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From Adelaide High School Magazines, Michaelmas 1914, p 6

Mr. S. W. Coombe also joined the staff in August. Mr. Coombe was a pupil teacher in
the School during 1905-6. He was appointed to the staff of the High School 1911, but left the
Education Department in the following year to take a position in New South Wales. Last year,
however, he returned to South Australia, and two months ago again joined our staff. A few
days later came the call for volunteers, and Mr. Coombe was among the first to offer himself.
Although Mr. Coombe had some time ago received a commission, he waived this, and
entered the ranks. He has already been appointed colour-sergeant of his Company. We
believe that Mr. Coombe will have the full confidence of his men, and will exercise an
inspiring and encouraging influence among them. We pray that he may go unharmed through
the campaign, and look forward to the great joy of welcoming him home.

Michaelmas, 1914, General Notes, Assemblies

We were brought face to face with the seriousness of the International crisis on
September 10, when we assembled to bid farewell to Mr. Coombe, who had been a member
of the School staff, and who was about to leave South Australia as a member of the
Expeditionary Force. Mr. Adey* in a stirring address pointed out the loyalty and devotion
which helped to form the characters of such men as Mr. Coombe - men who took a serious
view of their duty, and who were so ready to carry it out. He hoped that there would be no
need for Mr. Coombe and his comrades to join the firing line, and that he would soon be able
to return and resume his civil duties. Mr. West and Mr. Coghill expressed admiration for Mr.
Coombe and hoped for his speedy return. Mr. Coombe was accorded a royal welcome when
he rose to speak. He said that no man in the Contingent looked upon his self-appointed task
as a pleasure trip; that every man realized the seriousness of his duties and that all of them
were fully prepared to take part in the foremost of the struggle. He hoped that he would not
be away for a very long time , but he said that, during the whole of the enterprise he would
endeavour to so conduct himself that he would do honour to South Australia and to the
School. At the conclusion of the assembly three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Coombe
and all his comrades.

*Mr WJ Adey, first Principal of A.H.S 1908-1920

From Adelaide High School Magazine, Michaelmas, From the Front

Since the First Contingent of the Australian Expeditionary Forces left our shores, Mr.
Adey has received the following letters :-
“Dear Mr. Adey - Since no reference to time or place is allowed, I have simply to
content myself with sending my greetings to you and the rest of the School. I had written
long letters to other friends, but we were told yesterday that such letters, containing news of
the movements of the fleet, could be posted at the next port of call, but would be detained for
some weeks before being sent on. I hope to be able to furnish you with perhaps interesting
details later on - letters which will reach you after we have arrived at our destination.
“My health is splendid, omitting the effects of two inoculations and vaccinations. It
has been pouring with rain all day, and all on board have wished that S.A. could get half of it.
Only an hour’s parade per day is possible on our ship, as there are fourteen companies,
beside machine gun, signalling sections, and a dozen horses. Consequently I have a fair
amount of time for German reading and the study of the various branches of infantry work,
although the ordinary daily work of a colour-sergeant is no sinecure, and some nights no
lights have been allowed at all.
“Emergency drill for two battalions in pitch darkness is, as you may easily imagine,
impressive work, especially while the work is still new.
“But I mustn’t start descriptions, or the whole letter will be destroyed. No details are
allowed.
“With kind regards,
“Yours sincerely,
“WALTER COOMBE.”

From Adelaide High School Magazine, Easter 1915

During this term several letters have been received from members of the
Expeditionary force interested in Adelaide High school. A letter dated November 22, 1914,
from Col.-Sergeant S. W. Coombe, a former member of the School staff, gives interesting
information about the life of our "boys'' on the transport ships. He writes of the magnificent
spectacle of thirty-seven of these transports leaving Fremantle Harbour, and details the
amusing experiences of himself and cabin mate when trying to obtain a little sleep during
rough weather.
Although they called at Colombo nobody went ashore, and Mr. Coombe will
remember Colombo as a city of surpassing beauty when viewed from a distance. Mr.
Coombe was being conveyed on one of the two ships which collided early one morning, and
concerning the incidence he writes:-
"The most sensational happening of the voyage occurred yesterday morning at 4.30,
an event which impressed me more than most others, because I had not the faintest idea of
what had really happened for about ten minutes after 1 went on deck. I was awakened from a
sound sleep by my companion calling out:
“ ‘Wake up, they’ve fired at our bows.’
“This was rather startling, especially when there followed a dull thud and the fierce
blowing of the siren. ‘All hands on deck with life-belts,' was the next I heard, along with the
clanging of the ship’s bell, so it did not take me long to do as I was told.
''I soon after heard that we had overtaken the ‘ Shropshire' and collided with her, scraping
along our portside. There was not the slightest approach to anything like disorder among the
2,000 soldiers on board. It was a weird sight to see the other dimly-lit boats standing by,
cruisers with searchlight scrutinizing us closely through the black night, ships’ boats with
lights glimmering close to the water, and the red lights of luminous lifebuoys. It transpired
that the 'Shropshire' lost a man overboard and stopped her engines. Whether signals were
given to the 'Ascanius' or not, we ran almost straight into them, but all the damage was above
the water-line.''

From Adelaide High School Magazine, Christmas 1915, p 29-30

Extract of Letter from Walter Coombe.
"I was very pleased to get the midwinter number of The School Magazine, especially
since it is over four months since I've had any home news.[All my letters from May 1 have
gone astray somewhere - perhaps following me up.] My very fine holiday in England ended
on August 28, when, with some other Australians who had also recovered from wounds, I left
Southampton on the 'Mauretania.' I had a splendid stateroom on this magnificent liner, and
otherwise I was very comfortable. However, the trip to Lemnos lasted only a little less than
six days, and I was soon in the firing-line again. The battalion has changed much since May
15, the day I left. . . . I am quite prepared to fight on till Christmas twelvemonths, though
I long for the end of this sickening tragedy. I am acting as sergeant-major of A Company at
present, and have a cosy little dugout in the firing-line.
"Your staff has changed a great deal since I left more than a year ago, and doubtless I
would see many new faces in the assemblies. This will reach you in the time of approaching
examinations. My best wishes for the success of the School. Kind regards to all."