Name
Richard Douglas Coombes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
RAF
2nd Squadron, 61st Wing
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Richard Coombes gave his occupation as Mechanic when he enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915. His Royal Navy Service Record noted that he first served with HMS “President II”, a shore station based at Dunkirk, from 3rd August 1915. The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first listed him serving with the RNAS in September 1915. His pre-war employment as a mechanic would have made him very suitable for the role of Ground Crew in the fledgling air services.
His Service Record showed that he was granted Leave from 3rd to 12th November 1917, but little else is known of his service during the Great War.
On 31st March 1918 his Service Record listed Richard serving with the RNAS at HMS “Daedalus”, an air-station based at Lee on Solent. On the next day, 1st April 1918, he transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF), which came into being for the first time on that day.
Richard continued in Service after the Armistice in November 1918, and in the Absent Voter Records of Autumn 1918, Spring 1919, and Autumn 1919, he was listed as serving with the rank of Private with 2nd Squadron, 61st Wing of the RAF, and his address was given at High Street, Abbots Langley.
Richard Coombes was born in the autumn of 1895 at Abbots Langley. In the 1901 Census he lived at Mansion House Farm in Abbots Langley, where his father, John Henry Coombes was employed as the Head Gardener. John and his wife Maria Mercy Coombes had many children – seven sons and two daughters, and in the 1911 Census the family was recorded living at Mansion House Cottages, with Richard, his brother George, and sister Hilda all still living at home.
Richard Coombes survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly Royal Naval Air Service
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
