Rifleman Hubert William Joslin

Hubert William was the fourth son of Polly Bain Joslin and James William Henry Joslin. His parents, Polly and James had married on 2nd December 1895. The 1891 Census reveals that the Joslin’s had 2 children and resided with another couple at 185 Church Road in Islington.

By 1901, the Census records show that Polly and James Joslin resided at 34 Jessica Road in Wandsworth with their 4 children which included 4 year old Hubert William who had been born in 1896. Initiation into the Freemason’s membership register shows that James William had become a member in 1901 and records his occupation as being an iron merchant.

By 1910, electoral registers record the Joslin family residing at 106 Park Avenue, Mitcham, in Surrey. This is confirmed on the 1911 Census which reveals that Polly and James had been married for 25 years and had a total of 4 children, all of whom had survived into adulthood. Their youngest son, 15-year-old Hubert William had left school to become a typist.

Hubert William’s father, James William died during the first quarter of 1913.

Hubert William enlisted in the army on the 3rd of September 1914 at the age of 19 years and 4 months in Wandsworth. His service record shows that at the age of 19 years, he was only 5ft 5inches tall and weighed 117lbs with good physical development. Hubert William had fair hair, a fresh complexion with blue eyes.
Hubert William’s service record shows that he served at home for a total of 259 days before being posted to France on the 20th of May 1915 with the British Expeditionary Force where he served for another 72 days before being killed in action on the 30th of July 1915.

Hubert William is remembered with honour at the Ypres Menin Gate.