Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Rifleman Hubert Robert Tole was born in 1896 in Paddington, a son of Hubert John Tole and Emma Mary Tole née Barnes. His father was a Surgical Boot Maker. The 1901 census shows the family living at 175 Kilburn Lane, Willesden but by the time of the 1911 census they were living at 62 Deacon Road, Willesden and he was shown as a 14 years old Post Office Telegraph Messenger. In November 1912 he was promoted to Assistant Postman within the London Postal Service, a post confirmed in the London Gazette dated 4 February 1913, and in June 1914 he was a Male Sorter in West London.
He joined the 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (Post Office Rifles) in April 1916 and his service number was 5881. He entered France on 27 August 1916 and his death was presumed, aged 20 years, on 7 October 1916. As he has no known grave he is listed on Pier and Face 9C and 9D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. On 9 April 1918 his effects of £3-6s-3d were paid to his father who also received a War Gratuity of £3 on 3 November 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
