COOMBE, Roy Albert
| Service Number: | 5968 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 November 1915, Charters Towers, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, 16 September 1896 |
| Home Town: | Gympie, Queensland |
| Schooling: | One Mile State School, Gympie, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Motor Expert |
| Died: | Died of Illness (Meningitis), At Sea - aboard HMT "Itonus", United Kingdom, 6 October 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gympie & Widgee War Memorial Gates, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Charters Towers, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5968, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Itonus embarkation_ship_number: A50 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5968, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Itonus, Brisbane | |
| 6 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5968, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5968 awm_unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-10-06 |
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Add my storyBiography
"THE LATE PROVOST-SERGEANT A. R. COOMBE.
News has been received that Provost-Sergeant A. R. Coombe died of meningitis on October 7, and was buried at sea. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Coombe, Redhill, Gympie, Queensland, and a grandson of Mr. J. K. Coombe, of Gympie, who was for some years a well known chorister at St. Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide. Provost-Sergeant Coombe was esteemed by all who knew him. He was a second lieutenant in the local senior cadets, and last November enlisted at Hughenden. On going into camp he joined the school of instruction, passed as sergeant, and afterwards acted as instructor. He left for the front about August 9 last, and must have been nearly at the end of the vovage, when he succumbed to his illness, three weeks after his 20th birthday." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 02 Dec 1916 (nla.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 6th October…… Albert Roy Coombe was born at Bundaberg, Queensland on 16th September, 1896.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 29th November, 1915 as a 19 year old, single Motor-expert from Hughenden, Queensland.
Private Roy Albert Coombe was promoted to Corporal on 1st March, 1916 & promoted to Sergeant on 8th April, 1916. He was transferred to 19th Reinforcements of 15th Battalion on 10th April, 1916.
He was promoted to Sergeant & Platoon Sergeant with No. 1 Platoon on 15th April, 1916.
On 8th August, 1916 Private (rank as per Embarkation Roll)/ Sergeant (provisional) Coombe, Service number 5968, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Itonus (A50) with the 4th Infantry Brigade, 15th Infantry Battalion, 19th Reinforcements.
He was written up for Crime while at Sea on Troopship A50 Itonus – Conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline. He was severely reprimanded by Lieutenant Colonel D. W. Dawson on 16th September, 1916 for misconduct.
Sergeant Roy Albert Coombe died at 3.45 am on 6th October, 1916 at Sea on board HMAT Itonus (A50) from Meningitis.
He was buried at Sea at 8 am on 6th October, 1916 from HMAT Itonus (A50). He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c---f.html
Click images to start slideshow.