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.
The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted.
