The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Five: Warrant Officer Class 1 F. Coombes, Royal Engineers, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services on the Western Front in 1914, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for Salonika

1914 Star (2415 Q. M. Sjt. F. Coombes. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2415 W.O. Cl.1 F. Coombes. R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (2415 Q.M. Sjt: F. Coombes. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (2415 Q.M. Sjt: F. Coombes. R.E.) minor verdigris to VM, generally very fine (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 13 February 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915:
‘For gallant and distinguished service in the field.’

Frank Coombes was born in 1878 at Canterbury, Kent, the son of George and Harriet Coombes and attested for the Royal Engineers at Canterbury on 28 October 1898. He served in Egypt from July 1901 until March 1905, advancing to Sergeant (on the General Staff) immediately on his return home to England. He embarked for Gibraltar in March 1908 remaining there until March 1912 and he re-engaged to complete 21 years with the colours in June 1909.

Coombes was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant in March 1913 and served with the Royal Engineers during the Great War on the Western Front from 17 August 1914 until 17 November 1915, being Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915 and advancing to Warrant Officer Class 1 at the 26th Divisional H.Q. in June 1915. Remaining with the 26th Divisional H.Q., he was posted to the Balkans with the British Salonika Force on 18 November 1915, remaining there until 14 June 1918 and while there was awarded the M.S.M. (London Gazette 13 February 1917) and the Army L.S. & G.C. Medal under Army Order 125 of 1917. He returned to join the B.E.F. in France after the end of the war and was discharged from the 49th Company, Royal Engineers on the termination of his second period of engagement on 6 November 1919. He died in Hanwell in 1964, aged 85.