Major General John Hamilton Cubbon was born in 1911 and commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in 1931.He held various airborne commands including: Commanding Officer (CO) of the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion from 1946-47; CO of  the 4/6th Parachute Battalion in 1948; and CO of the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment from 1948-50, formed from the 4/6th Parachute Battalion. 

Later he commanded 18 Infantry Brigade in Malaya 1956-1957 and retired in 1965 as General Officer Commanding Land Forces, Middle East Command.