Herbert John Coombs

Story:
Herbert John Coombs (sometimes spelt 'Coombes') was born in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, in 1892 and baptised there on 17 Apr 1892 the son of Thomas Coombs and Emma Jane Coombs (nee Lucas).  He lived his very early life in Ebbesbourne Wake until by 1901 his family had moved to Great Durnford, Salisbury, Wiltshire,  Herbert had enlisted on 23 Jan 1909 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 8327).   By 1911 he was stationed in South Africa but on the outbreak of war in 1914 was with the first troops to be sent with the Expeditionary Force to France & Flanders.   Regrettably he died of wounds in France on 5 Nov 1914 and was finally buried in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France, (Grave Ref. I.A.1.).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star.  His younger brother, Ernest Walter Coombs, also served with the Royal Marines Light Infantry but was also killed in action.