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« on: Friday 21 July 06 19:45 BST (UK) »
This week I headed off to Coventry (visiting family, well mostly…or partly, at least) to hunt down some of my dad’s side of the family, particularly to find out a bit about Herbert Charles Collingbourne (1st cousin 2ce removed) whose death I had found on the CWGC site...died ‘of wounds’ (!) Wandering round London Road cemetery (after about 45minutes, with my dad slowly losing patience, he likes more immediate results I suspect!) I found:
SARAH JANE
Beloved wife of D C Collingbourne
Died Nov 10th 1898 Aged 30
Also of Doris
Dearly beloved daughter of the above
Died April 7th 1917 Aged 18 years
Deeply mourned
[Left side]
Also David Charles
[Right Side]
Also of Gunner Herbert C Collingbourne (Bert) No 360 Warks RHA
Their only son, died of wounds received in Action, Interred at St Omer, France Jan 4, 1916 aged 23 years
Also Reggie who died in infancy.
Reggie died in 1895 aged only 11 months and his mother Sarah Jane died in the same quarter of 1898 as Doris was born, and though I have not yet been able to afford the certificate I suspect she died in (or as a result of complications of) childbirth. Then David has to suffer his son dying in war and Doris just a year later.
So off to the library to look through the news of the time…
The Coventry Herald
January 7th & 8th 1916
WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A. UNDER FIRE.
COVENTRY MEN AMONG THE FIRST CASUALTIES
The remarkable immunity from casualties experienced by the Coventry section of the Warwickshire R.H.A. during the fourteen months they have been in France has been broken at last as the result of a recent bombardment, when several Coventry men were injured by the bursting of a high explosive shell. The incident occurred at the beginning of last week when, in consequence of a German bombardment, the men sought safety in an old cellar protested by sandbags. One of the enemy shells forced its way through the structure and played havoc among the men. The son of Mr. Chattaway, architect of this city, was among the most seriously injured, and has been visited in hospital in France by his father. Latest reports state that a successful operation has been performed. Gunner Croydon, son of Richard Croydon, has been brought back to Colchester Hospital, while others injured who are well known locally are: Collingbourne, Short, Traherne (Chapel Fields), Reg. Fletcher (son of Mr. C. H. Fletcher). Except in the case of Chattaway, the official notifications of injury have not been received.
The battery, it will be remembered, was the first Territorial Regiment to go to France, arriving there on Nov. 1, 1914. They claim to have been more in action than any other battery, and have been complimented on their splendid work by General French.
Another account of the disastrous bombardment referred to is given in a letter from Gunner Croydon, who, in writing home says:- “ We all went down a cellar for safety, because they were shelling us and as soon as we got down there one of the (5.9) came in and burst. The result was bricks and bits of shrapnel were flying all over the place. About six of us got hurt – Fletcher, Short, Wiliday, Collingbourne, Barklett, and myself. I believe Chattaway was hit, but I don’t know. “Spot” (Phillips) was not there at all , so was not hurt, thank God! I was the only one able to stand, so got out and went for help. I believe I am on my way for England but don’t know. I must look funny. I was hit in the face and you can only see one eye and enough of my mouth to put a ‘fag’ in. The nurses are very good to me, and the doctor, a Leamington man (Dr. Gibbons Ward, Medical Officer of Health for Leamington) is one of the best. I am on a barge on a canal on the way to the coast. Chattaway, it is believed, is seriously hurt.”
My first feelings, apart from ‘that’s MY Herbert Charles Collingbourne he’s talking about’ was the awful euphemism of the phrase ‘played havoc’ and a gentle, almost tearful, smile that Gunner Croydon was making light of the injuries to his face to spare his family.
I scrolled a few pages on and there I found 4 pictures with the title ‘Coventry Men Concerrned in this Week’s News’ . I could hardly move when I saw the picture below (hope the picture works! if not I'll stick it on my profile..at least I can work that out!)
Off I rush to swap to a film reader that you can print from (and ready to have a stand up fight if there wasn’t one free). Thankfully the library staff are very clearly used to this kind of thing and didn’t even hesitate at my nervous (borderline incoherent) insistence that I NEEDED to print something!
I know you have probably all had this kind of experience and I am more than happy to imagine I’m posting this for the decendents of Fletcher, Short, Wiliday, Collingbourne, Barklett, Chattaway, Traherne, Croydon and Phillips, in case they are looking, but really I suspect it is just to remember Bert.
Can you miss someone who died 50 years before you were born?
Sorry for the ridiculously long post but something touched me across the years and I wanted to share it.
Best wishes
Sarah
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