De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol. page 107
Hubert Dunbavand was born at 'Oakridge', West Hartlepool, on the 8th February 1891, youngest son of John Dunbavand, of Hutton Avenue, West Hartlepool, late Headmaster of the Wesleyan Higher Grade School, and his wife Marie.
Hubert was educated at the Brinkburn School, Wesleyan Higher Grade School and the Technical College at West Hartlepool, Durham.
Hubert and the rest of the family resided at 25, then later, 45 Hutton Avenue, West Hartlepool.
After leaving School, he received an appointment in the National Provincial Bank, North Shields, and afterwards became a pupil of the manager of the Gas and Water works at West Hartlepool. (In 1911 his trade was a Student Civil Engineer). Later he successfully carried out an important undertaking at the Corbridge Gas and Waterworks.
Hubert volunteered as a private in the Durham Light Infantry in September 1914. He was present with his company at Hartlepool during the German Bombardment of that port 16th December 1914, being at that time on sentry duty with others.
He was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant in the 233rd [Ripon] Durham Field Company, Royal Engineers on 28th October 1916. Hubert was sent to France on the 29th July 1916. Shortly after arriving he was transferred to the 95th (Service) Company Royal Engineers.
Hubert was killed in action on the 25th August 1916 by an explosion of a shell, North of Bernafay Wood. He is buried there.
At the time he and two other officers were taking out a party of sappers at night, to make a new communication trench, and whilst leading his men a shell burst in front of him.
His Commanding Officer wrote:-He was a brave and gallant soldier, and died like a true English gentleman.
His men also wrote of him as a general favourite. He was unmarried
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
He is remembered at Jarrow* on J2.26 at Hartlepool on H115.10 in H115.30 and West Hartlepool W111.01 W111.54
* Note: The 233rd RE Company had a Drill Hall in Jarrow.
