Thomas Reffold Dubber was born in 1894 in Bentley,  the youngest son of George Dubber and Alice (nee Reffold). George was born in Bentley into a family who had lived in the village for many years. George’s family were living in Bury Court Cottages in 1901. By 1911 they had moved to Northbrook Cottages where George was a cowman on the farm and Thomas was a gardener.

Thomas joined the 1st Battalion of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey ) Regiment. 

The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, took place on the Western Front from July to November 1917.  From the 20thto the 25thSeptember, this campaign included the Battle of Menin Road Ridge when British artillery unleashed an incredibly heavy bombardment. The inevitable counter-attack proved costly with over 20,000 people killed, missing or wounded.

Thomas’ battalion relieved the 8th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regiment at midnight on 24thSeptember 1917. They were under heavy barrage early in the morning of the 25th September and asked for reinforcements by pigeon. The Kings Royal Rifle Corps arrived at 3pm to support them. On the 27th September his battalion was relieved. In those two days, 14 officers and 387 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing. Thomas was one of those killed.

Thomas was moved from his unmarked grave to Tyne Cot Cemetery, a large cemetery which could be maintained and where he could be commemorated properly. 

Brigid Fice