Three: Sergeant-Major Thomas Cubberley, Worcestershire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (2400 Sjt:-Maj: T. Cubberley. Worc: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2400 Mil: S: Maj: T. Cubberley Worc: R.) official correction to rank; Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Serjt. Mjr. T. Cubberley. Worc: Regt.) together with a related Bronze Memorial Plaque (Frederick Norton Cubberley) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker.

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Thomas Cubberley was born at Powick, Worcestershire, on 21 February 1857, and attested for the 22nd Infantry Brigade Depot at Worcester on 1 April 1879, aged 22. He was posted to the 36th Foot on 12 June 1879, the regiment being re-designated in July 1881 as 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1881, and to Sergeant in November 1882. He was married in February 1883 to Emma Caldwell, and by 1899 they had had eight children, including five sons, all of whom served during the Great War. Cubberley was promoted to Colour-Sergeant in March 1884, and in December 1885 was transferred as Permanent Staff to 4 (Militia) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. In August 1890 he was promoted to Sergeant-Major with rank of Quarter-Master Sergeant.

Cubberley’s L.S. & G.C. medal was announced in Army Order 96 of July 1897, but in the regimental register of these awards his rank of Quarter-Master Sergeant has been amended to read Militia Sergeant-Major and his medal duly corrected. Upon the formation of two new regular battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment in 1901, the 4th (Militia) Battalion was renumbered and became 6th (Militia) Battalion, embodied for service in South Africa on 9 December 1901. Cubberley went with the battalion to South Africa as Regimental Sergeant-Major, where they were employed manning block houses throughout Cape Colony. He was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch, dated 23 June 1902.

The recommendation for Cubberley’s M.S.M. with annuity was submitted in March 1903, and he was selected for the award with an annuity of £10 with effect from 1 April 1904, the award being announced in Army Order 5 of January 1905. He was finally discharged, as Sergeant-Major, at Worcester on 31 October 1905, aged 48 years 9 months. He died at Gillingham, Kent, on 31 January 1947, just three weeks short of his 90th birthday.

Frederick Norton Cubberley was the second son of Sergeant-Major Thomas Cubberley With regimental number 6255 he served as a Sergeant with the 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in France and Flanders from 12 August 1914. He was killed in action on 1 June 1916 and is buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, France.

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