FREDERICK JOHN DUBBER
Frederick John Dubber was born in 1884, the third child of Stephen and Jessie Dubber both of whom were born and raised in Portsea. Frederick had an elder sister Jessie, an elder brother Stephen R. and a younger sister Lillian. Stephen Dubber snr. was in the Royal Navy, serving aboard HMS Inconstant at the time of the 1881 Census, leaving his wife and two children in lodgings in Upper Church Path.
By the 1891 Census Stephen had left the navy and was working as a General Labourer. The family were living at 17 Wycombe Road. 10 years later the family were still all living together, but this time at 30 Longs Road.
Frederick had already left home to join the Royal Garrison Artillery before the outbreak of the Great War. He took part in and survived several engagements but was killed in the retreat from The Somme in April 1918.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Bombardier Frederick John Dubber (23528), Royal Field Artillery, died 10/04/1918. Remembered on the Pozieres Memorial (Panel 7 to 10).
Frederick Dubber is also remembered on the All Saints Church WW1 memorial and the Cenotaph. He is listed in the 'National Roll of the Great War' Section X, p. 68, which gave his address as 77, South Brighton Street.
The All Saints Church Memorial also lists Stephen R. Dubber who was the brother of Frederick John, but the CWGC have no record of him being a casualty. His name is not on the Cenotaph either. There is no explanation for this.
Tim Backhouse
December 2013