Henry Coombes

Story:
Henry Coombes was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, in 1891, the son of Alfred Coombes and Mary Elizabeth Coombes (née Kingsbury). He lived most of his early life at the family home in The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset.  His father died in 1901. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 4th April 1910 as a Private (Service No. 8914).  He served first at Alma Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire, and then in India. The 2nd Battalion was later transferred to the Middle East where he took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was captured, becoming a prisoner of war on 29th April 1916. The Ottoman Red Crescent advised the allies that he had died in captivity at the PoW Camp, Baghtche, Turkey, on 17th August 1916.  His body was later recovered and he was buried at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq, (Grave ref. XXI.B.38).  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. No UK memorial record has been found.