Other Commonwealth

Lot 1566    SESSION 6 (9.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Other Commonwealth

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $6,000

PAIR: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 3 reverse), - four clasps - Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal; King's South Africa Medal 1902, - two clasps - South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902. Lieut: R.G.Tubman. 4/N.Z'land. R.R. on first medal, Cpt. R.G.Tubman. N.Z.M.R. on second medal. Both medals engraved. Diagonal black band across ribbon of first medal, the first with a few contact marks, otherwise extremely fine, the second uncirculated.

Robert George Tubman, born 1871 at Beaumont, NZ was educated at Beaumont School and then trained as a pupil-teacher at Mornington School in Dunedin. He studied at Dunedin Training College and then was a relieving teacher at various schools before being appointed head master at Moeraki School in 1890. He got married about this time but his wife, Elizabeth Josephine Tubman (nee Culling), died a year later at age 22. While at Moeraki he joined the North Otago Mounted Rifles and then in 1895 left Moeraki and began studies at the University of Otago while working as fourth assistant at George Street School.

Robert Tubman joined the 4th Contingent NZMR in 1900 and was appointed Lieutenant. He served with the NZ Rough Riders in the 4th Contingent and on his return to NZ he decided to rejoin for service in South Africa again as he liked the climate there so he joined the 7th Contingent and served with the Mounted Rifles as a Captain. He successfully completed a special mission to bring a train from Capetown to Johannesburg and this success and his attention to detail impressed General Garratt who then appointed Tubman as Provost-Marshall to his column. Unfortunately he contracted enteric fever and died at Heilbron on 11 April 1902 and is one of four New Zealanders buried at the Heilbron Cemetery. When his death was announced in Dunedin, the flags on George Street School were flown at half mast. He had died just 5 months after his 14-year old sister, Lottie, who died on 19 December 1901. They are commemorated on the family grave marker in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

With copy of Service File.

Ex. W (Bill) Woolmore Collection.