Name
Richard Rolls Gubbins (DSO)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/01/1918
49
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
Somerset Light Infantry
Attached to A.A.Q.M.G. General Staff
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Mentioned in Despatches, Distinguished Service Order
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE
Normandy Memorial.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Haileybury College Cloister Wall Memorial, Hertford Heath
Pre War
Richard was born in Upham, Hampshire in 1869, the first son of Richard Shard Gubbins, the Primate of Upham and Ellen (Rolls) Gubbins.
In the 1871 census, aged 2, he was living in "The Rectory." In the 1881 census he was a 12 year old "scholar" boarding at the house of Charles J. Marshall, Warren Park, Bengeo, Hertfordshire. This may be the Duncombe School, Bengeo, Hertford and Haileybury College 1882. Therefore he is an "Old Haileyburian" and a caricature of one of the teachers at the school, drawn by Richard in 1885, is in the school archives.
Richard was not in the census of 1891 or 1901, perhaps because he was already an officer in the 2Btn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry - his grandfather had served during the Penisula campaign and in America during the War of 1812.
He served in South Africa 1899-1902 seeing extensive service with the Regiment in the Boer War. He was wounded at Paardesberg. He married Agnes Edith Heysham of The Old Hall, Rockcliffe, Cumberland in 1902 and had two children.
He was "mentioned in dispatches," earned the Queen's medal with 3 Clasps, and the King's medal with 2 Clasps. The Queen's medal, that is of Victoria, was awarded to the best shot in the British Army and was probably awarded during his first commission. The King's medal was a similar award, but of George V.
He retired from the army in 1908, but because of his experience was recalled in 1914.
Wartime Service
He was recalled in 1914 as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General to the B.E.F.
He entered France on 23 Mar 1915 and was lost at sea when the S.S. Normandy, on which he was a passenger, was torpedoed by UB 90 off the coast of France.
Additional Information
He was joint author with C R B Barrett of “85th King’s Light Infantry” Pub. 1913.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Karen Smith - Acting Director of External Relations www.haileybury.com/honour, the Hissem-Montague Family website
