Pte 15128 Charles Cubbin

• Age: 35
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 20th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.1

Charles Cubbin was born in 1880 in Liverpool and was baptised 1st April 1881 at St Judes, Liverpool. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Cubbin, of Liverpool and the  husband of Mary Jane Coffey (formerly Cubbin), of 3, Dorien Rd Old Swan, Liverpool.

Charles was the youngest of three sons born to Thomas Cubbin, a ‘filecutter’ born in Wigan and his wife Mary nee Taylor. His parents had married 20th November 1870 at St Mary the Virgin, Prescot. Charles was a well known athlete and connected with Ogdens FC.

In 1881, Charles aged 10 months and his two brothers, Thomas, 6 years, and Robert, 4 years, lived with their parents as boarders at 1 Stancliffe Street,  off Fairclough Lane, Liverpool.

The 1891 Census shows them at the same address but Mary is now a widow and a newsagent while Charles is a polisher. 

The 1901 Census has the family still living at the same address, Mary lives with her youngest son, Charles, who is now a wood carver. 

That same year, Charles married Mary Jane Townley on the 25th February 1901 at St Philip’s Church, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows them living at the same address 1 Stancliffe Street with Mary, still a newsagent, and their 11 month old son, George Herbert. Charles is now a clerk in a tobacco factory, probably Ogdens. 

Charles enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment when he was 34 years of age.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915, earning all three medals.

He was killed in action on 20th June 1916 aged 36, by which time his wife was living at 79 Hannan Road, Kensington, Liverpool.

He was buried close to where he fell in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross.  The cemetery was at the south-east corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916.  After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery where he now rests.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 27th June 1916 

KIA – CUBBIN – June 23 killed in action age 36 years Private Charles Cubbin beloved husband of Jinnie Cubbin 79 Hannan Road (His duty nobly done, one of the best)

Charles’s  death was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 8th July 1916

ONE OF THE PALS – Private Charles Cubbin Liverpool “Pals” has been killed in France.  He was thirty six years of age and resided with his wife at 79 Hannan Road, Kensington, Liverpool.  He was the son of one of Liverpool’s oldest newsagents, Mr Cubbin of Fairclough Lane.  He was a well known athlete and connected with Ogden FC.

He was also reported killed in Liverpool Daily Post on 11th July 1916 and he was also mentioned in the Sports Notes in the Echo on the 11th July 1916 and 5th August 1916 where it states he was the Secretary of Ogdens FC.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his widow Mary Jane Cubbin

In 1920, his widow married Henry George Coffey (born 1887) at West Derby Registry Office. Mary, his mother, who was one of Liverpool’s oldest newsagents, died in 1917.

We currently have no further information on Charles Cubbin. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.