Henry Victor's Story.
Henry Victor Hubbard was born in Great Budworth, Cheshire in 1887, the second eldest of seven children born to Frank (a rock salt miner) and Sarah Hubbard of South Bank Cottages, Great Budworth. Henry became a groom and then a footman at Vale Royal Abbey.
He enlisted in the 9th battalion of the Cheshire Regiment in 1915, becoming Private 11866 and went to France on the 19 July 1915, landing at Boulogne. The division concentrated near St Omer. He was promoted to Lance Corporal early the following year. Their first action was at Pietre, in a diversionary action supporting the Battle of Loos. In 1916 they were in action during the Battle of the Somme, capturing La Boisselle and being involved in the attacks on High Wood, The Battles of Pozieres Ridge, the Ancre Heights and the Ancre. Henry became a Lewis-Gunner.
Henry Victor Hubbard died of wounds on the 2 July 1916.
The War Diary for the period reads:
10am.The battalion took up its allotted position in the Tara-Usna line being the right front battalion of the 58th Brigade.
7pm. Orders were dictated personally to the Commanding Officer, which were to take up a position from LOCHNAGAR STREET to INCH STREET. To carry out an attack at 10:30pm, the direction of the attack being given as N.E.
The battalion proceeded via SCOURINBOURNE STREET, ASHDOWN STREET, LOCHNAGAR STREET in the following order ‘D’ ‘C’ HQ ‘B’ and A Coys. On arrival at DUNDEE AVENUE conflicting verbal orders were received resulting in part of ‘B’ Coy and ‘D’ Coy under Lieut. A.V. Ward and Lieut. C.F. King occupying the line as ordered the remainder of the battalion making its way to BECOURT WOOD where they were assembled by Capts T.L. Jackson and G.C. Symons. The Commanding Officer after attending the conference at H.Q. 58th Brigade, proceeded to the front line to meet the battalion. Here he could only find parts of the two companies above specified.
9:40pm he ordered this portion of the battalion to reinforce troops of the 34th Division who were holding the German line adjacent to the new crater. Capt. Jackson ordered the battalion to proceed from BECOURT WOOD to the front line, where they arrived at about 3:30am on the 2nd July where the Commanding Officer came in touch with them and all went to work repairing the line.
2 July 4:30am The commanding officer received orders from the Brigade Major to attack the German frontline without delay. Twenty minutes were occupied in preparing for this and the majority went over into the crater and into the German front line adjacent. On arrival a report was received that there were already too many men in the German line, so ‘C’ Company was kept back to reinforce, in the crater.
4pm. At about 4pm orders were received from the adjutant who was still in the old front line, that the battalion would attack LA BOISSELLE and bomb through it, blocking and cleaning all dugouts. Copies of these orders were sent to OC Coys. in the German line at 4.10pm. The men in the crater were brought forward into the German front line. At 4:30 advanced again over ground into the support trench about 40 yards in the rear. Here companies reorganised as far as possible. It was then decided to attack the support proper over ground. After preparation with Lewis gun fire, the battalion advanced in a N. Easterly direction. Unfortunately, the advance was stuck up by a deep and wide communication trench across our front. This trench was entered and occupied. Bombing parties were formed and were ordered to work forward into the support line and from there to work out to the right and left. At this stage very good work indeed was carried out by captain T. L. Jackson, afterward killed. Lieut G.F. King who although wounded stuck to it and set a splendid example, only leaving when the position was consolidated and he was quite exhausted, and Lieut E Watts the only officer left besides the commanding Officer who worked untiringly till the battalion was relieved. Lieut Hunter, bombing officer of the 6th Wilts also gave magnificent aid but was eventually killed.
8:30pm At about 8:30pm it was considered that the battalion had gone as far as their strength warranted.
On the 2 July, Henry Victor Hubbard was one of a number of men from the battalion noted for their good work, he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He mounted a machine-gun under heavy fire, and with utter disregard of danger kept up a continuous fire on the enemy’s machine guns, thus covering the advance of some men across a zone which the enemy was sweeping with fire.
Over the next two days the battalion continued to attack, between the 1st and 4 July they suffered 56 men killed or died from wounds.
His Lieutenant wrote to his parents.
“I write these few lines to let you know how much I regret the loss of your son in the recent great battle and to convey to you my greatest sympathy. I have not had charge of the machine gunners long, but from the first I had great respect for your son, who has been a great help to me and one we can little spare at this time. I fully appreciate what this loss will mean to you and `I know you will bear this loss bravely taking consolation in the knowledge that he died by his gun, a true British soldier, unselfishly exposing himself for the sake of his comrades, who as a result of his work were able to go forward again in a very successful charge. His work came under the notice of, and was greatly admired by the colonel himself, who afterwards, at the battalion parade, especially mentioned his name on account of his bravery and good work”.