Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry William Stubbs, an agricultural labourer, born 1859 in Barrow Rutland, who was the son of Gerard H. and Alice Stubbs, and his wife Emma Jane Stubbs (nee Ofield, married in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1858 in Barrow. Henry (Harry) Job, was born on the 21st March 1891 in Barrow, he had one sibling, Gerard Ofield, born 1888 in Barrow, in April 1891 the family home was in Barrow. In March 1901 Henry was residing in the family Home at Barrow House, Barrow together with his father an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings Gerard, Alice Jane, born 1893 and Herbert William, born 1899, the latter two siblings were both born in Barrow. In April 1911 Henry was absent from the family home at Ashwell, Rutland, residing there was his father, a farm labourer and his mother, Henry was employed as a porter with the Great Northern Railway Company and was residing as a boarder at Maxey Crossing, Helpston, Northamptonshire.
Prior to the war he had been a railway signalman. He enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force), and after being in training at Loughborough, Leicestershire, Belton Park in Lincolnshire and Basford and Bulwell in Nottinghamshire he embarked for France at the end of March 1916. He was wounded by shell splinters in the right hand and left thigh on the 4th July, and died the next day in the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at Warlincourt Halte. His Colonel wrote:- “I know that he was a well behaved, quick and thoroughly conscientious man, and I have had good reports of him from his officers.”
Henry attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 19th July 1915 in Oakham. He gave his home address as Ashwell, Oakham. He gave his place of birth as Barrow, Rutland, his age as 24 years and 143 days and his trade or calling as a signalman employed by the Great Northern Railway, he confirmed that he had written permission to enlist. He gave his father, Henry William Stubbs of Ashwell, Oakham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8¾ inches in height, weighed 148 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 36 and 39 inches. His physical development was described as very good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 14th July 1915 in Oakham. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 4538 on the 19/7/15. Embodied service commenced and posted to the 3/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/7/15. Transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/3/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 28/3/16. Disembarked on the 30/3/16. Joined the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 22/4/16. Admitted to the 1/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance, in the field, suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh and fracture on the 3/7/16. Transferred to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station, Warlincourt Halte, in the field on the 3/7/16. Died in the 20th Casualty Clearing Station, of wounds on the 5/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service 19/7/15 – 26/3/16, 254 days. British Expeditionary Force France, 30/3/16 – 5/7/16, 99 days. Total service 353 days. Henry was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Henry’s father Henry William Stubbs on the 9th July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Geo. M. -?-, Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Leicester, Town Hall, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Henry Wm. Stubbs of Ashwell, Oakham, Rutland. Mother of soldier, Emma J. Stubbs of Ashwell, Oakham, Rutland. Full blood brother of soldier Gerard O. Stubbs, age 30 of Surfleet, Spalding, Lincs. Full blood sister of soldier, Alice J. Stubbs, age 26 of Market Place, Oakham, Rutland. Henry’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records. 3 Jul-16 - Orders were received that we were to be relieved in trenches, The RANGERS 12th LONDON REGT, relieved us, Colonel BAILIFFE. Relief complete at 9.00pm. Casualties during the battle are given in Part II Battalion Orders. They include 2nd Lieutenant W. K. CALLARD, 1385 Company Sergeant Major F. JOHNSON and 6 other men killed. Captain WARD-JACKSON, 2nd Lieutenant’s G. RUSSELL and T. P. CREED wounded to hospital and 3 officers slightly wounded, returned to duty. This message was received dated 3rd July 1916 “The Corps Commander wishes to congratulate the troops of the 46th Division for the manner in which they fought and endured during the fighting on the 1st July. Many gallant acts both by units and individuals are to hand. Although GOMMECOURT has not fallen into our hands, the purpose of the attack, which was mainly to contain and kill Germans was accomplished. The Major General Commanding wishes all ranks to understand thoroughly that our recent attack on the GOMMECOURT SALIENT in concert with the 56th Division embraced two purposes. (a) The capture of the position by the retaining of considerable numbers of German troops in our immediate front, in order to prevent them taking part in resisting the advance of our troops in the south. Although the first purpose was not achieved the second was fulfilled, there is no doubt that our action on the 1st materially assisted our troops in the 4th Army and contributed to their success. The above to be read to all troops on parade.” At 9.00pm after relief we went into billets at BIENVILLERS. The Lewis gunners and 1 platoon. 2nd Lieutenant V. J. JONES and certain guides remained to assist the RANGERS.
On Friday August 4th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – ASHWELL SOLDIER KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs, Ashwell, have been officially notified of the death of their second son Pte. Harry J. Stubbs of the Leicestershire Territorials. In the first instance they received news from the Platoon Commander that their son had been wounded in the right hand and left thigh. Four days later however, they were officially informed that he had died of his wounds on July 5th in the casualty clearing station. The late Pte Stubbs was twenty five years of age, and prior to enlisting in June, was employed as a signalman on the Great Northern Railway at Little Steeping and Stamford, where his cheerful disposition won him many friends. After being in training in Loughborough, Belton Park, Basford and Bulwell, Pte. Stubbs went to France at the end of March.