GRUBB, ALEXANDER HENRY WATKINS,
Lieutenant, was born 18 April 1873, son of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Grubb,
JP, late Royal Artillery, of Elsfield House, Hollingbourne, Kent, and of Sarah
Watkins Grubb. He was educated at Wellington College, and at the Royal
Military Academy, Woolwich (Pollock Gold Medal), and entered the Royal
Engineers 12 February 1892, becoming Lieutenant 12 February 1895. He served
with the Balloon Section at Aldershot, 1894-99. He served in the South
African War, 1899-1902, taking part in the advance on Kimberley, including
action at Magersfontein; at the Relief of Kimberley; took part in the
operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including those at
Paardeberg, and actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein; in the Transvaal in
May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond
Hill; in Orange River Colony, including actions at Wittebergen; in the
Transvaal, November 1900 to January 1901, and March 1901 to 31 May 1902; again
during operations in Orange River Colony, February to March 1901, and July to
September 1901; took part in the operations on the Zululand Frontier of Natal
in October 1901; also in Cape Colony, January to February 1901 (Despatches
[London Gazette, 16 March, 1900, and 17 June, 1902]; Queen's Medal with six
clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June, 1902]: "Alexander Henry
Watkins Grubb, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers. In recognition of services during
the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, Warrant and Statutes were sent
to the GOC, Transvaal, and Orange River Colony, 15 November 1902, and were
presented by Colonel Lyttelton at Pretoria 14 January 1903. He was promoted
to Captain, Royal Engineers, 12 October 1902, and was on the Headquarters
Staff at Pretoria till 1904; specially employed, Headquarters of Army, 6 to 22
Feb 1909, and with the Signal Division, Aldershot, whence he was sent on
active service in the European War. He became Major 1 February 1912. He was
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Engineers, 9 January 1916 to 18 April,
1917; Temporary Colonel, 19 April 1917 to 31 December 1918; served in France,
1914-15; was Director of Army Signals, British Salonika Force, 19 April 1917.
He was six times mentioned in Despatches, and was given the Brevets of
Lieutenant Colonel 3 June 1916, and Colonel 1 January 1919. Colonel Grubb was
created a CMG in June 1918. He had the Coronation Medal. In 1908 he married
Frances Marie, daughter of J Brent Cox, of Kentucky, USA, and they had one
son, Alexander James, born 25 July 1909.
