Hubert Graham Flick was born on 23rd April 1879 in Halesworth, Suffolk. By 1891 Hubert was a boarder at Framlingham College and, on completion of his education, he travelled to South Africa where he joined the army. He served with the 2nd Natal and Orange Free State Regiment in Namibia.
On 29th September 1910, Hubert married Lottie Emma Beckwith in South Africa where they had three children, Richard Graham (who died in infancy), George Stanley and Edward Charles.
The war in Europe started in August 1914 and in April the following year the South African Government began to ask for volunteers to serve abroad as part of the Allied Army. Hubert duly responded on 21st August 1915 and was soon on his way to France, via the Suez Canal and Egypt, arriving on 20th April 1916. Lottie and their two remaining sons made their way to England aboard the SS Kenilworth Castle, arriving in London on 8th April 1916.
In July 1916, the South African Brigade was part of the 9th (Scottish) Division and stationed on the Somme. The brigade was held in reserve. It was not until the 14th July they saw action, when the entire South African Brigade was ordered to attack and capture Delville Wood, a location abutting the strategically important village of Longueval and held by the German army.
After five days of severe fighting under the most difficult conditions, the South African Brigade was relieved, having been unsuccessful in their objective to capture the wood. Over three thousand one hundred and fifty men from the Brigade had been involved. On the 20th July, One hundred and forty-four of them walked out.
Hubert Flick was one of the casualties wounded during the battle. His pension record shows that he received a gunshot wound to the head and, as a result, was returned to England for treatment. After his release from hospital, Hubert and his family lived with his parents, Richard and Charlotte, at The Holt on Melton Hill and he worked as a motor mechanic. Hubert did not return to the front line and was discharged on 5th September 1917.
On 22nd August 1917, Hubert and Lottie’s fourth child, a daughter, was born. She was named Mary Delville Flick, after her father’s last battle. Three more children were to follow, Percy, Margaret and Peter. Sadly, both Percy and Margaret died in 1924 aged four and two respectively. For his war service, Hubert received the British War and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.
Hubert and Lottie lived for some time in Chipping Norton where, in 1939, his occupation was recorded as a bricklayer’s labourer. Later, they moved to Dartford in Essex, where Hubert and Lottie were to end their days.