Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: William John Coombe
Service Number: 3628
Parents: William Coombe and Mary Maud Coombe( nee Craigie)
Place of Birth: Waterfall Gully
Date of Birth: 28 May 1899
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 26 May 1917
Age at Enlistment: 18
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Father,William Coombe
Occupation: Farm hand / Blacksmith
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private 48th Battalion
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial; Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour; Gumeracha Our Fallen Heroes World War One Honour Board; Kersbrook Roll of Honor..
According to the Virtual War Memorial, William was born as William James Samuel Walter Coombe. On his Attestment sheet he listed himself as William John Coombe.
Upon enlisting, William did his basic training with B Coy at Mitcham as a private until 15 June. His unit, the 48th Battalion, embarked HMAT A16 Port Melbourne in Sydney on 16 July 1917. During the voyage he committed two acts of indiscipline. On 6 August he was insolent to an Officer and received 24 hours’ detention and on 1 September he disobeyed an order for which he was docked one days’ pay. The unit disembarked at Liverpool and was sent to France on 9 January 1918.
William’s VWMA record states, “Private Coombe was wounded on 28 June when the 48th Battalion was in the trenches near Sailly-le-Sec, France. During the day the enemy had subjected the entire area to heavy shell fire and the battalion diary notes that one person was killed and another six were wounded. Private Coombe was taken to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station nearby but two days later died of his wounds he received.” He was 19 years of age. Private William Coombe was buried at Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme, Crouy St.Pierre, Amiens, Picardie, France.
His father received William’s 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In addition he received the Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll in recognition of his son’s sacrifice.
The Chronicle of 5 July 1919 carried the following in its Death Notices: W.J.Coombe: Died of gunshot wounds at the 47th CCS in France on 30 June 1918, aged 19.
Source: www.naa;B2455; Coombe.W.J.
Barcode 3404099.
www.trove.nla.gov/digitised newspapers

Name: William John Coombe
Service Number: 3628
Parents: William Coombe and Mary Maud Coombe( nee Craigie)
Place of Birth: Waterfall Gully
Date of Birth: 28 May 1899
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 26 May 1917
Age at Enlistment: 18
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Father,William Coombe
Occupation: Farm hand / Blacksmith
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private 48th Battalion
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial; Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour; Gumeracha Our Fallen Heroes World War One Honour Board; Kersbrook Roll of Honor..
According to the Virtual War Memorial, William was born as William James Samuel Walter Coombe. On his Attestment sheet he listed himself as William John Coombe.
Upon enlisting, William did his basic training with B Coy at Mitcham as a private until 15 June. His unit, the 48th Battalion, embarked HMAT A16 Port Melbourne in Sydney on 16 July 1917. During the voyage he committed two acts of indiscipline. On 6 August he was insolent to an Officer and received 24 hours’ detention and on 1 September he disobeyed an order for which he was docked one days’ pay. The unit disembarked at Liverpool and was sent to France on 9 January 1918.
William’s VWMA record states, “Private Coombe was wounded on 28 June when the 48th Battalion was in the trenches near Sailly-le-Sec, France. During the day the enemy had subjected the entire area to heavy shell fire and the battalion diary notes that one person was killed and another six were wounded. Private Coombe was taken to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station nearby but two days later died of his wounds he received.” He was 19 years of age. Private William Coombe was buried at Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme, Crouy St.Pierre, Amiens, Picardie, France.
His father received William’s 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In addition he received the Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll in recognition of his son’s sacrifice.
The Chronicle of 5 July 1919 carried the following in its Death Notices: W.J.Coombe: Died of gunshot wounds at the 47th CCS in France on 30 June 1918, aged 19.
Source: www.naa;B2455; Coombe.W.J.
Barcode 3404099.
www.trove.nla.gov/digitised newspapers