Name
Harry Hubbard
Circa 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
17679
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 4
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Harry Hubbard was born late 1893 or early 1894 in Hitchin and christened on 17 February 1894 at Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His mother was Harriet Hubbard, but his father has not been identified, although a newspaper article suggests he was the only son of Mr and Mrs H Hubbard.
In 1901 Harriet (30) and Harry (7) were living at 17 St Andre’s Place, Hitchin, in the house of her parents George Hubbard (58) and Sarah F Hubbard (57) – she is recorded as a daughter not daughter-in-law. Harriet was working as a domestic cook. Others present were Pollie (20, and a sister) and Joseph Hubbard (2-months old), he was a grandson to George and Sarah and son to Pollie.
By 1911 Harry was living at 8 Queen St, Hitchin, Herts., at the home of Joseph and Teresa Hubbard (née French). Harry was just listed as a relative and, at 18, and recorded as a boy to parchment maker, but unemployed. Joseph is likely to be the younger brother of Harry’s mother (Harriet).
Before the war Harry had been an errand boy at Mrs Logsdon's confectionery shop in Hitchin Market Square. Some sources suggest that he had also worked (earlier?) in a in the shoemaker's shop.
Harry married Emma King (b 9/8/1897) in 1916, and it is suggested that this was after he recovered from the wounds described below.
Officially was recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
Harry’s entry in the National Roll of the Great War, which was normally written by family members, suggests that he volunteered in September 1914 and was drafted to France in the same month. It also suggests that he took part in severe fighting on the Marne, Albert, Festubert, Loos, Arras, the Somme and Cambrai, and that he was entitled to the 1914 star, General Service and Victory medals.
We believe that there are several errors in the entry. No soldier would have been sent to France in the same month as he enlisted, unless he was already a serving soldier or had been and was in the Army Reserve. We have not found any evidence that Harry was either. Also two newspaper articles say that he went to France in 1915, which seems to reflect the normal period of training for a new soldier – normally at least six months. He would therefore have been eligible for the 1914/15 Star
Harry was given Regimental Number 17679. He had volunteered in September 1914 and went to France in 1915. In 1915 he was wounded in the back with over a dozen pieces of shrapnel, and it is believed that he married Emma King after he left hospital in 1916. He returned to France to fight and later went to Belgium
He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance Hospital on 22 February 1918 (from 15 Field Ambulance) suffering with impetigo, returning to duty on 6 March 1918.
He was killed in action at Ypres on the 20 July 1918. On that date a small attack was made by ‘A’ Company and the enemy driven over the Plattebecque stream. There were 17 casualties, and a considerable amount of gas shelling took place, Harry was one of them.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 4 of the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Belgium. The Memorial is contained as part of the Royal Berkshire Comer Cemetery Extension 1km north of Ploegsteert.
The news of his death was received by his wife in a letter from Private W H Guthrie, another Hitchin soldier.
Additional Information
After his death £14 14s 0d was authorised to go to his widow, Emma, on 2 October 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £17 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 19 November 1919.
His pension cards record Emma, his widow and dependant, living at 19 Barnard Yard, Queen’s Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 10 February 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
