George Comberbach 1893-1977

George Comberbach

George Comberbach was born in 31 August 1893 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England and baptised 1 October 1893 in St Mary the Virgin Church in Blackburn. He was the son of John William Comberbach and Isabella nee Edmundson.
 
He initially enlisted in the Scottish Rifles as Private 13376 on 8 September 1914 aged 21 in Blackburn and at this time he was a weaver. He was 5 feet 7 inches, of fresh complexion, with blue eyes and fair hair and passed fit for service on 8 September 1914.
 
He was quickly promoted to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal before transferring to the Royal Field Artillery, A Battery of the 115th Battery. He initially travelled to France but then on to Salonika before being promoted to the rank of Bombardier. He would have served in Salonika with his two brothers Alfred Arthur Comberbach and John William Comberbach.
 
On 6 January 1918 he reverted to the rank of Gunner at his own request. He was discharged on 29 May 1919 due to malaria which he contracted in Salonika.
 
In 1923 he married Florence Weall and they had one daughter, Mabel Comberbach, in 1926.
 

Military Service Career

Scottish Rifles:                                           13376

Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery:           90671

 

Attestation Form Short Service 3yrs or Duration of War

Enlisted:               8 Sep 1914, aged 21, at Blackburn

Born:                     1893

Occupation:        Weaver

 

Statement of Services

8 Sep 1914           Private 10th Scottish Rifles

9 Sep 1914           Joined

24 Sep 1914        Promoted Lance Corporal

4 Feb 1915           Promoted Corporal

23 Jun 1915         Transferred Gunner “A” Battery, 115th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

29 Nov 1915        Appointed Acting Bombardier “A” Battery, 115th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

1 Feb 1916           Promoted Bombardier “A” Battery, 115th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

6 Jan 1918            Reverted to rank of Gunner at his own request

30 Apr 1919         Dispersal

29 May 1919       Reserves, 10 Foxhouse Street, Blackburn.

 

Description of George Comberbach 8 Sep 1914

Age:                       21

Height:                 5 feet 7 inches

Weight:                119lbs

Chest size:          34½ inches expanded, with 2½ inches of expansion

Complexion:  Fresh

Eyes:                     Blue

Hair:                       Fair

Religion:               Wesleyan

Vision:                  R = 6/9; L = 6/6

Passed fit 8 Sep 1914

 

Casualty Form – Active Service

1 Dec 1915           Embarked at Marseilles, France for Mediterranean Expeditionary Force

17 Dec 1915        Arrived Salonika, Greece

29 Nov 1915        Appointed Acting Bombardier in the field

1 Feb 1916           Promoted Acting Bombardier in the field

8 Sep 1916           Granted QI PP

19 Sep 1916        Admitted to hospital but illness not yet diagnosed. Discharged to unit 2 Oct 1916.

2 Feb 1917           Admitted to hospital

6 Jan 1918            Reverts to Gunner at own request

 

Military History Sheet

8 Sep 1914 – 18 Sep 1915              Home                    1yr 10d

19 Sep 1915 – 30 Nov 1915           France                  73d

1 Dec 1915 – 16 Apr 1919               Mediterranean 3yr 137d

17 Apr 1919 – 29 Apr 1919             Embarked at Salonika for UK       12d

30 Apr 1919                                         Home   

Campaigns:         Expeditionary Force, France 1915, Mediterranean 1916 & 1916

Father:                 John William Comberbach of 2 St Barnabas Street, Blackburn     

21 Aug 1920        Receipt of 1914-15 Star

4 Feb 1921           Receipt of British War Medal

27 Sep 1921        Receipt of Victory Medal

 

Pension Record

29 May 1919       Transferred to Class Z (reserves)

Address:              10 Foxhouse Street, Blackburn

Service:                                France 3 months, Balkans 1915 to date

Disease:               Malaria since July 1916 due to climate

Hospital:              29th General Hospital, 48th and 42nd

Last employer:  E Hapworth & Sons Ltd., Audley Hall Buildings, Blackburn

Examined:           17 Mar 1919, age: 25

Disability:             Malaria and slight anaemia

Father:                 2 St Barnabas Street, Blackburn

8 Sep 1914           Posted Private 10th Scottish Rifles

9 Sep 1914           Joined 10th Scottish Rifles

24 Sep 1914        Promoted Lance Corporal 10th Scottish Rifles

2 Feb 1915           Promoted Corporal

23 Jun 1915         Transferred Gunner, Royal Field Artillery on probabtion

29 Nov 1915        Appointed paid Acting Bombardier RFA

1 Feb 1916           Promoted Bombardier RFA

6 Jan 1918            Reverted to Gunner at own request, ‘A’ Battery 115th Brigade

29 May 1919       Transferred Z Class (reserves)

 

Service Summary

8 Sep 1914 – 18 Sep 1915              Home

19 Sep 1915 – 30 Nov 1915           France

1 Dec 1915 – 16 Apr 1919               Mediterranean

19 Apr 1919 – 29 Apr 1919             En route, disability: malaria

Disciplinary record:          spotless

 

Medal Index Card

Gunner RFA:                      90671

Bombardier RFA:              90671

Reverted to Gunner at own request 6 Jan 1918

1914-15 Star:                      20 Sep 1915, British Expeditionary Force, France

Name.

Corps.

Rank.

Regtl No.

COMBERBACH

Royal Field Artillery

Gunner

90671

ditto

Bombardier*

Ditto

 

 

 

George

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medal.

Roll.

Page.

Remarks.

VICTORY

*RFA/227B

25424

*Reverted to Gunner at Own Request 6 January 1918

BRITISH

d[itt]o

d[itt]o

 15 STAR

RFA/9AB

6558

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver War Badge List K/236

 

 

Theatre of War first served in

(1)     France

 

Date of entry therein

20 September 1915

 

 

 

 

K1380

 

 

Correspondence

Address