HUBBARD, Thomas aka Thomas HOWE


No.235561, Private, Thomas HUBBARD
Aged 34


1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
formerly Monmouthshire Regiment
formerly 5960 East Surrey Regiment
formerly 7468 Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on 24th October 1918


Charles Thomas HOWE was born in Thorpe Morieux,(4th qtr 1883 Cosford 4a:634 ) son of David and Emma Kate HOWE (née HUBBARD) His parents had married in 1881. He is entered in the census as Thomas C and when he started to use the HUBBARD surname is not known

1891 census...Aged 7, as Thomas C, he was at Thorpe Green, Thorpe Morieux with his father David HOWE [32] farm labourer born Thorpe Morieux; his mother Emma Kate [30] born Felsham; sister Annie Jane [9] born Cockfield and brother Frederick William [2] born Thorpe Morieux.

1901 census...Aged 17, as Thomas C, a farm labourer, he was at Alpheton with his parent; sisters Annie Jane (now recorded as born Thorpe Morieux); and Martha Mary [9]; brother Frederick William.

1911 census...Aged 26, a threshing machine hand, he was at Great Green, Cockfield boarding with widow Sophia COCKSEDGE [79]. His mother had died in 1901. His father had married Susan LISTER in 1908 and was at Reeman's Cottages, Stanningfield with Susan [43] and her son Albert LISTER [8] both born Cockfield.

On two pension cards his father and stepmother were at 2 Fox Cottages, Stanningfield, but they indicate that parents and soldier used surname HOWE





His medal card indicates that his last unit was the Monmouthshire Regiment No.291960, but they came after the East Surrey which are not mentioned.
He attested first for the militia, 3rd Suffolk on 15th March 1907, giving his age as 23 years 4 months, born Thorpe Morieux, residing in Ccckfield. He enlisted on 7th June 1908 in Bury St.Edmunds for the Special Reserve, giving his age as 24 years 5 months, born Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk, a single labourer. 5 feet 8.5 inches tall, chest 33 to 36 inches, weighing 126 lbs, brown eyes and hair, Church of England. Next of kin, his father David of Cockfield. A reference was signed by Joseph Cornish of the Kings Head, Cockfield
Posted to 3rd Bn Suffolk Regt, No.7468. Re-engaged in Suffolks on 19th June 1912 for further 4 years. Transferred to 2nd/5th East Surrey Regiment(No.5960) on 28-11-1916. and then to 2nd/3rd Monmouthshire Regt (date not readable). He received a £15 bounty on 4th April 1918 when it seems he moved to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He served at home from 7-6-1908 to 26-12-1914. BEF from 27-12-194 to 16-4-1916, home 17-4-1916 to 22-7-1917 and BEF from 23-7-1917 to death in Italy.

All very muddled, but this the problem with the burnt documents, not even sure at times if all the scraps of paper are actually for the same man. In this instance the regiments seem mixed up and he is recorded as dying in France, but CWGC have him dying in Italy which is where the 1st Battalion were serving. The main thing is having the right civilian. His connection with Stanningfield is tenuous, but his father and stepmother were there in 1911 . Nothing found to indicate when the surname change took place. The switch of given names can also cause confusion with a Thomas Charles HOWE of the same age, who survived the war.



Photo CWGC

Thomas Hubbard is buried in Tezze British Cemetery, Italy 1:C:14

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK