Remembering a Young Balnarring Sportsman

By Doug Dyall, historian for the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association

With Remembrance Day approaching, our thoughts go to our brave men and women who served our country at a time of crisis. November 11 is the day for us all to remember the fallen who gave their lives for the benefit of those who followed. The peninsula had many brave souls, and we should highlight their lives as best we can to honour their legacy.

The Cubitt Family

In 1939 a 16-year-old from Balnarring was selected to represent the Peninsula side at the annual Country Week Cricket tournament in Melbourne. His name was Lewin Cubitt. He was born on the 17 September 1922 in Mornington to Harry and Annie Cubitt (nee Lewin), who had purchased land in Balnarring

in 1933 known as “Westlea”. They lived on the property along Hastings Rd where Clarke St is today. The homestead was built in the early 1900’s and was part of the original Coolart Run. They ran sheep and cattle on the property and had three children. Their daughter Alice was born in 1916 followed by Annie in 1918 and Lewin in 1922.

Harry took up work at the Naval Depot and was the storekeeper for some time along with being the treasurer of the Sports Association for the Depot during the 1930’s.

A Cricket Premiership

Life in Balnarring was a happy one with an abundance of free space and a small but connected community. Lewin was developing into a fine all round sportsman keen on athletics, football and his love for cricket was evident early on as he joined the local Balnarring Cricket Club at just 13 years of age. With no junior competitions available in those days, Lewin’s only choice was to play seniors. He adapted to playing alongside the men and subsequently acquired the skillset to match.

Above: Balnarring Cricket Club 1936/37

Lewin began playing cricket for Balnarring in 1935/36 and quickly established a name for himself amongst his senior players. He was a kid who learned quickly, possessed talent, but above all assimilated with his senior peers. Looking at the photo of the 1936/37 Premiership team (above), it is evident that he was a ‘boy amongst men’. The side started slowly, losing the first three out of five games but rattled home to make the finals, defeating Navy in the semi-final and subsequently defeating Baxter in the Grand Final. In the games Lewin played he did not make many runs nor did he get much of a chance to bowl due to the dominance of the Broughton brothers Clarrie and Frank. Nevertheless, he made the team and became a premiership player at the age of just 14.

Frankston High

In 1937 Lewin was doing his Intermediate Certificate at Frankston High School, winning the sports high jumping medal and being part of both the cricket and football teams.

“Of thirty-one candidates who sat internally for the Intermediate Certificate, twenty-six passed fully in six or more subjects, while one obtained a block of six subjects, which did not include the compulsory mathematics subject. The following passed in nine subjects Marion Floyd, Willian Catron, Lewin Cubitt, Peter James, Mabel Harrison. Passed in eight subjects: Sheila Nicholls, Moya Reily, Margaret Stott,

In season 1937/38, Lewin only played post-Christmas as Balnarring bowed out in the Semi Final. He was given the chance to bowl more often where he was able to pick up a few wickets. With encouragement from his teammates, it was evident that Lewin was developing into a talented cricketer.

In 1938/39 his reputation grew at Frankston High School, particularly as a bowler with strong statistics in school games. He took five or more wickets on several occasions at these events and still held his position in the Balnarring team. He again did well in the high jump at Frankston High School and was a regular in the school football team.

Country Week Selection

In 1938/39 Lewin again played at Balnarring and took wickets in the first few games, but it was his batting that showed the most improvement. Leading into the carnival Lewin had four

handy scores of 30 plus that had his name come under notice of the Country Week selectors. At only 16 he was selected as the youngest ever player to represent the Peninsula since the competition had begun in 1923.

The 1939 Country Week team was a strong one, with such names as Harold Thornell, Fred Volk, Gordon Humphrey, Ray Cairns and Frank Kerr along with many younger players in Ray Denham, Colin White, George Slocombe, Doug Thompson and Matthew Edwards. The combined team won each of the early rounds and met Echuca in the Semi Final at Princess Park but was soundly beaten.

Lewin played in two of the matches taking 2 for 11 in the first game at the Junction Oval.

Season 1939/40 started well for the young bowler as he took 6 for 22 including a hat-trick in round 1 against a strong Bittern side.

Above: The 1939 Country Week team taken at the Junction Oval Back Row: George Keast, William Moyes (scorer), Ray Cairns, Colin White, Ernie Allen, Hec Downing, Godon Humphrey, Frank Kerr, Charles Thornell (official)

Front Row: Herbert Noble (team manager), Doug Thompson, George Slocombe, Lewin Cubitt, Harold Thornell (captain), Fred Volk, Ray Denham, Matthew Edwards

This hat-trick included the wicket of Frank Allen, the Bittern champion. His form was outstanding for the season with over 40 wickets. Selection in the Northern Peninsula Cricket Association Colts team was a formality. In a Colts match played at Hastings on 23 December Lewin took 2 wickets and scored 16 runs with the Northern Peninsula defeating Southern Peninsula 89 runs to 59.

The team had many great names: Ray Denham (captain), Marshall Unthank (vice captain), George Slocombe, Vic Young, Don Hicks, Les Hicks, Lewin Cubitt, Allan Sage, Arthur Langholz, Bruce Bennett, Les Tolson, Charles Thornell. (12th) Emergencies: George Pollie, George Connell and M. Murray. Many of the players went on to have outstanding cricket careers and public lives.

As war was well underway in Europe, Lewin only played a few games in season 1940/41 and continued to play for the Frankston High School in 1940.

Enlistment

Lewin was a student teacher at Eastern Road Primary School in South Melbourne when he enlisted in the RAAF in June 1941.

A Tragic End

Lewin undertook pilot training and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was posted to the Number 7 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit Course in Grangemouth, Falkirk, Scotland. Sadly, he was killed in a flying accident on 8 January 1943, still short of his 21st birthday. The official RAAF record is as follows:

"At 1545 hours on 8 January 1943 Spitfire AR274 flown by Sergeant Cubitt collided in the air with Spitfire AB144 flown by Flying Officer George Evelyn Brooke-Turner (126946) (RAFVR) at Dreghorn, near Auchengate, Ayrshire, Scotland, and both pilots were killed."

Lewin Steven Cubitt, a very promising cricket career and a fine young life was lost to the tragedy of war.

Footnote

Two years ago 16 year old Flinders cricketer Sam Gove was selected to represent the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association at Country Week. This led to the inevitable question: was he the youngest cricketer to ever be selected? It was necessary to check back over 80 years of records to find that another 16-year-old, Lewin Cubitt, had been selected and that he was slightly younger than Sam.

Since his selection Sam (pictured below) has progressed and is now playing for Frankston Peninsula although his start to the forthcoming season will be delayed as he incurred an injury playing for the Red Hill Under 19’s in the final round of the football season.

Above: Members of No. 7 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit Course,Grangemouth, Falkirk, Scotland, Lewin Cubitt is circled