In Norton (St. Mary) Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of :-
5/3626 Private
R. Cubley
Durham Light Infantry
5th May 1916.
Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Robert Cubley was born in the last quarter of 1896 in Stockton on Tees. He was the first son of Staffordshire born labourer George Cubley and his wife Elizabeth Agnes (nee Conway) from Norton on Tees. The couple started their married life living with Agnes’ widowed mother in Lumley Street. By 1911 they had a second son, Harry, and their own house in Beaconsfield Road, Norton on Tees where Robert, now aged 14, was working as an errand boy for a road drainer.
Robert Cubley enlisted with the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and served with them in France. He was invalided back to England and died from chronic nephritis in No.4 Northern Hospital, Lincoln on the 5th May 1916.
The Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser 13/05/1918 reports:-
Cubley, died from wounds in Lincoln Hospital May 5th 1916 Private Robert Cubley, son of Mr GH and E Cubley 69 Beaconsfield Street Norton, formerly employed at Malleable Ironworks.
The Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser 23/12/1916 reports:-
BEACOMFIELD STREET, NORTON.
TWO WAR SHRINES UNVEILED BY MRS J. SAMUEL.
Two war shrines, one at each end of Beaconsfield -street, Norton, were unveiled by Mrs J. Samuel on Saturday afternoon.
After the unveiling an address was given by Alderman J. Samuel, M.P. He said it gave both himself and Mrs Samuel great pleasure to take part in the ceremony. He thought Beaconsfield-street was a remarkable one, it having provided 74 men for the forces out of the72 houses in the street. He did not know of any other street which had sent so many, though a large number had gone from the Portrack district.
(Full details of the rest of his address follow.)
Two solos “City Glorious” and “Abide with Me” were sung by Madam Childs and a collection was taken for the Beaconsfield Soldiers’ and Home Association.
Councillors Barclay and Elliott and the Rev. H.H. Gower also took part in the proceedings.
Acknowledgements: Rev. David Youngson.
Robert Cubley is remembered at Norton on N68.02, at Stockton in S138.18, page 12, Aalso in the 1/5th D.L.I Remembrance Book, page 7, and at Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 109.
