Corporal Rupert Napier Coombes

CORPORAL RUPERT NAPIER COOMBES 4301 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

The family of Rupert Napier Coombes were residing at Bromley, St Leonard, London in 1871 and made up of parents John (38) a labourer born at Dartford and Louisa (35) a laundress born at Blackfriar in Surrey. Their children at home on Brunswick Road, 2 Jennings Cottages on the Census night were John (16) bottle-man, Rosina (14), Jessie (12), Albert (9), Cecelia (7), Herbert (5) and Dinah (3).

Later that year Rupert Napier Coombes was born at Poplar, London in the parish of St Leonard.

A decade on they were at 1 Russell Street, Poplar, Middlesex and consisted of John (48) labourer, Louisa (40) boarding house keeper, John (26) painter, Rose (24), Jessie (22) laundress, Celia (16), Herbert (15) pupil teacher, Diana (12), Rupert (10), Lottie (6), Victor (2) and a boarder Robert Byrnes (22) a ship’s steward.

In 1891 citizens of the household were their mother Louisa, boarding house keeper, Diana (22), Rupert (20) sea mariner, Adelaide (16) school teacher, Victor (12) and two boarders J. Johnson, a Quartermaster mariner (42) from Scotland and J. MacIntyre (24) Chief Officer mariner from London.

Rupert stated he had served a five year apprenticeship as an electrician with Edward & Son in London.

He came to Australia and married in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1894 to Susetta Waller. From 1903 until 1916 they are living at 72 Edmund Street, East Fremantle and he was working as an electrician.

At the recruiting depot in Perth, W.A. on January 31, 1916 he applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination personal particulars taken reveal the forty-two year old’s birthplace as East India Road, Bromley, London and was 177cms (5ft 9½ins) tall, weighed 60.4kgs (133lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-93cms (34-36½ins.) Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and had fair hair. Church of England was his religious denomination and distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on his right arm and a tattoo of a shield and heart on the left forearm. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Susetta Coombes of 72 Edmund Street, Fremantle East, W.A. and assigned three-fifths of his pay to support her and their children. He signed and took “The Oath of Allegiance” the same day.

On February 7, 1916 was assigned to the Engineers for basic training which concluded on March 21 and was transferred to the No. 6 Tunnelling Company.

Previously, recruiting for the No. 6 Tunnelling Company had commenced on March 7, 1916 by Captain Lawson and his four officers. Instruction classes were formed of officers and N.C.O.’s as there was insufficient time to attend the Engineer’s School in Sydney. Recruits were forthcoming in abundant numbers and the aim was to have good physical types of skilled W.A. Miners.

At Blackboy Hill camp the new company paraded daily with sister companies until March 27 when the Company moved camp to Belmont camp where four sections were created and training continued through April and May.

The remainder of May was occupied in the usual training: musketry, trench work and night work while equipment was also in progress. Here a difficulty was met in that the general size of the men was considerably above the average and some little trouble was experienced in getting all accurately fitted.

The local community gave a farewell banquet and entertainment evening for its departing volunteers published in: The West Australian Friday April 21, 1916: FAREWELLS TO SOLDIERS SPEARWOOD On Saturday night last, at Wesley Hall, Spearwood, a banquet was tendered to a number of local volunteers who are shortly leaving for the front. The chairman (Mr W. Watson) stated that Spearwood, although only a small centre, had already provided 27 volunteers, and if every settled centre sent the same percentage of its eligible, there would be no need to worry. Mr J.F. Allen, M.L.S., on behalf of the residents of Spearwood, presented Privates H. Baynes, N. Bischoof, R.F. Chambers, E.H.M. Owen, W. Walker and W. Dodd, and Sapper R.N. Coombes with pocket wallets. The musical programme was carried out by Miss Gladys Edwards, Miss Ivy Smith, Miss McIntosh, Mr G. Edwards and Master Christy. A feature of the evening’s entertainment was the memento toast cards presented by the chairman. The banquet proved a great success, and this was largely due to the ladies’ committee, of which Mrs Green was chairman, and Miss B. Follington, secretary. Among the visitors present were Messrs R.J. Lynn and J.F. Allen, M’s.L.C. and W.H. Carpenter and H. Bolton, M’sL.A.

Rupert was appointed to the No. 6 Tunnelling Company on May 1, 1916 with the rank of Sapper and regimental number 4301.

Early in May, 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company consisting of six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks making up two sections, embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.

The 7713-ton transport Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). One Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.

The No. 6 Company paraded through the city of Perth where the fine physique of the men, who marched with arms bare to the elbow excited universal admiration.

The transport arrived in port at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916. The whole company consisting of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 officer and 32 O.Rs entrained at Belmont at 2 p.m., every man physically fit being present and boarded Warilda which left the harbour the same evening.

Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Downs.

The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 marching into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot two days later.

Having the civil trade of electrician made him valuable to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and was attached on September 28 and joined the unit on October 7, 1916. On April 12, 1917 he was taken on strength with the Company.

Service continued and was issued for twelve months service abroad with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform. He was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal on New Year’s Day 1918. A temporary attachment for duty with the Central Laboratory, B.E.F. was issued on June 16, 1918 and completed on June 24 then rejoined his unit.

On August 3, 1918 he was promoted to 2nd Corporal to complete amended establishment and on August 9 promoted to Corporal to complete establishment.

Leave was granted on October 31, 1918 and rejoined on November 14 three days after Peace was declared. The Company remained on the front continuing to supply electricity and service pumps and engines assisting with rehabilitation of their district.

Orders came on February 14, 1919 to march out for demobilisation and they returned to the Aust General Base Depot on February 22 and crossed the English Channel disembarking at Southampton. The next day arrived at the 1st Training Brigade camp at Sutton Veny.

A month later, Corporal Coombes embarked on March 21, 1919 on board the H.T. Kildonian Castle for the voyage home. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on April 10, 1919 that he was on his way. The ship docked at Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.) on May 5, 1919. A small announcement of their arrival appeared in: The West Australian Monday May 5, 1919: RETURNING SOLDIERS Troops ex the Kildonan Castle will disembark at E. Shed, Fremantle, at 3.30 p.m. to-day.

Military Discharge was issued in Perth (5th M.D.) on June 30, 1919 as medically unfit.

The British War Medal (11094) and the Victory Medal (10967) were issued to Corporal 4301 Rupert Napier Coombes, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for service for his country.

Their residence remained at 72 Edmund Street, Fremantle East until 1936 when it was recorded as Wimbledon Street, Kenwick, W.A. and he was a market gardener. The following year they returned to Edmund Street, E. Fremantle and in 1949 it was changed to 14 Chalmers Street, Fremantle East, W.A.

Rupert Napier Coombes died on July 7, 1952 aged 81 years. Arrangements were published in:

The West Australian Tuesday July 8, 1952: DEATHS COOMBES, (R.N.): On July 7, at Fremantle, Rupert Napier, dearly beloved husband of Susetta Coombes, of 14 Chalmers-street, Fremantle east, loving father of Celia (Mrs J.R. Mawson), and Victor, loving father-in-law of Jack and grandfather of Ray. FUNERAL NOTICES COOMBES: The remains of the late Mr Rupert Napier Coombes, of 14 Chalmers-street, Fremantle East, late A.E.M.M. and B. Company, 1st A.I.F., will be interred in the Anglican Cemetery, Fremantle, THIS (Tuesday) AFTERNOON at 2.10 o’clock. The Funeral will leave our Service Chapel, 85 Market-street, Fremantle, at 2 o’clock. No flowers by request. ARTHUR E. DAVIES AND COMPANY L2225 COOMBES: Star of the West Lodge No. 14 I.O.O.F.: Members and the Order in general are invited to attend the Funeral of our late Brother, R.N. Coombes. For particulars see main notice. W.B. Rodder, N.G: W.A. Walter, Secretary. COOMBES: City of Perth Sub-Branch, R.S.L.: Members are invited to attend the Funeral of our late Member, Mr Rupert Napier Coombes. For particulars see main notice. W.G. Hood, President.