Notes
Note N3997
Index
MILITARY SERVICE NOTE
In an email dated 2009-Dec-11, Lesley related an anecdote that her mother believed that Edward Comber was supposed to have served in a regiment that sounded like "Queen's Home Regiment" or the "Queen's Home Guards".
In an email I sent to Lesley, dated 2009-DEC-13, I replied that I had found a website that said an EDWARD COOMBER was a member of the "1st / 50th Foot (West Kent) Queen's Own Regiment" with a tour of duty in Australia between 1834 and 1841.
[(http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~garter1/50thfoot.htm)]
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Lesley had a thought about why Edward Comber's name is not listed as a Victoria Cross winner.
It appears that for the first few years after the Victoria Cross came into existence, Queen Victoria took it upon herself to "withdraw" the names of recipients of the award from all records , if they were charged with some offense after receiving the honour.
Reasons were from murder, rape, theft ... to fighting & drunkenness.
Edward may have had his records wiped clean of all mention to being a VC winner. Apparently, Queen Victoria allowed all such winners who had their names erased were allowed to keep their medals, they just had their records obliterated.
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My research undertaken on 2017-05-08, using Wikipedia under the heading "Category:Victoria Cross forfeitures"
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Victoria_Cross_forfeitures] found the following.
The awards of eight Victoria Cross recipients were forfeited between 1861 and 1908. Since 1920 when King George V expressed strong objections to the use of the forfeiture power no further awards have been forfeited. The power to cancel and restore awards is still included in the Victoria Cross warrant. The power to restore a forfeited award has never been exercised.
The following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).
Valentine Bambrick
James Collis
Frederick Corbett
Edward St John Daniel
Thomas Lane (VC)
James McGuire (VC)
Michael Murphy (VC)
George Ravenhill
No sign of a Comber/Coomber in this list
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In an email to Lesley Horton dated 13/12/2009 I mention that:
I have found a website that says EDWARD COOMBER was a member of the "1st / 50th Foot (West Kent) Queen's Own Regiment" with a tour of duty 1834-1841 in Australia.
(http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~garter1/50thfoot.htm)
And Lesley's reply:
So, what my grandmother, Lillian, recalled was true - her grandfather was a member of something with the words, "Queen's Own" in the title Since that part of the story appears truthful, I am now wondering if there is a chance the Victoria Cross was genuine?
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I do not think that the VC was awarded, but there is no reason NOT to believe that a medal *of some kind* WAS issued. There are numerous citations issued to the regiments over the years, and also personal recognition. The VC is a cross-shaped medal. I wonder if your mum can remember what shape???? (was it she who saw the medal or your grandmum?)
Check out this site:
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/50thfoot.htm
which is the history of the 50th Foot (West Kent) Regiment.
From what I have read, it appears that Edward Comber was part of the Indian/Afghan wars of 1838-1846 - most probably the First Sikh War, if not, then the two "minor" skirmishes before then - Punniar/Gwalior.
I DO NOT think he was part of the Crimean War.
I DO think this will involve the British Museum/Military Museum at Kew, though
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Notes
Note N3998
Index
NAME NOTE
"Westby Wilkins Comber" is used by a number of researchers, but is incorrect, according to Lesley Horton, based on the comments made by her mother and other immediate family members of the Horton/Comber family. Email dated 2009-DEC-15.
Notes
Note N3999
Index
NAME NOTE
In an email dated 2009-DEC-14, Lesley Horton confirmed that George Westby Walker Comber's name was just that, and that he was known as "West". At least one child's birth registration uses the name West for the father's name.
Lesley also related that George's wife, Anna Maria said that the "Walker" part of her husband's name was because of the doctor who delivered him, he was a Dr Walker.
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Supposition - George Westby Walker Comber was named for Dr Westby Walker of Sofala.
Supposition - Dr Westby Walker of Sofala is thought to have had a relationship with Sarah Mackay, sister of Elizabeth Mackay Comber.
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In an email dated 16/12/2009, Lesley Horton mentions:
Thank you for changing the information to read, George Westby Walker Comber ... I know my grandmother would be pleased .. and I thank you for her, too.
Yes, the , " 15961 / 1945 ... COMBER GEORGE WESTBY WALKER ... death in Coonabarabran " IS my great-grandfather. He is Lillian Elizabeth Comber's Father & Husband of Anna Maria Chilvers. I have seen the entry on the BDM's website ... & know that his parents names are listed as, "George & Sarah " ...... it confused me when I saw it .... but, apparently the parents names on his death-certificate are wrong. I viewed your family tree on, "Rootsweb" ages ago ... and read names out to my mother re : information on Edward Comber & Elizabeth Mackie's children ... Mum knew some of their names ... and also some of the next generation .. who were her cousins. So, my George Westby Walker Comber's parents SHOULD read Edward & Elizabeth My mother said that she thinks her Aunty Nellie, who was married to Lillian's older brother filled the death certificate out ... George was living close to them when he died. When you think about it ... George Westby died 45 years after his father .. & 65 years after his mother ... so they had probably forgotten his parents names ?
I can confirm his name ... George Westby Walker Comber ... & his death date : 15 July, 1945 . Place of death : Coonabarabran, NSW. Married to Anna Maria Chilvers.
I cannot confirm his birthdate, however. He is not on the NSW's BDM's website .. his brothers / sisters are there .. but not him When I saw your birthdate listed for him, I even put that info into the search engine on the BDM's website .. nothing came up, unfortunately. WHAT does come up is a son of Edward & Elizabeth called, " JOSEPH W. " born in 1862, in Tamworth . I wonder if this is "George" and he changed his name early in life ??? I am thinking maybe the "W" is for "Westby" ? And if this isn't him .. where is this Joseph ?
I was thinking maybe the person who supplied George Westby's birthdate got it out of a family bible .. or something ? I know my grandmother had a family bible with names & dates written into it ... perhaps Anna Maria kept one, too ? ( my grandmother's bible was lost in a house fire , unfortunately).
There is a story that COULD explain the fact that Anna Maria Chilvers appears to have married a Allen Hildreth in 1874 ... Mudgee. I have reason to believe that George Westby Comber & Anna Maria Chilvers were NEVER married ... I cannot find a marriage listing for them .. there is NO record of George Westby EVER being married to anyone .. and only the one record for Anna Maria Chilvers to Allen Hildreth. No further marriages for her anywhere. The story that explains this is :
Soon after my grandfather, Billy Duce married Lillian Elizabeth Comber in 1912 , Coonabarabran ... he was talking to a fellow he knew ... that man asked who Billy had married .. Billy replied, Lillian Comber ... and the man asked if she was , "West Comber's daughter " ? Billy said yes .. & the man replied, " Oh, he ran off with somebody's wife ' ( ) Billy went to Lillian .. told her about it .. and then, went to George Westby , himself .. and asked him if this was true .. because he and Lillian where worried her name may not be legal, etc. George Westby made a curious reply ( I think ) .. he just said, " We are married .. and that is all you need know ". ( I think it VERY strange he didn't question anything .. didn't rage & say who is saying such awful things ... just said those few words to Billy ... and never talked of it again ).
It is just my opinion but I believe Anna Maria WAS married to Allen Hildreth ... ran off with George Westby ... and they never actually officially married. I searched for Hildreth, once .. he died in Mudgee .. in 1920 .. something. They never had children .. none came up, anyway. And, being Catholics .. they would not have considered divorce. The marriage date you have for Anna Maria & George Westby is none existent on the Registry. Once again .. I think that date could have been in a family bible ... it is probably the date around the time she and George took off together Their first child was born in 1883 ... 1881 .. may have sounded good to ANNA MARIA
I am sorry I have made this soooo long Didn't mean too But, "OLD George & Anna Maria " I thought you may like to know their "Little secret "
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