Description
Queen’s South Africa, Lieutenant Commander Montague Hotham Lubbock, HMS Barracouta, Royal Navy.
Officially engraved: “Lieut M.H. Lubbock, R.N. H.M.S. Barracouta.”
Confirmed on the medal roll which notes his medal was sent to him on the Barracouta on 30th October 1901.
With copy service papers and various research including a family photo of him as a boy with his family.
This was his only earned Medal, as he remained on the retired list through World War 1.
Provenance, ex Douglas-Morris Collection, DNW 1997, who provides the following brief details of his life and service:
“Montagu Lubbock was born in Brompton, Middlesex, on 11 May 1876 and entered the service as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship BRITANNIA 15 January 1890 when aged 13 years. He gained 7 month’s seniority on passing out of BRITANNIA, joined his first ship H.M.S. SANS PAREIL (February 1892) and transferred to COLOSSUS (March 1892). He was promoted to Midshipman on 15 June 1892 and next served aboard NILE (June 1893), CALYPSO (September 1894), and EMPRESS OF INDIA (October 1895). In the latter ship he was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 15 December 1895 and conformed in the rank on 15 June 1896. He joined TRIBUNE (July 1896) but on 10 July he was Court Martialled for being drunk in the Dockyard at Portsmouth, sentenced to forfeit six month’s seniority and severely reprimanded. He next served aboard BONAVENTURE (October 1896), was promoted to Lieutenant on 31 December 1898, and joined AUSTRALIA (March 1899) and BARRACOUTA (August 1899). Service in the latter vessel off the South African coast earned him the Queen’s South Africa Medal without clasp. He served next aboard ABYSSINIA ‘for HIGHFLYER’ (July 1902). At around this period his health began to rapidly deteriorate. Sick leave was followed by admission to hospital. On 11 July 1904 he was placed on the Retired List, physically unfit for further service. He had incurred their Lordship’s displeasure for the unsatisfactory explanation regarding reasons for not reporting himself for survey on 8 February 1904. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on the Retired List 31 December 1906 and was not recalled for service in the 1914-18 War. He died on 22 July 1926.”
Montague Hotham Lubbock came from the wealthy and powerful Lubbock Family of Baronets, best known by his Uncle, the eldest brother of his father, John Lubbock, The Lord Avebury, 1st Baron Avebury.
His uncle worked as a Banker in the family business, known as “Lubbocks and Co” Bank, which in 1904 was bought out by Coutts & Co which gave them their City of London stronghold in the Strand. It is now part of Natwest Group.
The family had a close connection to Charles Darwin, who lived very close to the family and taught John Lubbock when he was young, the Professional Banker would later become one of Britain’s greatest champion of Archaeology, making significant contributions to science.
Known as “Darwin’s Apprentice” he was played a major role in Darwin’s Life and work becoming his friend, supporter, popularisers and strategist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lubbock,_1st_Baron_Avebury
Lt Cdr Montague Hotham Lubbock was born on 11th May 1876, he was the son of the similarly named “Dr Montague Lubbock” who was a respected Doctor and the 5th Son of Sir John Lubbock, 3rd Baronet, leaving him to have to get a profession rather than rely on inheriting the ancestral seat and lands, which fell to his older brother the future Lord Avebury.
Rather than follow his father into Medicine, a young Montague aged 14, joined up as a Officers Cadet in the Royal Navy at HM Training Ship Brittania on 15th January 1890.
He left the training ship in February 1892, and soon became Midshipman on 15th June 1892, joining the Sans Pareil.
He went on to serve on various ships rising to Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1895, and Sub Lieutenant with seniority 15th June 1896. However on, 15th June 1896, he was arrested and taken to trial by Court Martial.
The embarrassing story of his “Drunken Escapade” was echoed around many of the countries newspapers under various titles “Young Naval Officers Drunken Spree” etc, it was accounted in the most detail in the Dockyard Gazette:
“COURT-MARTIAL ON A SUB-LIEUTENANT. PORTSMOUTH, July 10th. A court-martial assembled on board the Victory this morning for the trial of Acting Sub-Lieut. Montague Hotham Lubbock, of the Royal Naval College, who was charged with having been drunk in the Dockyard on June 14th. Capt. Durnford, of the Vernon, was president of the Court, and the other members were Capt. Primrose, of the Royal Yacht Osborna, Commander Noel, of the Victory, Commander Bayley, of the Excellent, and Commander Briggs, of the Vernon, with Mr. G. P. Martin. R.N., deputy-judge advocate. Capt. Jeffreys, of the Excellent, prosecuted, and Lieut Murray-Aynsley, of the Skate, acted as prisoner’s “friend,” and prisoner’s father was present at the trial. The circumstantial letter set forth that Capt. McKechnie, of the Asia, saw a crowd of boys gathered around the Dockyard gates about eight in the evening watching a person who was drunk and behaving in a disorderly manner. This person was interfering with the children of the Seamen’s and Marines Orphan Home and with other persons leaving Church. Capt. McKechnie, finding that the man was a sub-lieutenant, followed him towards the Naval College, where he was identified as the prisoner. Prisoner was also reported by the police for having been drunk on the evening of the 14th, and interfered with people leaving church. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and in defence said he had been lunching with a friend whom he had not seen for a long time previously, at the town; and the heat had overcome him. It was further pointed out in mitigation of sentence that prisoner had been on board the Hero under punishment since June 15th. Several certificates of good conduct were then put in, and prisoner also called several witnesses as to character. – The Court sentenced him to forfeit six months’ seniority, and to be severely reprimanded.”
Following his severe reprimand and losing 6 months of Seniority, he still advanced to Lieutenant on 31st December 1898.
Soon after he joined HMS Barracouta serving on board from August 1899 to August 1902, throughout the Boer War in South Africa, where he earned this medal.
After the war was over his medical issues began to cause him trouble, some Rheumatism and Chronic Synovisits of the Knee left him unable to continue his career leading to his discharge on 11th July 1904.
He was placed on the Retired List of Naval Officers on 11th July 1904, and promoted to Lieutenant Commander during 1906.
Later during 1916 it was noted that he could at the age of 40 be eligible for the rank of Commander on the Retired List, however the Navy noted that they should wait “until he applies” and he never seems to have bothered, so remained as Lieut Commander.
His father had died during 1925, and young Montague followed soon afterwards, having fallen ill he was taken into Willesden Hospital where he died on 22nd July 1926.
He left behind a sizeable estate, the probate amounting to £5307 which in today’s money as of 2025, would be worth about £276,000.
