Hubert Moss

Hubert Moss was born on the 24 February 1877 at Salisbury.   His parents were Matthew Moss and Mary Brooks.  Matthew was born on the 28 December 1832 at Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England.   He arrived in 1849 on board the John Woodhall   He was a butcher and resided at Salisbury and Smithfield.   He married Mary Brooks on the 1 September 1856 at Gawler. They had the following children:-

• William Henry was born in 1857, died in 1917.
• George was born in 1859, died in 1859.
• Edwin was born in 1860, died in 1939.
• George was born in 1862, died in 1908.
• Alfred Joseph was born in 1864, died in 1945.
• Samuel was born in 1866, died in 1913.
• Thomas was born in 1868, died in 1868.
• Charles was born in 1869, died in 1869.
• Martha was born in 1872.
• Mary Ann was born in 1874.
• Hubert was born in 1877, died in 1919.

Hubert Moss was educated at Smithfield School.

Hubert became a pupil teacher in 1892 at the Smithfield School.  He then was pupil teacher at Gawler in 1895/6.  Following this he went to training college in 1897.   In 1902 he became a teacher at Port Adelaide.   He became a Head Teacher at Yongala Woolshed on the 23 July 1903.

On the 14 November 1902 he became engaged to Ruby Nellie Bourne eldest daughter of Frederick Bourne of Moonta. They were married on the 4 July 1904 in Adelaide.  Ruby Nellie was born in Kadina on the 26 January 1883. Her father was Frederick Bourne and her mother was Ellen Henrietta Tidswell. They had two children:-

• Gwendolyn was born on the 3 May 1905 at Eastwood, Norwood.
• Dulcie was born on the 18 February 1907 at Eastwood, Norwood.

In 1909 Hubert was appointed Head Teacher of Upper Sturt. He moved to the Education Dept at Brooklyn Park on the 22 November 1917.  He was appointed Assistant Inspector to schools in South Australia., a position he held for only five months before illness forced him to apply for sick leave.

Hubert died at only 42 years old at his residence at Elston street, Lockleys on the 1 September 1919.  He was one of the most promising men in the Education department.  The Acting Director stated:

He was a man of high ideals and was thoroughly devoted to his work. In some country school and later Fulham then at Lockley’s his influence over the children of who he had charge was quite remarkable.  He inspired them with a love for their school duties and his influence was by no means confined to the children, for his personality was felt by all who knew him.  To his duties as assistant inspector he devoted the same conscientious care as had marked his work as teacher.  If his life had been spared he would probably have been placed in charge of our largest schools in about two years’ time, as it was realised in the department hat he was well fitted for such a position”.

Observer Saturday 6 September 1919 p14

He is buried at West Terrace Cemetery.

His widow was a popular accompanist at socials.

Having Gwendolyn was a professional violinist and made many voyages to England for her career. On one of these trips she married Richard Charles Watson on the 8 January 1930 at St. John the Evangelist, Sidcup, Kent.   When she was 26 years old she was living with her husband in Wandsworth, London.  Gwendolyn was one of the principle violinist for the Gilbert and Sullivan Company.

Regrettably she died at only 33 years old on the 25 February 1938 in London.

In 1931 Hubert’s wife, Ruby, and their youngest daughter Dulcie, sailed to England to live in Maidstone, Kent.  They were still there in 1939 with Dulcie as a school teacher and Ruby as an unpaid domestic servant.  Ruby Nellie died on the 3 January 1951 at Maidstone, Kent.