Cable, JS

Lieutenant James Sydney Cable

Born on June 5^th 1884, James was the eldest son of architect James McCurrey Cable and his wife Anna, and preceded both his younger brothers in coming to the College. After he had left Dulwich he progressed to the Architectural Association School, gaining his qualification as an architect after spending time as a pupil of Mr. H.T. Hare. After qualifying he first served as an assistant to a Mr. Bodley, before joining his father’s firm and becoming a full member of the R.I.B.A. in 1908. Whilst at the College he had had a particular passion for music, one he maintained well after he left, often assisting at school concerts.

When war was declared he at first joined the St. Paul’s Watch, a group of amateur firemen largely made up of architects, who were focused on protecting the City of London, and most especially St. Paul’s Cathedral. In January 1916 he joined the forces, signing up as a member of the Artists Rifles, before, in November of that year being given a commission in the R.G.A., with whom he went out to France a month later. He served as a member of a machine gun battery throughout 1917 and much of 1918, being involved in actions at Arras, Ypres and the Somme and, in May of 1918, being promoted to Lieutenant. On September 5^th 1918 he was serving near Aubigny, on the Somme, when he died as a result of an accidental gunshot wound to the knee.