Leonard Coombs

Story:
Leonard Coombs was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 15th August 1899, the son of John Langhorn Coombs and Amelia Coombs.  He lived most of his life, apart from Military Service, in Tollard Royal.  He did not enlist due to his age until 22nd May 1918 and joined the Hussars of the Line (Service No. H/69428).  He was with the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment.   On 1st September 1918 he transferred to the Tank Corps (Service No. 311925). Initially he was at the School of Gunnery but was sent to France on 28th October 1918 within days of the Armistice.  He was discharged on 19th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Tollard Royal working on his own account as a Mail Contractor.   He married Louise Taylor on 18th April 1927 in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  There are no records of children of the marriage.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 28 Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, working as a Corn, Dairy and Poultry Farmer as well volunteering as an ARP Warden.   He died at the early age of 43 years on 10th October 1942 in Tollard Royal.

Two of Leonard's brothers also served in the war: John Langhorn (b.1894) who was awarded the Military Medal while serving with the Middlesex Regiment and Reginald James (b.1895) who served with the Royal Field Artillery.