Cubbon, FR

Captain Francis Richard Cubbon

Francis was born in Poona, India, on March 10th 1884, the middle of three children born to Richard Cubbon, a Captain in the Indian Army, and his wife, Mary. He returned to England at first to attend Alleyn’s, before coming to the College at the start of 1907. During this period he was living in West Norwood with his maternal grandmother. After leaving Dulwich he spent time at Sandhurst, and when he passed out he followed his father by taking a position in the Indian Army. In September of 1911 he was assigned to a position with the 72nd Punjabis, with whom he spent the next several years serving on the North West Frontier.
In November 1915 he was seriously injured, as a result being invalided back to England and barred from front line infantry service even upon his recovery. Francis however took up an offered position being attached to the Royal Flying Corps, with whom he trained as an observer, going over to the front line in France in April of 1917. Over the next two months he, along with pilot Frederick Thayre, formed an incredibly successful team, as their plane was credited with having brought down 23 German aircraft. During this period they were both awarded the M.C., and then awarded a Bar to it only three days later; they also notably at one point were one of five British aircraft who successfully fought off 27 of the German opposition. On 9th June however they were on a bombing sortie near Comines, when their plane was brought down, with both men perishing as a result.