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53364   Corporal John Robert McCombe
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 28/08/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 18th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Canadian Army)
Date Of Birth: 04/02/1879
Died: 15/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 37
Summary      
John McCombe was the oldest son of Robert and Jane McCombe. He was born at Tullycorker, Clogher on 4th February 1879. He was one of four known children, all born in the Clogher area. They were a farming family. John emigrated to Canada around 1908, where he settled in London, Ontario, where his uncle lived. Prior to enlisting, he had worked as a clerk with Scandrett Brothers. Corporal John Robert McCombe was serving with the 18th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action on 15th September 1916. He had initially been reported missing. His unit were involved in an attack south of Courcelette at the time.
Corporal John Robert McCombe
Further Information
John Robert McCombe was the oldest son of Robert and Jane McCombe. Robert McCombe and Jane Cooke were married on 24th March 1872 in the district of Omagh.
Clogher Main Street
John McCombe was born at Tullycorker, Clogher on 4th February 1879. He was one of four known children, all born in the Clogher area.
Known family: Robert McCombe, Jane McCombe, Anne McCombe (born 3rd April 1873), John Robert McCombe (born 4th February 1879), Alexander McCombe (born 26th May 1882), Margaret S McCombe (born 12th September 1886).
The 1901 census does not list John as living with the family at house 2 in Tullycorker, Cecil, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer.
John emigrated to Canada around 1908, where he settled in London, Ontario.
Private McCombe was a member of a member of Nassau Lodge L.O.L. No 2170 and of , and of the Inniskillings Black Preceptory.
Prior to enlisting, he had worked as a clerk with Scandrett Brothers, a wholesale grocer based in London, Ontario. He lived with his uncle. Joseph Carson, at 689 Colborne Street, London.
1914
John enlisted on 2nd November 1914 at London, Ontario. He named his mother has his next of kin
John McCombe Attestation Paper - page 1
John McCombe Attestation Paper - page 2
1915
1916
Corporal John Robert McCombe was serving with the 18th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) when he died on 15th September 1916. He had initially been reported missing. His unit were involved in an attack south of Courcelette at the time.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Corporal McCombe was killed in action on 15th September 1916. He had initially been reported missing. His unit were involved in an attack south of Courcelette at the time.
Canadian Newspapers
From the Christmas Echo (Ontario) dated December 1916: Killed in Action
Corporal J R McCombe, reported to have made the supreme sacrifice for the empire, went overseas with the 18th Battalion. Previous to enlisting, he resided with his uncle. Joseph Carson, 689 Colborne Street. Private McCombe was a member of Nassau Lodge L.O.L.
From the London Advertiser (London, Ontario), unknown date: London Boy Killed in Action, Enlisted in 33rd Battalion
Although the Canadians have been moved back from the front line, casualty reports continue to come through. Joseph Carson, of 689 Colborne Street, was officially notified this morning that his son, Private Andrew James Carson, was killed in action on 21st November. Private Carson enlisted a year ago with the 33rd Battalion, but on his arrival in England was transferred to another battalion. He was 22 years old and before enlisting, was employed by the C S Hyman Company. Private Carson is survived by his father, two brothers, Joseph William and Robert J, and one sister, Sydney Margaret, all of this city. He was a member of Hackett Lodge L.O.L. No. 805, and of St Paul’s Cathedral. He was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. Corporal J R McCombe, who resided with the Carson family prior to the war, and was killed in action two months ago, was a cousin. An uncle and another cousin are fighting with the 9th Inniskillings.
From an unknown Canadian newspaper: Lived Here Some Years Before His Enlistment
Private John McCombe, reported wounded, was Irish by birth. Private John R McCombe, reported in the casualty lists yesterday as having been wounded in action, was a resident of London for some years before he enlisted, and has two cousins in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, as well as a brother serving in the imperial forces. He was an employee of Scandrett Brothers, wholesale grocers. In London, he made his home with an uncle at 689 Colborne Street. One of his cousins, Private Andrew James Carson, is serving as a bomb thrower with the 1st Canadian Battalion. Another, Sapper Robert J Carson, is with the overseas draft of the Canadian engineers, now training in this city. Joseph W Carson, a third cousin, is employed at Scandrett’s now. Private McCombe was a member of Nassau Lodge L.O.L. No 2170, and of the Inniskillings Black Preceptory. He came from his home, County Tyrone, Ireland, some eight years ago, and had been resident in London and district ever since. A brother, Private Alex McCombe, iss now serving with the 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers, in the imperial service.
His brother, Private Alexander McCombe, served with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
One of his cousins, Private Andrew James Carson, was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action on 21st November 1916.
Another cousin, Sapper Robert J Carson, served with the overseas draft of the Canadian Engineers. Joseph W Carson. A third cousin was employed at Scandrett’s.
Memorials
Corporal McCombe has no known grave and is commemorated on Vimy Memorial in France.
Corporal McCombe is commemorated locally on Clogher War Memorial.
The CWGC record Corporal McCombe as the son of Robert and Jane McCombe of Tullyvernon, Clogher, County Tyrone, Ireland.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Tullycorker, Cecil Clogher Census listing in Tullycorker, Cecil 54.460884 -7.178586
2 Tullyvernon, Clogher Clogher CWGC lists parents in Tullyvernon 54.438377 -7.186646
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
24/03/1872 M Cook Jane Parent M/1872/Y1/2207/1/40b Cooke
24/03/1872 M McCombe Robert Parent M/1872/Y1/2207/1/40a Robt, McComb
03/04/1873 B McCombe Anne Sibling U/1873/107/1026/4/379
04/02/1879 B McCombe John Casualty U/1879/107/1026/7/105 McComb
26/05/1882 B McCombe Alexander Sibling U/1882/107/1026/8/77 McComb
12/09/1886 B McCombe Margaret Sibling U/1886/107/1026/9/113 McComb
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 18th Battalion CEF Details of John Robert McCombe including images
2 1901 Census lists McCombe family Does not list John as living with the family at house 2 in Tullycorker, Cecil, Tyrone
3 Canadian Great War Project Details of Corporal John Robert McCombe
4 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Details of John Robert McCombe including images
5 Circumstances of Death Registers Details of Corporal John Robert McComb's death
6 FindAGrave.com Photo of Corporal John Robert McCombe's inscription
7 John Robert McCombe Attestation Papers Canadian Military documents (36 no.)
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023