Pte 17377 Frederick Joseph Hubbard

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 2nd October 1916
• Commemorated at: Longuenesse Cem, St Omer
  Panel Ref: IV.A.60

Frederick Joseph Hubbard was born on 24th February 1894 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 04^th April 1894 at St Margaret C. of E. Church, Toxteth. He was the son of Joseph Hubbard and his wife Emma (nee Unsworth). 

The 1901 Census shows the family as visitors at 1, Edith Road, Liverpool. 

The head of the household is Thomas Bell aged 43, born 1858 who is employed as a cashier in a shipping office and was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. His wife Annie is aged 43, born 1858 in Yorkshire and has no occupation listed. They have two children Bertram aged 17, born 1884 who is an engineer’s apprentice and Doris aged 6, born 1895, their children were born in Liverpool. Joseph Hubbard aged 42 is employed as a ship broker’s clerk and his wife Emma is aged 37 and has no occupation listed. They have three children, Frederick Joseph aged 7, Florence Eveline aged 5 and Hilda Mary aged 2.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 11 July Road, Anfield, Liverpool.

His father Joseph aged 52, was born in Twyford, Leicestershire in 1859 and his occupation is listed as a forwarding clerk. His wife Emma is aged 47, she was born in 1864 in Newton Le Willows. They have been married for 21 years and have four children, John Richard aged 20, born 1891 occupation law clerk, Frederick Joseph aged 17, born 1894 an apprentice in drapery, Florence Eveline aged 15, born 1896 no occupation listed and Hilda Mary aged 12, born 1899 at school.

Frederick Joseph enlisted on the 02^nd September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion as Private 17377. He gave his age as 20 years and 161 days and his occupation as a draper. He had served an apprenticeship which had expired in 1913. He was five feet five and half inches tall, weighed 108lbs,  chest 33", fair complexion, hazel eyes, red hair and gave his religion as Church of England.   

07.11.15: Embarked for France.

30.08.16: To Field Ambulance.

02.09.16: Rejoined battalion.

05.09.16: Wounded Gunshot wound to head and fractured skull. He was then admitted to 33 Casualty Clearing Station.

13.09.16: Admitted 7 General Hospital, where he died at 06.30am on 02nd October 1916, aged 22.

Frederick Joseph now rests at Longuenesse Cemetery, St Omer, France.

St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916. Lord Roberts died there in November 1914. The town was a considerable hospital centre with the 4th, 10th, 7th Canadian, 9th Canadian and New Zealand Stationary Hospitals, the 7th, 58th (Scottish) and 59th (Northern) General Hospitals, and the 17th, 18th and 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations all stationed there at some time during the war. St. Omer suffered air raids in November 1917 and May 1918, with serious loss of life.

The cemetery takes its names from the triangular cemetery of the St. Omer garrison, properly called the Souvenir Cemetery (Cimetiere du Souvenir Francais) which is located next to the War Cemetery.

The Commonwealth section of the cemetery contains 2,874 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (6 unidentified), with special memorials commemorating 23 men of the Chinese Labour Corps whose graves could not be exactly located. Second World War burials number 403, (93 unidentified). Within the Commonwealth section there are also 34 non-war burials and 239 war graves of other nationalities.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

A request from the family to visit Frederick whilst he lay wounded was made but sadly was not granted.

Frederick is commemorated at St Margaret’s C. of E. Church, Anfield, Liverpool.

After his death the family were living at 72 Belmont Road, Anfield.

His father died in 1940.

His mother died in 1952. 

We currently have no further information on Frederick Joseph Hubbard. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.