Cinnamond, Hubert Park

Captain Hubert Park Cinnamond MC

Cinnamond was born in Cushendall on 13th February 1897 the son of James Park Cinnamond, Bank Manager and Isabella Witherspoon Cinnamond nee McKerrow. They had married at the Registers Office, Belfast on 21st April 1881. James' occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk. 

In 1901 Cinnamond (4) was living in house 2, Shore Road, Cushendall with his parents and 3 siblings; Olive (9), Eileen Marguerite (5) and Lisle Park (7). A guest, Mari Ann Hamilton and a servant, Mary Jane Douglas were also living in the house. James (father) is recorded as a Bank Manager, probably Northern Banking Company Limited. The bank and bank house were burnt down in 1922.

Northern Bank House, Cushendall (1922 burning)

By 1911, Cinnamond (14) was living in a (private) house 5, The Square, Comber with his parents and 4 siblings; Olive (19), Lisle (17), Eileen (15) and Robert Stewart (8). A servant, Elizabeth Margaret McEvoy was also living in the house. 

On 26th July 1912, Cinnamond joined Northern Bank at Head Office. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, Eileen Cinnamond and Olive Cinnamond (sisters of Hubert Park Cinnamond) of the Bank House, Comber signed the Women’s Ulster Declaration (Covenant) at The Square and Houses, Comber.

A transfer to Falls followed in 1914 and then back to Head Office.

Northern Bank, Falls branch (Divis Street, Belfast)

On 10th May 1915, whilst based in Head Office, Cinnamond volunteered and enlisted into the Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment. He saw service with the British Expeditionary Force and was transferred into the 150th Indian Infantry, 43rd Erinpura Regiment, Indian Army.

H P Cinnamond - Medal Index Card

with 2 addresses: 20 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast &

c/o The Anglo Persian Oil Company Limited, S Persia

The Belfast News Letter of 8th May 1915 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 12th July 1916 reports: 

The Belfast News Letter of 4th September 1916 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 1st November 1916 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 15th November 1916 reports the awarding of the Military Cross to Cinnamond:

He was Mentioned in Despatches on 14th November 1916. 

The Belfast News Letter of 5th May 1917 reports:

The Belfast News Letter of 25th May 1917 reports:

Promotion followed to Lieutenant in October 1917 and Captain in April 1918. Cinnamond saw service in Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Somme 1916 and Araas 1917. His injuries included being shot twice and being gassed. 

He was demobilised in December 1919 having been awarded the Military Cross (MC), the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The London Gazette records an H P Cinnamond as resigning his commission on 4th January 1920. 

Cinnamond did not return to the bank. He is recorded as working for the Anglo Persian Oil Company Limited. Ancestry has a number of passenger sailing lists where is recorded as travelling:

1928 - Kenya 

- occupation recorded as a journalist

1932 - Kenya and South Africa

- Occupation recorded as a Civil Servant
- Travelling with Wife (?) - Marion Christine Cinnamond

1936 - Kenya and South Africa

- Occupation recorded as a Civil Servant
- Travelling with Wife (?) and Son (aged 5)

1956 - Aden / Yemen

- Occupation recorded as Retired, Crown Agents

- Travelling with Wife (?) - Elaine Cinnamond

The London Gazette and Ancestry record a Major H P Cinnamond MC (Service Number 59524) as having attained the age limit of liability to recall and relinquishes his commission on 13th January 1947 when he was granted the honorary rank of Major. His service during WW2 was with The West Yorkshire Regiment.

An article entitled “Stirring Times Upon the North-West Frontier of India by H P Cinnamond” appeared in the ‘Australian Boys Annual’. 

Hubert's father, James died in 1945. The PRONI Wills index records 'of 19 Rosetta Parade Belfast retired bank manager died 13 June 1945 Probate Belfast 31 July to Lisle Park Cinnamond civil servant and Olive Murdock widow. Effects £1644 17s. 1d.'

Hubert Cinnamond died in 1970 and is buried at Funchal, Funchal Municipality, Madeira Region, Portugal.

Also see the comments below added by the grandson of H P Cinnamond who writes:

"I was delighted to stumble across this on a family search. Hubert (not Herbert) was my grandfather. We still have his MC and the miniature awarded when he won the medal a second time. After the Great War he served with the RIC in the south west of Ireland before eventually joining the colonial service. He served mainly out in East Africa, but also had a spell in St Helena. At the outbreak of the Second World War he led East African troops in operations against the Italians in Abyssinia, reaching the temporary rank of Colonel. He transferred to the Indian Army, apparently in search of continued active duty, but found himself peacekeeping on the North West frontier. After the war he returned to Africa, returning only briefly to the UK where he found the climate aggravated old injures picked up in the trenches. He retired with his wife Marjorie to Madeira where he died in 1970. He is buried in the English cemetery in Funchal.

Thanks for the work that has gone into this page, we're very grateful,
Malcolm Cinnamond"