Jubilee John Brashier was born at Tetworth, Hampshire on 31 March 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. His parents were James and Sarah Brashier and he was one of seven children. The family later moved to Sandy, Bedfordshire.

Jubilee entered the Royal Navy on 10 February 1904 as a Boy 1st Class, but left shortly afterwards returning to his previous job as a milkman. He rejoined the service in 1907 as a Stoker 2nd Class, rising to Stoker 1st Class on 10 December 1908 having served in HMS COCHRANE and BACCHANTE. He was advanced to Leading Stoker in 1916.

He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 23 and the HMS E49 memorial at Baltasound, Unst in the Shetland Islands.