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James Henry Tubb
Chief Warrant Officer
CRIMEAN NAVAL VETERAN
Wearer of four medals
Chief Gunner Tubb Reminiscent
"Anchored" to the sofa, much against his will, by a recent attack of lameness, the "Chronicle's" representative on Wednesday evening discovered Chief Gunner James Henry Tubb, a local Crimea veteran, complacently smoking his pipe. Born at Portsmouth, England, in 1833, the old gentleman is nearing his 82nd year. His weight of summers, has neither affected his intellect or his bearing
Reporter - Your first connection with the British navy would be when, Mr Tubb? -In 1850. I was then a boy with Captain Blackwood in Nelson's old ship, the Victory. Then I joined the H.M. Retribution, after 18 months or so the time of the first Kaffir war in 1852.
And your next vessel ?-I was transferred to H.M. Sidon. Let's see: you were in the Crimean war? -Oh, yes; that was 1854 and 1855: I was on H.M. Britannia, 120 guns, the flagship of Admiral Dundas, in the Black Sea. I'd then gained the rank of A.B.
Some stirring times then in the Black Sea? - Yes. I was at the bombardment of Sebastopol and Odessa.
Paid off from the Britannia I joined the H.M. Nile and went to the Baltic, but came home before the termination of the war. I took no part in the fighting there. From the Baltic we went to the West Indies, the time of the revolution in Hayti and St. Domingo. My next ship was H.M. Excellent; then I was transferred to H.M. Boscawen, boys' training ship at Southampton; back to the Excellent again. I was three times attached to her. On the Boscawen I was gunnery instructor.
You would have gained some medals? -Yes, four. One for the Crimea, one Baltic, one Turkish, and the long service medal.
And now as to your Victorian association : altogether you were attached to the naval service for how long ? From 1850 to 1892. How much is that? Forty two years. What ship did you come out herein? -The old Nelson: with Captain C. B. Payne, Lieutenant Panter, afterwards Captain Panter, was likewise in her. I was selected as instructor to the Victorian Navy in 1867. Afterwards I was transferred to H.M.V.S. Cerberus, and retired in 1892. Thanking the chief gunner for his interesting reminiscences, and expressing a hope that he would soon be back again upon the bowling green, our representative withdrew.
Williamstown Chronicle, 16 January 1915
CRIMEAN VETERAN PASSES.
The Argus, 11 November 1922
On Thursday the flag at the bowling green flew at half mast, out of respect to the memory of one of its pioneer members, Chief Warrant Officer James Henry Tubb. A Crimean veteran, in his 90th year, he was highly revered by a large section of friends and acquaintances. He was born at Portsmouth in 1833, and entered upon his naval career at 17, when he joined the H.M.S. "Victory," in 1850. From her he was, in 1852, transferred to the H.M.S. "Restitution," and next year to H.M.S. "Sidon," and next to H.M.S. "Britannia." In this flagship of Admiral Dundas he took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol and Odessa, gaining the Crimean medal. In H.M.S. "Nile" he went to the Baltic but saw no fighting there. Returning home before the termination of the war, he rejoined the "Nile" and went to West Indies, while the revolutions were in progress at Hayti and San Domingo. His next ship was H.M.S. "Excellent," in 1857 and then the H.M.S. "Mariborough," in 1859. At a later date he served on board the training ship "Boscawan," as gunnery instructor, from 1862 to 1866, returning to H.M.S. "Excellent" in the succeeding year. In 1868 he joined the H.M.S. "Nelson," for services in Australia, and, later on the turret man o' war, "Cerberus." On the majority of the members of the Victorian fleet he served, in the capacity of gunnery instructor, and in 1892 retired on pension, after an honourable service of 43 years in the British and Australian Navies. He held both the Greenwich and Victorian pensions, in the former from 1876.
Chief Warrant officer Tubb was for 54 years a resident of Williamstown, and one of the founders of the bowling club. He leaves a grown up family of two daughters and three sons, the latter residing in Sydney. One daughter is the wife of Mr. Manderson, of Victoria street, where the veteran resided in life.
The remains were interred in the local necropolis yesterday.
died: 8-11-1922
source: Victorian Navy Monument, Williamstown Cemetery Erected by the Officers, Petty Officers and Men of the Permanent Naval Force of Victoria In Memory of their Deceased Comrades Large Monument surmounted by Large Anchor
courtesy of Helen Harris, OAM
Listed in the Victorian Defence Forces List, Naval Branch, 1 January 1890 at the rank of Chief Gunner. |