History describes the day:

The assaulting companies assembled in the new trenches on the south-east edge of the hollow, in Gird Trench and in Goose Alley. At 3.15 p.m. on October 1st they advanced under a creeping barrage, and at the same time a special detachment of Royal Engineers discharged oil drums from trench-mortars in the front line trenches. These fell short on the left, but reached the enemy trenches on the right; and besides causing numerous casualties had a great moral effect. In spite of this, however, the 12th Company and the right half of the 2nd Company met some rifle and machine-gun fire as they left the trenches; and while they waited in the hollow for the barrage to lift off the enemy's positions, they were heavily bombed by the garrison. Owing to the inaccuracy of the aim of the bombers, however, few casualties were caused by the bombs; and on the barrage lifting the assaulting troops charged the trenches. The remaining company and a half did not have the advantage of dead ground, and suffered severe casualties from machine-gun fire from their right and front. They reached their objectives; but, probably owing to their losses, they did not cover their whole front, and left a considerable gap between their left flank and the 2nd Otago Battalion.

Consolidation was begun at once — on the right at the top of the high ground, and on the left along Circus Trench. Within half an hour of the opening of the attack, the reserve company had been sent forward to reinforce the attacking companies: two platoons were sent to the junction of Goose Alley and Gird Trench, one platoon to the right of the 1st Company, and one platoon to the extreme left. The 16th Company of the 2nd Auckland Battalion was also sent to the junction of the centre and left companies, at about 4 p.m. Early in the evening a platoon of the 15th Company of the same battalion was used to strengthen the left flank.

Captain Harley's citation for the Military Cross reads as follows: "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He handled his men with great courage and skill under very heavy trying circumstances. Later, during an enemy attack, he himself bombed the enemy from the open."

"Bombed the enemy from the open."  This brings to the imagination the scene of New Zealanders in captured trenches, firing at attacking Germans, while beside those trenches a young officer pulls pins  from grenades and throws them at the oncoming enemy, with no regard for his own safety. Great courage indeed.

His Army record seems uncertain as to whether he was killed on the 1st of 2nd of October and directs that his death certificate show the 2nd.

Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.