Charles Barry WHITCOMBE

WHITCOMBE, Charles Barry

Service Number: 15440
Enlisted: 17 February 1916
Last Rank: Sapper
Last Unit: 1st Field Company Engineers
Born: Woolwich, Kent, England, date not yet discovered
Home Town: Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: English Boarding School, England
Occupation: Ships' Fireman
Died: Wounds, 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 17 October 1917, age not yet discovered
Cemetery: Nottingham General Cemetery, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Grave ref. 2334.112.,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

17 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 15440, Reinforcements WW1
7 Oct 1916: Involvement Sapper, 15440, Field Company Engineers, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
7 Oct 1916: Embarked Sapper, 15440, Field Company Engineers, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney
17 Oct 1917: Involvement Sapper, 15440, 1st Field Company Engineers, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 15440 awm_unit: 1st Field Company, Australian Engineers awm_rank: Sapper awm_died_date: 1917-10-17

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Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

1st Field Company Australian Engineers.

Charles had at least two siblings, Elizabeth and John Frederick (Frederick) who, according to information on the 1901 census, were born about 1883, Marylebone Middlesex, and about 1891, Dublin, respectively. Although the 1901 census gives the surname of Charles' siblings as Whitcombe, research suggests that they were the children of Caroline Suliivan nee Dillon (b. Dover Kent) who married secondly Charles Whitcombe whose surname her children took. There are no records of the registration of the children's births under the surname Whitcombe, but there are records for Sullivan: Elizabeth Sullivan 1882 Marylebone and Charles Barry Sullivan 1884 Woolwich (Dillon) and a Regimental Birth record (ASC Commissariat & Transport Corps) for John Frederick Sullivan 1890 Dublin Ireland (Dillon). Charles Whitcombe was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1853 (Monmouth). He attested in the army on 10 June 1872 at 11am at Bristol when he was 19 years and 5 months and gave his occupation as bricklayer. He had previously served in the Royal Monmouth Militia. Charles served in the Royal Artillery and re-engaged in Rawlpindi, India, on 17 June 1881 to complete 21 years service. He was promoted sergeant on 20 October 1879 and quarter master sergeant on 1 March 1884. Charles was discharged on three months notice on 30 November 1896 having served: Home: 11 June 1872-12 January 1874, India 13 January 1874-6 April 1886, Home 7 April 1886-21 February 1887, India 22 February 1887-16 January 1893 (Agra 23 March 1887, Peshawar 10 July 1891), Home 17 January 1893-30 November 1896 (Campbelltown November 1892, HMS Crocodile December 1892, Woolwich January 1893). He married Margaret (surname illegible) in Rawlpindi on 19 January 1881 but she died on 28 September 1892 leaving a son Charles Henry who was born in Rawlpindi in 1881. Charles Whitcombe senior married Caroline Sullivan in 1893 (Woolwich); he was discharged from the army in 1896. According to the 1911 Census, Charles and Caroline had then been married for 18 years and had had four children none of whom survived. Note: There is a record of the births of two children, Osbert Cecil and William Henry Whitcombe born 1896 and 1898 respectively, births registered in Bradford, Yorkshire, (mother's previous surname Sullivan) who died in early childhood (1897 and 1898). Charles senior has not been traced on the 1891 Census but in 1901 he and Caroline (42) were living at 31 Marple Street, Nottingham, with Elizabeth (18) of no occupation, and Frederick (10). Charles' occupation was given on the census as 'pensioner recruiter'. Charles (58) and Caroline (51) were still living at the same address in 1911 but only Frederick (20), an unemployed bank clerk, was in the home on the night of the census. Charles' occupation was given as 'army pensioner/door keeper'. Charles and Caroline later lived at 83 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. Charles probably died in 1926 [Nottingham] and his widow on 17 January 1929 (Nottingham). Charles' sister Elizabeth may have married Dixon Samuel Coulby in 1903 (Nottingham, Elizabeth Sullivan). Dixon Coulby was a widower whose wife Gertrude Annie nee Cuthbert (m. 20 February 1896) had died aged 23 in 1901; they had two children, Susie Gertrude b. 1896 (Nottingham) and Dixon Frank b. 1897 (Nottingham) bap. St Stephen Hyson Green 11 October 1899. Elizabeth and Dixon had five children: Katherine Maria b. 1905 (Nottingham), Percival Dixon b. 16 May 1906, Oswald Dixon b. 19 December 1909, Alma Marion b. 1911 (Nottingham) and Sydney Dixon b. 1912 (Nottingham-Sullivan) d. 1912 (Nottingham). Dixon Samuel died in 1913 (Nottingham) aged 43. From information given in an 'In Memoriam' notice on the anniversary of Charles' death in 1918, it appears that Elizabeth served in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (2229 Acting Asst F/woman) from 13 September 1917-5 February 1919 and qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Charles Barry has not yet been traced on either the 1901 or 1911 Census. He emigrated to Australia and was 31 years old when he arrived so may have left England after war was declared.

Sapper Whitcombe enlisted in the Australian Army on 17th February 1916. He embarked at Sydney for passage to Europe on 7th October 1916 aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic. Charles served with 1st Field Company Australian Engineers in the Somme sector of the Western Front where he was wounded on 4th October 1917 - facial shell wound. He was evacuated to England on 16th October 1917, dying the following day at 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, aged 33. His parents were still living in Nottingham and Charles was buried in the family plot at 2.00 p.m. on 22nd October 1917 in Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref. 2334.112).

 

'In memoriam' notices.

Nottingham Evening Post, published 17th October 1918:-

“WHITCOMBE. – In loving memory of Spr. Charles Barry Whitcombe, A.I.F., died of wounds October 17th, 1917. Ever in our thoughts. – From mother and dad.

“WHITCOMBE. – In affectionate remembrance of my dear brother, Spr. Charles Barry Whitcombe, A.I.F., died of wounds October 17th, 1917. – From Mrs. [?] E. Coulby, B.E.F., France. [Elizabeth Coulby, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, 2229 Acting Asst F/woman, served from 13 September 1917-5 February 1919 and qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.]

“WHITCOMBE. – In loving memory of my dear brother Charles Barry Whitcombe, Australian Engineers, who died of wounds October 17th, 1917. R.I.P. – Fred.”

A report in the Nottingham Evening Post on 11th December 1916 recorded that a plot sufficient for 12 graves had been set aside in Nottingham General Cemetery for members of the Australian Imperial Force who had died in local hospitals. Charles, though, was buried in a family plot in the cemetery.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 January 1929: ‘Whitcombe. On the 17th, Caroline, widow of the late Charles, of 83 Woodborough-road, beloved mother of Fred and Elizabeth. Funeral Monday, General Cemetery.’

Charles is remembered on the Nottingham - St Andrew's Church War Memorial.

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Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Charles Barry Whitcombe was born at Woolwich, Kent, England around 1880 - 1884 to parents Charles & Caroline Whitcombe (nee Sullivan).  

According to information provided for the Roll of Honour by his mother, Charles Barry Whitcombe came to Australia when he was 31 years old.

A “C. Barry Whitcombe”, aged 35, Fireman, was listed as Crew on El Lobo which had sailed from Vancouver on 17th December, 1915 bound for San Francisco.

 

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 17th February, 1916 stating he was a 31 year old, single, Ship’s Fireman from Melbourne, Victoria.

Sapper Charles Barry Whitcombe, Service number 15440, was posted to Engineers Reinforcements at Seymour, 3rd Military District on 19th February, 1916 for recruit training. He was transferred to Engineers Reinforcements at Moore Park, NSW, 2nd Military District on 24th March, 1916.

He was admitted to Milson Island Hospital on 18th April, 1916 with Syphilis. He was transferred on 2nd July, 1916 to Little Bay Hospital with Diptheria & discharged to duty on 4th August, 1916. Sapper Whitcombe returned to Engineers Reinforcements at Moore Park, NSW on 8th August, 1916.

Sapper Charles Barry Whitcombe embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 7th October, 1916 with the Field Company Engineers – September Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 21st November, 1916.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

On 22nd November, 1916 Sapper Whitcombe joined No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse, Wiltshire.

He was marched out from Engineers Training Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire to Brightlingsea on 4th January, 1917.

Sapper Whitcombe was written up for an Offence at Brightlingsea  E.T.D. (Engineers Training Depot) - A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from midnight 17th February, 1917 to 8 am on 22nd February, 1917. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited 12 day’s pay.

Brightlingsea, Essex became home to thousands of Australian Soldiers during WW1 as they trained for the frontline. It was the only Australian base or camp on the east coast of Britain. The area was selected for the Australian Field Company of Engineers due to its geography of tidal creeks which offered practice for bridge building for the Engineers & the soft soils & mud could be used for trench digging.

He was written up for an Offence at Brightlingsea  E.T.D. (Engineers Training Depot) - A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from midnight 6th April, 1917 to 8.30 am on 7th April, 1917. He was awarded 7 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited 7 day’s pay.

On 13th April, 1917 Sapper Whitcombe proceeded overseas to France from E.T.D. Brightlingsea. He was marched in to Australian General Base Depot at Etpales, France on 14th April, 1917. He was marched out to 1st Field Company Engineers on 9th May, 1917 & was taken on strength with 1st Field Company Engineers on 11th May, 1917 from Reinforcements.

He was detached for duty at Bridging School, Aire on 3rd September, 1917 & rejoined from detachment on 16th September, 1917.

 

Sapper Charles Barry Whitcombe was wounded in action in France on 4th October, 1917. He was admitted to 41st Casualty Clearing Station on 4th October, 1917 with gunshot wounds to face & arm. He was transferred & admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital on 5th October, 1917. Sapper Whitcombe was transferred to 83rd General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 14th October, 1917. He was embarked from Boulogne for England on Hospital Ship St. Denis on 16th October, 1917.

He was admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

 

Sapper Charles Barry Whitcombe  died on 17th October, 1917 at  1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. A Post Mortem was conducted on 18th October, 1917 & the cause of death was from wounds received in action – (1) gunshot wounds to face (2) oedema of glottis.

He was buried in a private family grave in Nottingham General Cemetery, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England – Plot number 2334. 112. and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

 

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/nottingham-general.html

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