Hubert Robert Tole was born in 1896 in Paddington, London, one of at least eight children of Hubert John Tole (1871-1930) and Emma Mary Tole née Barnes (1873-1938). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in the Paddington Registration District, London.
He was shown as aged 4 years in the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901. He was living in four rooms at 175 Kilburn Lane, Willesden, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his parents and his sister Edith Mary Tole (1897-1902), together with a male boarder. His father was listed as a shoemaker.
He was described as aged 14 years and a Post Office telegraph messenger on the census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in a four roomed property ay 62 Deacon Road, Willesden Green, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his parents and four siblings: Frederick Charles John Tole (1904-1970) - a scholar; Leslie Joseph Tole (1905-1987) - a scholar; Edna Florence Tole (1909-1983) and Dorothy Lilian Tole (1910-1999). His father recorded that his wife had given birth to 8 children but that only 5 were still alive.
In November 1912 he was promoted to assistant postman within the London Postal Service and in June 1914 he was a male sorter in West London.
He enlisted as a Rifleman in the 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (Post Office Rifles) in April 1916 and his service number was 5881. He entered France on 27 August 1916 and his death was presumed, aged 20 years, on 7 October 1916. As he has no known grave he is of the Thiepval Memorial, Rue de L'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France. On 9 April 1918 his army effects of £3-6s-3d were paid to his father who also received a war gratuity of £3-0s-0d on 3 November 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'TOLE, H.R.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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