Description
Queen’s South Africa, 6 bars, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, 82343 Gunner H. Coomber, 38th Battery Royal Field Artillery.
QSA officially impressed: “82343 Gnr H. Coomber 38th Bty R.F.A.”
KSA officially impressed: “82343 Gnr H. Coomber. R.F.A.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
served with the 1st Ammunition Park form 7th February 1900, then 38th Battery R.F.A. from 11th July 1900.
The heading of his QSA medal roll notes:
“1st Corps Troops Ammunition Column R.F.A. Section Mobilised 9.10.99, Became 6th Divisional Ammunition Column 11th Feb 1900, Became (Ian-Hamilton’s) 9th Divisional Ammunition Column 29th Apr 1900”
Henry Thomas Coomber was born in Rye, Sussex, circa 1868.
Henry was born in Rye and raised in the town of Battle, in Sussex.
His father died when he was young leaving his mother a widow as young as age 12.
Having been a member of the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteer Corps, he attested for full time service with the army aged 22 on 20th December 1890.
He saw the following service:
Home, 20th December 1890 – 25th May 1891
South Africa, 26th May 1891 – 16th August 1893
Home, 17th August 1893 – 7th Dec 1893
India, 8th Dec 1893 – 17th Dec 1898
Home, 18th Dec 188 – 13th Nov 1899
South Africa, 14th November 1899 – 6th September 1902.
For his service in India, he would earn the India General Service Medal, VR, with 2 bars for Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-8.
Following his discharge after the end of the Boer War having finished off his 12 years of service he moved in with his Brother in Law to work as a Farm Labourer in Hailsham.
By 1921 he lived in Bexhill working as a Gardener living Haddock’s Hill as a Boarder.
He died in Steyning during 1931.
