Page 12 - Mercian Eagle Year of 2023

Rededication Services
During 2023, RHQ Nottingham was privileged to be part of two re-dedication services. Both of them started with the curiosity of strangers that led to an historical challenge that led to the placing of a CWGC headstone befitting the soldier and their service. RHQ and the museum are proud to have played a part in the lead up to the services and attending them.
Pte Tingle
Following a WWI project, the children of Granby Junior School discovered that one of their schoolmasters had served in the Great War. 58484 Pte Herbert Henry Tingle, originally from Northamptonshire, had moved to Derbyshire for employment at
the school. He joined the Army in 1916 and was eventually posted to the 10th Bn The Sherwood Foresters Regiment, serving on the Western Front. A keen musician he was part of the Sherwood Foresters Regimental Band. After contracting rheumatic fever while on active service in the trenches, he was demobilised in April 1919, returning home to again take up his teaching post. However due to his illness he was unable to take up the role completely and died aged 31 on
the 16 January 1920 and was laid to rest in Ilkeston Park Cemetery in an unmarked grave. One of the Governors, Cllr James Dawson, of the school arranged for him to be honoured with a GWGC headstone and ceremony on 21 March 2023. Members of The Mercian Regiment, RHQ, the Regimental Mascot and the WFRA attended alongside honoured guests including Herbert’s descendants.
Cpl Highton
A resident, Mr Gary Kryriacio, was curious about the man who used to live in his home and had a poppy dedicated to him by the RBL in 2017. Thomas Highton, from Worksop, was born in 1892 and in 1909 enlisted
into the special reserves of the Sherwood Foresters (regimental number 11174) and
later transferred to the regular army and was placed under orders for service in India with the 1st Bn. During his time there, he became ill and was hospitalised and subsequently returned to the UK. Following being deemed fit for service, he was sent to France when
in September 1914, he received a gunshot wound to his right elbow and was medically evacuated back to the UK in the October. He then spent the next few years in the
UK where he got married. It is believed
that he also served in the 2nd Bn and the 14th Bn and on the archives is logged as a Sgt although this is thought to be an acting ‘local’ rank. In 1917, Thomas transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment (regimental number 39606) and sent to Mesopotamia where he fell ill and returned to the UK. He was medically discharged in September
1918. Upon discharge, Thomas worked in the laboratory at Firth’s steelworks however he died on 29 April 1919 as a result of his injuries and military honours were accorded for his funeral. Thomas was awarded the Silver War Badge and the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory War Medal. His grave remained unmarked until 2021 when a temporary wooden cross was placed on the site by ‘Men in Sheds’ whilst an application was made
to the CWGC by another local enthusiastic historian, Adie Platts. On 19 September 2023, a Service of Commemoration, led was held to honour Cpl Thomas Highton›s resting place, celebrate his service, courage, and unwavering dedication to his duty and unveil the Commonwealth War Grave headstone.
In attendance were the DL Nottinghamshire, members of the WFRA, Matlock PALS (a re-enactment group who provided a volley salute), members of the Museum and RHQ, including the Regimental Mascot, the RBL and members of the public.
Sjt Cubberley
On 30 November 2012 a set or remains were found near Waterstraat during the laying of a pipeline. The soldier was found with buttons
Serjeant William Clay Cubberley –
2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment
and a shoulder title of The Worcestershire Regiment as well as a crown, indicating that the soldier was most likely a Serjeant Major. After unsuccessful DNA testing, the soldier was buried as an Unknown Soldier of The Worcestershire Regiment in Perth Cemetery (China Wall) on 6 September 2017.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the
Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), sometimes referred to as “The War Detectives”, began to reinvestigate old cases where DNA was taken but no match had been found prior to the burial of the soldier. This further research revealed that three serjeants of 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment were still missing from their
time in the line at Veldhoek in September 1917. DNA testing was carried out for these men. John Cubberley, the great nephew of Serjeant Cubberley and grandson of his cousin Harold, was found to be a match to the soldier.
As he was missing Serjeant Cubberley had previously been commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. It is believed that he may have been promoted to Company Serjeant Major in the field, but no record of this was made prior to his death. On Wednesday 22 March 2023 at
CWGC Perth Cemetery (China Wall), in the Ypres Salient, Belgium, the Unknown Soldier ’s grave was rededicated to
Sergeant William Cubberley. The Service
of rededication was organised by the JCCC and led by The Reverend Daniel Njuguna CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment accompanied by a Guard of Honour from 1 MERCIAN. The service was very well attended with representatives from CWGC, RBL, local Belgium politics, WFRA and the UK Defence Attaché from Brussels.
Regrettably John Cubberley who had provided the DNA that enabled his great- uncle to be identified was unable to come
to Belgium for the 22nd March rededication. However the JCCC team arranged for him to come to Dancox House, Worcester, on 16th May with his daughter where he was presented the Union Flag from Sergeant William Camberley’s grave, a Worcestershire Regiment World War I cap star and notes from the Regimental history that were relevant to his great uncle’s war survive.
Pte Tingle’s grave
Cpl Highton’s grave
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
11