Frederick Edmund Hubbard; Private, Labour Corps.

Cap Badge of the Labour Corps

Frederick Edmund Hubbard was born on 1st January 1876 in Bardwell, Norfolk. By 1901, he had moved to Melton to work for James Burness of The Lodge as a groom. He was still employed there when war broke out in August 1914.

In September 1916, Frederick was called up and passed a medical in Bury St Edmunds, it was not until 11th November, however, that he was mobilised and posted to join “C” Company of the 27th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, which was for home service personnel. Frederick was not to remain with them for long as he was demobilised under King’s Regulations in July of the following year.

In November 1917, Frederick was back in the services having now been deployed to the Labour Corps. He was posted to the 699 Agricultural Company, whose headquarters were in Canterbury, Kent. The agricultural companies provided men to work the land who were not fit enough to fight (the farmers were also charged for the privilege). Frederick remained with the 699 Agricultural Company until the end of the war and was demobilised on 10th March 1919. His address upon demobilisation was given as Lodge Stables, Melton, so it appears that he returned to his old job with the Burness family.

As Frederick did not serve overseas, he was not entitled to receive any medals.

In 1920, Frederick married Ada Annie Day and, in 1939, they were living in Castle Street Woodbridge, where Ada Annie died in 1948 and Frederick, six years later, in 1954.