In Ovillers Military Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Captain Joseph Berkeley Cubey, serving with ‘A’ Company, 23rd Battalion Service (4th Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers who died 01/07/1916.

Joseph Berkeley Cubey was born on the 2nd May 1884, the 4th eldest son of nine children to a Thomas Cubey, (born 31st March 1847, died 30th December 1925), and Elizabeth Mary, nee Banfield, Cubey, (born 28th February 1845, died 8th August 1923), they were married on the 16th September 1872.

The other children were

• Alice Mary Cubey, (born 1874, died 12th January 1942), [she trained to be a teacher at the Darlington Training College, then from 1895 to 1906, she was an Assistant Mistress at Stanhope Road Council Infants School, then Head Mistress at Baring Street Council Infants School from 1906 to 1932. She registered on the 1st January 1915 the Teachers Registration Council number 4424].
• Edwin Banfield Cubey, born 20th September 1875, died 12th October 1962, was a Shipbuilders Clerk, married an Emily, [born 9th August 1878], and they had three children, Doreen, born 19th February 1913, who eventually married a Carter, Alice E. born 27th December 1919, who married a Clarke and Reginald born 1916. Edwin and his wife travelled to Hong Kong from London onboard the SS Devanha, ship number 117400, and the SS Mongolia, ship number 117883, in 1920 and 1926. In 1939 they were residing at 3 St Georges Avenue, South Shields].
• Arthur Cowling Cubey, born 27th January 1886, died 20th July 1959, educated at the Westoe Higher Grade School from the 3rd July 1899, [he married a Florence, (born 27th November 1885), and was an Insurance Clerk becoming a Branch Manager for the Royal Oak Insurance Company in London at Tooting. In 1939 he was residing with his family at 42 Avoca Road, Wandsworth, with two children Leslie and Joan. Arthur Cowling served in the 451st Field Company, Royal Engineers in WW1, originally as a Territorial. Service numbers 459690 and 3550, with the rank of sapper. He was demobilised on the 6th May 1919]. Arthur was residing at 4 Westoe Crescent, South Shields.
• Hugh Cubey, born September 1878, died 25th June 1951. Resided  at 59 Arncliffe Gardens, West Hartlepool, formerly Headmaster of Oxford Street Junior Mixed Schools for 11 years, until June 30th 1942. He unveiled a War Memorial at West Hartlepool in 1921. Hugh was a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, service number 113916 in WW1. Secretary to St Georges Congregational Church at West Hartlepool. He attended Newcastle Training College and became a certified teacher in 1899 and teached continuously for Hartlepool Education Committee. He was married  to Alice Maud Cubey who died on the 6th July 1954 at 216 Kings Road, Harrogate.
• Thomas Henry Cubey, born 17th November 1882, he owned an Electrical Engineers Shop at 31 and 32 King Street, South Shields. He married an Ethel, she died 1956.
• Edith Annie Cubey, born 16th May 1873, died June 1873.
• Elizabeth Banfield Cubey, born 18th July 1880, died 12th October 1888.
• One unknown child died.

The father was a commercial traveller for a biscuit manufacturer, and in 1871 he was residing at 24 East King Street, South Shields. By 1881, now married, he was residing at 16 Lord Nelson Street, South Shields. 1891, he was now residing with his family at 71 Winchester Street, South Shields. 1901 another move to 13 Osborne Avenue, South Shields. From 1911 finally at 25 Osborne Avenue.

Joseph joined Westoe Secondary School from Westoe Juniors on the 7th September 1896, and left to become an articled clerk to a South Shields architect, James Walter Hanson until 1905, after which he remained as an assistant in the practice until moving to be assistant to John Hill in Newcastle, and then to a position with Tynemouth-based architect, Arthur Plummer. He attended Armstrong College, and qualified as an architect in 1907 following which he was admitted as an associate with the Royal Institute of British Architects. After this he joined the Land Valuation Office in Newcastle for the Inland Revenue. He was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and was working at some time, at the Northern office at 6 Higham Place, in Newcastle upon Tyne. Joseph was also a member of the Congregational Church that was in Ocean Road, which was demolished.

Joseph was a member of the Westoe Rugby Football Club and actively played many games. He had also lived at West Hartlepool at 59 Arncliffe Gardens. Joseph was a member of the Literary and Philosophical society at 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. Joseph was also a member of the YMCA at Newcastle upon Tyne.

Joseph received his commission as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant on the 14th December 1914, in the 23rd (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. On the 23rd December 1914 he was at Victoria Hall in Sunderland helping to recruit for the Tyneside Scottish, where it was reported that attendance was not very high. On the 26th February 1915, he was gazetted to be a temporary Lieutenant, he eventually was promoted to a Temporary Captain from the 1st February 1915. Joseph travelled with his battalion on the 8th January 1915, to Warminster Station where they boarded a train for Folkestone. At Folkestone, they boarded the SS African Prince, ship number 114448, arriving at Boulogne on the 9th January.

He was killed on the 1st July 1916, as the 23rd Battalion moved out of the trenches and approached North of La Boisselle. It is mentioned in the War Diary of the 4th Battalion that ‘Captain J. B. Cuby [Cubey] commanding ‘A’ Company was killed before he had gone 100 yards’.

His personal effects were returned to his father which consisted of 1 Compass damaged, Note Book, Waterproof seat. and 2 Mirrors, later as well a pair of Field Glasses.

There are some witness statements confirming what happened to Captain Joseph Berkeley Cubey.

Thomas Taylor of A., who was here yesterday has gone to the Convalescent Camp at Etaples, told me that he saw Captain Cubey lying dead. Reference: Pte Lashbrooke, 732 4th Gen[eral Hospital]. Etaples 25th July 1916.

I was not there myself as I had only just returned from England, but while at the base at Etaples Pte Dixon in 21st Battn.,which is brigade with us, told me that he had seen Captain Cubey hit and fall on July 1st.. Reference: Pte Gent 28123 ‘D’ 24th Gen[eral Hospital], Etaples 26th July 1916.

Informant states that on July 1st 1916 at Keats Redoubt , La Boiselle, Capt Cubey was in 1/2 {sic], ‘A’ Coy in the 4th line. Informant heard from Doctor Capt. Muirhead, arr.23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, the dressing station in firing line that Capt Cubey had been killed. Reference: Capt, H.J. Whitehead, 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Free Hospital, Grays Inn Road, W.C.

Informant states that after engagement, July 4th 1916 at Albert he met his mate Pte Carny at Rouen, who told him that he had seen Capt Cuby, [sic]  die from wounds on July 4th. The Latter lived long enough to tell his men “they had done well”; he said his prayers and said he was “glad to die”. Informant Pte Carney went together to Rouen Hospital,, and were there separated. Reference: Pte W. Stephenson, 490, 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers, Lewisham Military Hospital, Block C.I. Home address: White’s Buildings, Whickham, Durham. London 12th July 1916.  L Coote.

On the 23rd April 1917 the Newcastle Journal reported that in the report of the council of the Northern Architectural Association “it is with regret that Captain J. B. Cubey had been killed on active service.”
Source: Newcastle Daily Journal, Monday 10/07/1916 and Sunderland Daily Echo 23/12/1914.

Joseph Berkeley Cubey left £531 3s 3d to his brother Arthur Cowling Cubey and sister Alice Mary Cubey will dated the 28th February 1916.

In 1921. Elizabeth Mary Cubey was residing with her son Arthur Cowling Cubey in London at 7 Foxbourgh Road, Wansworth, London.

Acknowledgments: James Hoy Archive; The British Newspaper Archive; Western Front Association; Mike Todd; The National Archives;

Joseph Berkeley Cubey is remembered at Hartlepool in H115.30, at Harton on H104.03, at Newcastle on  NUT209  NUT016,  and NUT273, at South Shields in S86.086, page 4 and on S86.101 at West Hartlepool on W111.55.