Pablo Frederick Hebert, known as Paul, was born in Bueno Aires, Argentina on the 12th January 1893 the oldest son of Henry Frederick and Charlotte Emma. Paul had six younger siblings, four sisters; Dorothy Elisa Emma, Mary Ricardo, Edith and Winifred Emma; and two brothers, Hugh Ricardo Melbourne and Alexander. His younger brother Hugh also fought in the Great War with the 1st Hertfordshire Battalion and survived the conflict.

The rather exotic children’s names are reference to their father’s origins and their parents travels across the world. Henry Hebert was born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia in 1857 and met Charlotte in Camden Town when his parents came back to England in the 1880’s. Henry was a Company Secretary for a cattle concern and after marrying Charlotte in 1892, his work took them to Argentina where Paul and Dorothy were born. The family had returned to England and Hemel Hempstead by 1896 and their other five children were all born there. Henry served for many years as an Alderman on Hemel Hempstead Town Council.

The Hebert family were living in Park Lane in Hemel in 1901 and Paul along with his brother Hugh, were enrolled at Boxmoor JMI school in December of the same year by which time the Hebert’s had moved to Green End Road. He stayed there for two years before leaving for Margate College. Two years later in 1905 he is back at school in Hemel Hempstead, this time at the Two Waters British School. Confusingly the admission records record his previous school as ‘Berkhampsted Sch.’ not Margate College however, Paul completed his education in April 1908 when he left to start work as a “Clerk” in a mill.

In 1908 Paul volunteered for the Royal Navy and signed up for future service to begin in 1910 for twelve years. He was sent initially to the RN training establishment “HMS Ganges” at Shotley in Essex for induction into Navy life, but this proved to be short lived. His Naval service records states that whilst of very good character he was "discharged to shore for being unsuitable R.N. Lacking in Spirit".

It is clear that Paul was determined to have a career at sea and after what must have been a disappointing set back with the Royal Navy, he instead turned to the Merchant Navy. In London on the 14th February 1910 aged seventeen, he was successfully indentured as an apprentice to the Tyzack and Branfoot Steam Shipping Co. Ltd (Sunderland) for a period of four years. He served on the “SS Shadwell” and successfully completed his Engineers exam in 1911. The “SS Shadwell” was later torpedoed in the Mediterranean on 23rd March 1918 and thirteen men were killed.

Following completion of his apprenticeship it appears that Paul did not continue with service in the Merchant Navy and on the outbreak of war he instead enlisted in the Army. He attested on the 3rd September 1914 at Caxton Hall, Westminster in London and joined the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

On enlistment, Paul stood 5 feet 7¼ inches tall and weighed 10 stones, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His time as a sailor resulted in some traditional naval tattoos and he was considered fit and healthy for military service.

He started basic training at Winchester in September 1914 before leaving for France four months later. The 2nd Battalion had landed at Le Havre as part of the 25th Brigade in the 8th Division in November 1914 and Paul followed, disembarking at Le Havre on the 19th January 1915. By 2nd February he had joined his comrades at Estaires and soon saw action in the trenches and was amongst the first troops to enter Neuve Chapelle following the battle there between the 10th and 13th March 1915.

By early May the Battalion had moved to a position south of the village of Laventie in preparation for the assault on Aubers Ridge. The Battle of Aubers Ridge took place on the 9th May 1915 and it was during this engagement that Paul was mortally wounded.

The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade initially succeeded in capturing the German trench in front of them and continued to advance despite severe casualties. However, throughout the day the Battalion came under heavy German shelling, machine gun fire and counter attacks and despite a gallant defence, it was eventually driven back from the enemy trenches. The War Diary lists the casualties: "May 12th Rested in billets. Casualties during recent engagement:- 77 Killed - 340 Wounded – 194 Missing – 18 Wounded & Missing. Officers 9 Killed – 8 Wounded – 4 Missing."

It is not clear when Paul actually died but his Service Record states "Regarded for official purposes to have died on or since 9-5-15"

Paul was initially listed as wounded and a report appeared in the Hemel Gazette in June 1915.

It was to be another year before his father Henry received official confirmation of Paul’s death. Henry served as an Alderman on the town Council and in May 1916 it formally recorded its sympathy for the death of his son.

Paul is Remembered with Honour on Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium, Panel 10.

He was 22 years old when he died.

Paul was eligible for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.