SKIPPEN, Hubert Nathaniel

Hubert was a son of Nathaniel and Emily Skippen who lived at Howell NSW where they ran the Conrad Hotel. Hubert’s birth was registered at Inverell in 1889. He attended Copeton Public School and later Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

During 1915 he was employed as a Butter maker at Macksville NSW when, at the age of twenty-six, he enlisted at Newcastle. He became a Gunner with the Field Artillery Brigade 1, Reinforcement 15 and sailed from Australia for Egypt on HMAT A71 Nestor in April 1916. A few months later he was sent to France and in 1917 received several promotions. At the beginning of 1919 he became ill and was returned to England for treatment at Bulford Hospital where he died of pneumonia.

Hubert was given a full military funeral and buried at Tidworth Military Cemetery, Tidworth, Wiltshire, England. His personal effects, including a scarf, cap, mittens, and postcards, were returned to his family.