Derbyshire Lads: The Men: Bertie McCubbin

Bertie McCubbin

Private 31821, 17th Battalion. Executed 30 July 1916. Buried in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France.

Private Bertie McCubbin was executed under military authority for disobeying a lawfully given order. McCubbin had been ordered to man a listening post in no-mans-land. This was a lonely, vulnerable and tense task but essential for the protection of resting troops and universally carried out by both sides.

McCubbin refused the order claiming that he was not up to the task. He was arrested for refusing to comply with the order and a court martial was convened. Regardless of where present day sympathies may lie, McCubbin would have clearly known that by the army regulations of the day his refusal could result in the death penalty.

McCubbin wrote a letter in his defence which, no matter what your feelings regarding military executions in the Great War, cannot fail to move the reader.

"During my stay in the Annequin trenches I had my nerves shattered by a shell which burst on the railway which runs above our trenches, bursting three yards away. I have never been right since, my nerves being completely ruined. 'This being the case, I put the plea forward thatmy case not being a blank refusal to an officer but as nervousness on my part being made worse by the incessant bombardment which has been going on here lately. I have never been up before my company officer or colonel before until now, this being the first time, and I have always tried to play my part while I have been in the Army. 'I have also a father somewhere in France, leaving my mother at home with six brothers and sisters, and always thinking if anything had to happen to us two what would become of them, which does not help me to get on a deal. So I also put forward a plea that if you deal leniently with me in this case, I will try and do my bit and keep up a good reputation."

However the court martial was not moved. Bertie McCubbin was sentenced to death and shot on 30 July 1916.


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Bertie McCubbin Private 31821, 17th Battalion. Executed 30 July 1916. Buried in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France. Private Bertie McCubbin was executed under military authority for disobeying a lawfully given order. McCubbin had been ordered to man a listening post in no-mans-land. This was a lonely, vulnerable and tense task but essential for the protection of resting troops and universally carried out by both sides. McCubbin refused the order claiming that he was not up to the task. He was arrested for refusing to comply with the order and a court martial was convened. Regardless of where present day sympathies may lie, McCubbin would have clearly known that by the army regulations of the day his refusal could result in the death penalty. McCubbin wrote a letter in his defence which, no matter what your feelings regarding military executions in the Great War, cannot fail to move the reader. "During my stay in the Annequin trenches I had my nerves shattered by a shell which burst on the railway which runs above our trenches, bursting three yards away. I have never been right since, my nerves being completely ruined. 'This being the case, I put the plea forward thatmy case not being a blank refusal to an officer but as nervousness on my part being made worse by the incessant bombardment which has been going on here lately. I have never been up before my company officer or colonel before until now, this being the first time, and I have always tried to play my part while I have been in the Army. 'I have also a father somewhere in France, leaving my mother at home with six brothers and sisters, and always thinking if anything had to happen to us two what would become of them, which does not help me to get on a deal. So I also put forward a plea that if you deal leniently with me in this case, I will try and do my bit and keep up a good reputation." However the court martial was not moved. Bertie McCubbin was sentenced to death and shot on 30 July 1916.