Name
Hubert Charles Thompson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
There was originally some confusion as to whether Hubert served, but the discovery of his brother, Frederick’s service records confirmed that he did. On August 10th 1919 his sister signed the form requesting information on Frederick’s relatives; Hubert is listed as eighteen and serving on the H.M.S. Indomitable.
The parish records show that Hubert was the son of Elijah and Polly (Mary Ann) Thompson (née Stapleton), both of whom were born in Holwell. In 1901, they were living in Holwell Road with their five children: Elizabeth (b c1887), Eveline (b c1890), Ida Mary (b c1893), Frederick John (b 1896) and Hubert Charles born on December 13th 1900. The family had moved between Holwell, Shillington and Pirton, presumably following the farm work that employed Elijah. Later, Elijah and Polly had another daughter, Constance May (b c1909). Both Fred and Hubert were born in Pirton and both served in the war; Fred was killed but is not listed on the Village War Memorial.
Allan Grant confirmed that Hubert was his wife’s father and that, at some point, the family lived in the row of twelve terraced cottages at the Holwell end of the road. These cottages were also known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’ and, more informally, as ‘Merry Arse Row’ – apparently due to the amount of children with no nappies!
Before the war Hubert worked as a general labourer and his post war service records show him to have been just over 5’ 7” tall, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Hubert served on H.M.S. Indomitable, which was a very new ship having been ‘laid down’ in 1906 and completed in March 1909. She was an Invincible class battlecruiser. From early August 1914 she served in the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and then, from November 3rd, supported the Gallipoli campaign and the bombardment of Dardanelles forts. In December 1914 she joined 1st Battlecruiser Squadron with the Grand Fleet, was refitted in January 1915 and then rejoined 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron Grand Fleet, taking part in the Battle of Dogger Bank and, in 1916, the Battle of Jutland. She was undamaged in the latter and is recorded as firing 175 12-inch shells. She had another refit in August 1916, which is probably when she had facilities for fighter aircraft added. However, Hubert was very young and would have only been involved in the later stage of her war service.
Perhaps he liked the life or perhaps it was the prospect of the risk of not getting work after the war, but on May 19th 1919 he signed up for five years SS Engagement (Special or possibly Short Service Engagement). His service after the war is well documented courtesy of the Registers of Seamen's Services: H.M.S Pembroke from May 29th 1919 to August 18th, Indomitable to March 31st 1920, Pembroke to December 31st 1920 and then the Repulse to November 1st 1924, when his service expired. Strangely his records show that he was mobilised to the Pembroke on September 28th 1938 and demobilised October 2nd 1938 - perhaps some sort of formality? He had so many service stripes that he was known as ‘Stripey’.
According to his family he then went on to serve in the Second World War, on Russian convoy protection. “One of the ships he served on was torpedoed splitting the ship in half. The back half sank with all hands, while front half remained afloat and was towed home.” He was then stationed at Bletchley and finished up near Whitchurch, Aylesbury on torpedo testing.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
