Lieutenant Colonel Brian Miles Pearson Hubbard RAF, Cameron Highlanders and RAOC
The Man Brian Miles Pearson Hubbard was born on 10th November 1924 in Staines, Surrey, youngest son of Percy F Hubbard and Marjorie – nee Pearson (of Scottish ancestry). He had one brother Anthony Francis Pearce born on 16th February 1920, later a Major in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Brian attended Ewell Castle School in Epsom, Surrey; a mixed, independent day school and sixth form, founded in 1926 by Herbert Budgell as a boarding school. He was awarded a Junior Certificate in December 1938 by the College of Preceptors for passing his exams in English language and literature, Scripture, Geography, Drawing, History, French, Light and Heat and in March 1939 School Colours for running.
On Brian’s 18th Birthday in November 1942 and during World War II, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force in Oxford, with service number 1605690 (from block 1600001 to 1610000 allocated to Oxford in September 1941 – November 1942). He later transferred into the Army as an Officer Cadet with service number 14668541 and on 23rd November 1944 aged 22 was granted an Emergency Commission in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders as 2nd Lieutenant with a new number 335286.
Brian served in the UK for the duration of the War and awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. He was promoted War Substantive Lieutenant on 23rd May 1945 and posted to the Liverpool Scottish TA Battalion of the QOCH, then the No 11 (Seaforth and Cameron) Holding Battalion in July, prior to embarkation for India in September. The holding battalion was formed in November 1944 from the Depot Companies of the Seaforth Highlanders and QOCH. At the time Brian served in them they were based at Strathpeffer, Ross and Cromarty in Scotland.
In India Brian served as Staff Captain GHQ and in April 1946 posted to the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, serving in Japan and Malaya and again appointed Staff Captain GHQ Far East Land Forces (FARELF) in April 1947 – January 1948. His address at the time was given as Alma Lodge, Deepcut Bridge Road, Blackdown, Hants and he remained in Malaya during the early part of the Malayan Emergency and awarded the General Service Medal with clasp Malaya. An electoral register of 1946 shows him as serving in the Armed Forces, registered at ‘Little Friars’, Queen’s Road, Belmont, Sutton and Cheam.
During the second quarter of 1948 aged 24 he married Pamela Dorothy Bridger in Surrey.
On 11th October 1948 Brian transferred from an Emergency Commission to a Short Service Commission in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as a Lieutenant with seniority backdated to 23 May 45. A further electoral register of 1950 shows him as a Serviceman, listed with his family at Cricket Green Cottage, Chiddingfold, Godalming, Surrey.
On Brian’s 18th Birthday in November 1942 and during World War II, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force in Oxford, with service number 1605690 (from block 1600001 to 1610000 allocated to Oxford in September 1941 – November 1942). He later transferred into the Army as an Officer Cadet with service number 14668541 and on 23rd November 1944 aged 22 was granted an Emergency Commission in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders as 2nd Lieutenant with a new number 335286.
Brian served in the UK for the duration of the War and awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. He was promoted War Substantive Lieutenant on 23rd May 1945 and posted to the Liverpool Scottish TA Battalion of the QOCH, then the No 11 (Seaforth and Cameron) Holding Battalion in July, prior to embarkation for India in September. The holding battalion was formed in November 1944 from the Depot Companies of the Seaforth Highlanders and QOCH. At the time Brian served in them they were based at Strathpeffer, Ross and Cromarty in Scotland.
In India Brian served as Staff Captain GHQ and in April 1946 posted to the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, serving in Japan and Malaya and again appointed Staff Captain GHQ Far East Land Forces (FARELF) in April 1947 – January 1948. His address at the time was given as Alma Lodge, Deepcut Bridge Road, Blackdown, Hants and he remained in Malaya during the early part of the Malayan Emergency and awarded the General Service Medal with clasp Malaya. An electoral register of 1946 shows him as serving in the Armed Forces, registered at ‘Little Friars’, Queen’s Road, Belmont, Sutton and Cheam.
During the second quarter of 1948 aged 24 he married Pamela Dorothy Bridger in Surrey.
On 11th October 1948 Brian transferred from an Emergency Commission to a Short Service Commission in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as a Lieutenant with seniority backdated to 23 May 45. A further electoral register of 1950 shows him as a Serviceman, listed with his family at Cricket Green Cottage, Chiddingfold, Godalming, Surrey.
It appears that Brian and Pamela separated as early as 1952, as Pamela is shown in August of that year as a reporter, heading to Beira in Mozambique aboard the SS Uganda and no further references of them together can be found. Pamela may have re-married and she died in 1985 as Pamela Hubbard-Trabbatoni.
Brian Meanwhile was promoted to Captain on 21st July 1952 and on 4th December 1954, now aged 30, was Commissioned into the Regular Army, RAOC as a Captain. In the third quarter of 1955 he re-married, to Joy Alexander Campbell Thomson in Surrey and at about the same time attended 31st Ordnance Officers Course at Camberley.
Brian was promoted to Major on 10th November 1958 and a 1959 electoral register still shows him as a Serviceman at the Chiddingfold address. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 15th November 1966 aged 42 and by 1970 living at West Frith Lodge, Princess Royal Barracks, commonly known as Deepcut Barracks, the Garrison Headquarters of the RAOC. On 10th November 1975 he was appointed to the Special List and in 1977 awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 whilst based at the Ordnance Supply Unit, Liphook.
On 3rd October 1977 aged 52 Brian retired from the Army and in later life served as a District Councillor on Wealden District Council becoming Chairman of the Area Plans Committee in about 2000 aged 76. He lived at the time at 4 Hillside, East Dene, East Surrey.
Brian Meanwhile was promoted to Captain on 21st July 1952 and on 4th December 1954, now aged 30, was Commissioned into the Regular Army, RAOC as a Captain. In the third quarter of 1955 he re-married, to Joy Alexander Campbell Thomson in Surrey and at about the same time attended 31st Ordnance Officers Course at Camberley.
Brian was promoted to Major on 10th November 1958 and a 1959 electoral register still shows him as a Serviceman at the Chiddingfold address. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 15th November 1966 aged 42 and by 1970 living at West Frith Lodge, Princess Royal Barracks, commonly known as Deepcut Barracks, the Garrison Headquarters of the RAOC. On 10th November 1975 he was appointed to the Special List and in 1977 awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 whilst based at the Ordnance Supply Unit, Liphook.
On 3rd October 1977 aged 52 Brian retired from the Army and in later life served as a District Councillor on Wealden District Council becoming Chairman of the Area Plans Committee in about 2000 aged 76. He lived at the time at 4 Hillside, East Dene, East Surrey.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Brian Miles Pearson Hubbard were acquired from The Medal Company on 2nd June 2021. They were of interest because of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and archive of documents that were included, including portrait photographs and original Commissioning parchment.
The medals arrived with much research already completed and after the usual trawl of Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records, London Gazette and Google, Brian Hubbard’s biography was pieced together.
An interesting tale of a man who began his service life in the Royal Air Force, moving to the Cameron Highlanders and becoming a career officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and then a District Councillor.
CLICK HERE for more photographs
The medals arrived with much research already completed and after the usual trawl of Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records, London Gazette and Google, Brian Hubbard’s biography was pieced together.
An interesting tale of a man who began his service life in the Royal Air Force, moving to the Cameron Highlanders and becoming a career officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and then a District Councillor.
CLICK HERE for more photographs
Medal Details
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: CAPT. B.M.P.HUBBARD. R.A.O.C.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded
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