De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol page 14
Cambridge University Roll of Honour page 362
Hubert Edmund Backhouse was born in Darlington on the 4th January 1883, he was the eldest son of Charles Hubert Backhouse, of Westbury Court, Westbury-on Severn, Gloucester, formerly a Local director of Barclays Bank Ltd at the Darlington Branch, and his wife Maude Constance, daughter of the late Henry Ritchie, and godson to the first M.P. of Darlington.
He was educated at the Aysgarth School, then Wellington College (Scholar) before entering Trinity College, Cambridge. (B.A.).
On leaving Cambridge he entered Sir William B. Peat and Co's office, and passed as a Chartered Accountant. Hubert then joined Barclays Bank Ltd, and was assistant Local Director at Leicester when he received his commission.
Gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant with the 4th Sherwood Foresters on the 3rd August 1914, then Lieutenant on the 20th June 1915.
He was appointed as temporary Captain at the time of his death. He served in France from the 16th August 1915, and was killed in action at Gueudecourt on the Somme on Sunday, 15th October 1916.
His Colonel and Major were both mortally wounded in the same action, and very few officers were left.
Officers who survived wrote of the high esteem and affection in which he was held.
One wrote:- "Capt Backhouse had orders to go up and take over the command of a company whose commander had been mortally wounded, and to report on the situation. The reports received by him from an advanced post not being satisfactory, he decided to go and see for himself. Shortly after going over, he was killed, being shot in the head. He was buried where he fell under cover of darkness, as it was impossible to get is body back, except at the greatest risk of losing other lives. His loss is a great blow to the battalion."
He was fond of golf and all sports, a good rider, and was well known with the Zetland Hound and other packs.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Hubert Edmund Backhouse is remembered in Darlington on D40.046 and in the Cambridge University Roll of Honour.
