Thomas Gubb
Encyclopedia
Thomas Witheridge Gubb was a South African businessman and an early twentieth century rugby union international who is known as one of the “lost lions” due to his participation on the 1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
which, although retrospectively recognised as a Lions
tour, did not confer test status on any of the four encounters with the Argentina national rugby union team
.
, Cape Province
. He was the son of Thomas Witheridge Gubb the cricketer and businessman, (21 March 1875 - 10 October 1922) who had played first class cricket for the Eastern Province
. He was also therefore the nephew of Albert J Gubb who had also played cricket for the Eastern Province.
Like his father before him, he attended St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship
to then attend Oxford University. His college was University College, Oxford
from 1926 to 1930. There he studied Jurisprudence
for which he received 2nd Class Honours. He then went on to study for the Dipl. Econ. B.A. which he received in 1930.
in each year of his education, from 1926 to 1929. As well as receiving his rugby blue
, he had the honour of being selected as the captain for the 1929 season. In so doing, he became the second Rhodes Scholar from St Andrew's College to captain Oxford, and is one of eight Rhodes Scholar's who have been the Oxford captain (the others being L. G. Brown, F.R.C.S., and Dr. H. G. Owen Smith, both captains of England as well, and also W. W. Hoskin (St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, and Trinity, 1904); S. J. Hofmeyr (Cape Province and University, 1928) ; N. K. Lamport (New South Wales and Balliol, 1930); M. M. Cooper; and H. D. Freakes).
It was from Oxford that he was selected for the 1927 tour to Argentina. On this tour he was one of a number of uncapped players who was selected to play against the Argentina national side. He played in one of the four tests. Despite being selected for the Great Britain side, he never went on to play for his national side.
He was the captain of the Oxford side that toured France in 1929. Of his captaincy, it was noted by The American Oxonian, that he was criticised by those who lamented that not more English puplic school boys were on the side and that Gubb was "more attracted to a man who can play rugger than one who had played at Rugby
or Uppingham
".
He went on to captain both Blackheath F.C. and Middlesex RFC.
, under the auspices of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
. In 1934, as a qualified accountant, he joined I.C.I.
Ltd. and moved to Shanghai
. From 1936 to 1940 he was in the Secretariat of Shanghai Municipal Council
becoming Deputy Secretary in 1937.
During World War II
he served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
and latterly the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles
, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. From 1941 to 1943 he was the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. At the latter end of the war he fulfilled the role of General Staff Officer in the British Military Mission to Greece.
Following the war, he returned to southern Africa, more specifically to Bulawayo
where he dedicated his professional life to Francis & Co Ltd. He rose to become the Managing Director and finally Chairman of the company. He also held positions with the Merchant Bank of Central Africa and Philpott & Collins Ltd.
1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
-Touring party:*Manager: James "Bim" Baxter-Results:-References:...
which, although retrospectively recognised as a Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour, did not confer test status on any of the four encounters with the Argentina national rugby union team
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
.
Early life
Gubb was born on 23 March 1908 in UitenhageUitenhage
Uitenhage is a South African town with 275,185 inhabitants in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. The town's name is pronounced by English speakers and in Afrikaans...
, Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
. He was the son of Thomas Witheridge Gubb the cricketer and businessman, (21 March 1875 - 10 October 1922) who had played first class cricket for the Eastern Province
Eastern Province cricket team
Eastern Province cricket team is the team representing the Eastern Province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 1988–89, 1991–92; shared - 1989–90* Standard Bank Cup - 1989–90, 1991–92...
. He was also therefore the nephew of Albert J Gubb who had also played cricket for the Eastern Province.
Like his father before him, he attended St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to then attend Oxford University. His college was University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
from 1926 to 1930. There he studied Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
for which he received 2nd Class Honours. He then went on to study for the Dipl. Econ. B.A. which he received in 1930.
Rugby career
Whilst at Oxford, Thomas was selected to play in the Varsity MatchVarsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
in each year of his education, from 1926 to 1929. As well as receiving his rugby blue
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
, he had the honour of being selected as the captain for the 1929 season. In so doing, he became the second Rhodes Scholar from St Andrew's College to captain Oxford, and is one of eight Rhodes Scholar's who have been the Oxford captain (the others being L. G. Brown, F.R.C.S., and Dr. H. G. Owen Smith, both captains of England as well, and also W. W. Hoskin (St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, and Trinity, 1904); S. J. Hofmeyr (Cape Province and University, 1928) ; N. K. Lamport (New South Wales and Balliol, 1930); M. M. Cooper; and H. D. Freakes).
It was from Oxford that he was selected for the 1927 tour to Argentina. On this tour he was one of a number of uncapped players who was selected to play against the Argentina national side. He played in one of the four tests. Despite being selected for the Great Britain side, he never went on to play for his national side.
He was the captain of the Oxford side that toured France in 1929. Of his captaincy, it was noted by The American Oxonian, that he was criticised by those who lamented that not more English puplic school boys were on the side and that Gubb was "more attracted to a man who can play rugger than one who had played at Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
or Uppingham
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
".
He went on to captain both Blackheath F.C. and Middlesex RFC.
Business and Military
After leaving Oxford Thomas became an Articled Accountant in London from 1930 to 1934, working his way towards becoming a Chartered AccountantChartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
, under the auspices of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland is the Scottish professional body of Chartered Accountants . It is a regulator, educator and influencer.ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professional business community...
. In 1934, as a qualified accountant, he joined I.C.I.
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
Ltd. and moved to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. From 1936 to 1940 he was in the Secretariat of Shanghai Municipal Council
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
becoming Deputy Secretary in 1937.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
and latterly the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles
10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles
The 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, , was originally an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was first formed in 1890, taking its lineage from a police unit and over the course of its existence it had a number of changes in designation and composition...
, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. From 1941 to 1943 he was the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. At the latter end of the war he fulfilled the role of General Staff Officer in the British Military Mission to Greece.
Following the war, he returned to southern Africa, more specifically to Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
where he dedicated his professional life to Francis & Co Ltd. He rose to become the Managing Director and finally Chairman of the company. He also held positions with the Merchant Bank of Central Africa and Philpott & Collins Ltd.