First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry

Emanuel Richard COOMBS (1887–1917)

Emanuel Richard Coombs or Coombes was born in Oxford in 1887, the son of Henry Coombs (born in Cumnor in 1856/7 and baptised there on 5 April 1857) and Ann Lamburn (born in Marston in 1853, registered fourth quarter and baptised at St Nicholas’s Church on 30 October 1853).

His parents were married (evidently in haste) at Cumnor Church on 28 May 1882 and had eight children:

• Constance Mary Coombs (born in Cumnor and baptised at Cumnor Church on 26 November1882)
• William George Coombs, born in Oxford and baptised at Cumnor Church on 13 July 1884; died aged 8 months and buried there on 21 January 1885)
• Thomas Henry Coombs (born at 13 Luther Street, Oxford on 8 December 1885 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, St Ebbe’s on 14 February 1886)
• Emanuel Richard Coombs (born at 13 Luther Street, Oxford on 30 October 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, St Ebbe’s on 11 December 1887)
• Albert Lamburn Coombs (born at 13 Luther Street, Oxford on 2 October 1899 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, St Ebbe’s on 2 October 1889)
• George Ambrose Coombs (born in Oxford and baptised at Cumnor Church on 10 July 1892)
• Elsie Annie Coombs (born at 13 Luther Street, Oxford on 14 October 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, St Ebbe’s on 9 December 1894)
• Florence Mary Coombs (born in East Oxford on 25 August 1896 and baptised at SS Mary & John Church on 15 October 1896).

At the time of the 1881 census Emanuel’s mother Ann Lamburn (27) was living in Marston as housekeeper to her grandfather and father, who were both widowers, and also looking after her five younger siblings. Her grandfather William (74) was a farmer, and her father Richard (50) was a farm bailiff. She was married the following year, and it appears that she and Henry Coombs began their married life in Cumnor, possibly at Henry’s parents’ home.

Emanuel’s parents moved to Oxford by 1884, where his father worked as a brewer’s labourer: the address is specified in 1885 as 13 Luther Street in St Ebbe’s. They were still at that address at the time of the 1891 census with Constance (8), Thomas (5), Emanuel (3), and Albert (1).

By 1896 the family had moved to 68 Hurst Street in Cowley St John parish, east Oxford, and the 1901 census shows them there: Thomas (15) was working as a wheelwright’s apprentice, Emanuel himself (13) was a grocer’s errand boy, and the four younger children were probably at school.

The 1911 census shows them living at another house in that parish: 57 Henley Street. Their five youngest children were still at home: Emanuel himself (23) was a grocer’s assistant; Albert (21) was a brewer’s labourer; George (18) was a baker’s deliverer; Elsie (16) was working as a day girl (domestic); and Florence (14) was still at school. Constance (28) was working as a parlourmaid at 15 Norham Road, Oxford and Thomas (25) was already married with two children and living in Charles Street.

 

Left: Emanuel’s parents Henry & Ann Coombs;
Below: Emanuel, George, and Thomas Coombs

♥ On 16 April 1914 Emanuel Richard Coombs married Beatrice Mary Kimber at Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry. He was described as a shop assistant of Cowley St John, and she was the daughter of the builder Elias Kimber and his wife Catherine. She had been baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry on 28 August 1877, and her brother Anthony Kimber, who was a witness at the wedding, also died in the First World War and is on the Holy Trinity roll of honour.

Emanuel and his wife Beatrice went to live at Gathorne Road (then called Alexandra Road) in the parish of Headington Quarry. They do not appear to have had any children.

In the First World War Emanuel Richard Coombs served as a Private in the 2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) (Service No. 245165). He was killed in action in Belgium aged 29 on 26 September 1917.

Emanuel Coombes has no known grave, but is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium and on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry.

 

Left: Photograph of Coombs’s name on the Tyne Cot Memorial, kindly supplied by British War Graves

 

Below: The soldier on the left of this group is believed to be Emanuel Coombs