17213 Driver Samuel McCombe
3rd Field Company Engineers,
3rd Infantry Brigade,
1st Division
1st Australian Imperial Force 1914-19

This file last updated 2 September, 2023 1:16



Introduction

Samuel McCombe
Driver Samuel McCombe
Photograph courtesy of
Anthony 'Tony' Scroope CDec

Hailing from County Antrim, the 1901 census record shows his father Hugh (31) a flax dresser and his wife Catherine (30) living at 29 Dunnygarran (now Dunnygarron), Cullybacky with five children, Malcolm (9), Samuel (7), Charlotte (5), Matthew (3) and Hugh (1). The 1911 return shows that the family had moved to house 8 in Dunnygarran. Hugh McCombe is now a water bailiff and Catherine (42) is now the mother of ten. Charlotte (15), Matthew (13), Hugh (11), Thomas M. (8), David (7), William J. (5), James (3) and Roberta (3 months). Malcolm is now 19, Samuel 17 and they have struck out on their own.

The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the service record of Samuel McCombe.

Prepared for Vietnam veteran and grandson of Samuel McCombe, Anthony 'Tony' Scroope by Clive Mitchell-Taylor - 23 Jun 2018.

View Samuel McCombe's Service Record , WW1 Embarkation Roll entry, Grant of War Pension and Discharge Certificates or other photographs.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abbreviations or acronyms which have a dotted underline can be expanded by moving the cursor over the term - e.g. WIA. The cursor will be replaced by ? and the expanded abbreviation will be displayed. This is gradually being incorporated into the site, replacing the the current expansion of abbreviations. There may be a discernable delay of about a second before the expansion is first provided.

There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here.  Abbreviations are inconsistent, even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.

There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records. Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1. Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.

Duplicated Pages

Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon discharge or death in Service.

Service Numbers

Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers

Dates of Occurrence and Reporting

The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.

The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record, and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.

To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence. This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.

For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.


Enlistment Details

Service Number

17213

Name

Samuel McCombe

Born at

County Antrim, Ireland

Age

22 years 11 months at time of enlistment [date of birth never recorded]

Trade or Calling

Farmer

Apprenticeship

No

Marital Status

Single

Next of Kin

Mother - Mrs Katherine [actually Catherine] McCombe, Cully Backey [Now Cullybackey], County Antrim, Ireland.

Previous Military Service

No

Attested at

Lismore, NSW

Date of Enlistment

6 June 1916

Height

5 foot 6¼ inches [168cm]

Weight

10 stone 3 pounds [143 pounds or 65Kg]

Chest

32 - 36 inches [81 - 91.5cm]

Complexion

Fair

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

LightBrown

Religious Denomination

Church of England

Distinctive Marks

Deformed forefinger on left hand

Units

3rd Field Engineer Company


Chronological Events

Rank Description Date Remarks

Driver

Enlisted at Lismore

6 Jun 1916

Driver

Initial training at 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera Army Camp

11 Jul 1916 -
10 Aug 1916

Driver

There is no indication of how or where employed during the period from 22 Oct 1916 to 10 May 1917 as there is no record for that period. Because, other than on enlistment, his rank is given as Driver (Dvr) throughout his record the most plausible explanation is that he was involved in Driver Training for the Reinforcements with whom he later went overseas. Driving was not a particularly well-established skill at that time.

10 Aug 1916 -
22 Oct 1916

Driver

Allocated to Field Engineer Reinforcements, 2nd Military District (NSW).   

10 May 1917

Driver

Embarked HMAT "CLAN McGILVRAY" (A46) for the UK

10 May 1917

Driver

Offence: Breaking ship, Freemantle.
Award: 72 hours detention by LTCOL Burrage

23 May 1917

Driver

Disembarked Plymouth, England

26 Jul 1917

Driver

Marched in to No 1 & 3 Details camp, Parkhouse from Australia ex HMAT A46

29 Jul 1917

"Details Camps" were rear echelon camps where reinforcements arriving from Australia, wounded now recovered and other personnel in transit to or from front line units were held before being despatched to their next destination.

Driver

Marched out to Engineer Training, Engineer Training Depot Brightlingsea

27 Aug 1915

Abbreviated to B'lingsea in most records

Driver

Marched in to Brightlingsea from 193 Details camp

2 Aug 1917

Driver

Proceeded overseas to France from Southampton ex Brightlingsea

8 Jan 1918

Driver

Marched in to (AGBD), Rouelles, ex England

9 Jan 1918

Driver

Marched in to 3rd Field Company Engineers

19 Jan 18

Driver

Taken on Strength of 3rd Field Company Engineers

22 Jan 1918

The 1st Division patrolled and raided during the winter, and while still at Messines when the Germans began their final offensive on 21 Mar 1918. In the first week of April the 1st and 2nd Divisions began moving to the Somme when the Germans launched an attack north and sout of Armentières followed by a rapid drive to the rail junction at Hazebrouck. The 1st Division, having reached Amiens was ordered to turn around and hurry back north. It reached Hazebrouck on 12 Apr 1918 in time to relieve the exhausted British divisions. The 1st Division helped halt the German advance the next day and repulsed a renewed offensive on 17 April 1918, after which the Germans abandoned their push and concentrated on the high ground west of Messines.

The Division remained active in Flanders from May to July, carrying out carefully planned raids on the German lines. On the 11th of July they took 1,000 years (910m)of front, 120 prisoners and 11 machine guns from the German 13th Reserve Division.

The Division returned to the command of the Australian Corps on 8 Aug 1918, the day that the final Allied offensive commenced with the Battle of Amiens. The Division was sent into battle the following day, relieving the 5th Division.

Driver

To Hospital, sick

4 Sep 1918

Scabies is derived from the conditions under which the soldiers in battle were physically and emotionally exhausted and then exposed to the scabies mite in unhygienic conditions.

Driver

Admitted to 3rd Field Hospital, with Scabies and transferred to Casualty Clearing Station (CCS)

5 Sep 1918

Driver

Admitted to 37 Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to Ambulance Train

6 Sep 1918

Driver

Admitted to 9th General Hospital, Rouen

7 Sep 1918

Driver

Transferred to No 2 Convalescent Depot

8 Sep 1918

Driver

Admitted to Convalescent Depot

8 Sep 1918

Driver

Transferred to AGBD

30 Sep 1918

Driver

Marched in to AGBD from Rouen

4 Oct 1918

Driver

Returned to Unit

20 Oct 1918

Driver

Marched in to unit

20 Nov 1918

Driver

On leave to the UK

30 Dec 1918

Driver

Returned from leave

11 Jan 1919

Driver

Detached for duty as Party Commander, Horses

9 Feb 19

Driver

Returned to unit from Havre, conducting horses

17 Feb 19

Driver

To 3nd Field Ambulance, Scabies

25 Mar 1919

Driver

Returned to unit

27 Mar 1919

Driver

Marched out from 3rd Field Company Engineers for Return to Australia (RTA), Quota 37

17 Apr 19

Driver

Marched in to England

24 Apr 1919

Driver

Return to Australia per SS Ormonde

4 Aug 1919

Driver

Discharged

3 Sep 1919


Medals and Dress Embellishments

British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal, not entitled to 1914-15 Star

No Wound Stripes.

Two Long Service Stripes, three Overseas Service Chevrons.

Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.



Background - Engineer Field Companies

[Information from https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]
UNIT COLOUR PATCH
3RD FIELD COMPANY ENGINEERS
3rd Field Company Engineers
NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'

Each Division had three Field Engineer Companies under command, numbered the same as the Brigades of the Division. The 1st Division thus had the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Field Company of Engineers on strength.

During WW 1 the Engineers undertook a raft of tasks broadly divided into mobility, counter mobility and construction as well as survey and mapping, and specialised tunnelling and mining operations. The Field Companies' scope of works concentrated on the former rather than the latter.

They undertook a broad range of tasks including preparation and supervision of the construction of defensive and gun positions, excavation of trenches and dugouts, erection of wire and other obstacles, preparation of command posts, signalling and water supply, field engineering, road and bridge construction and route maintenance. They also undertook obstacle breaching and crossing. For example in the lead up to the attack at Mont St Quentin the Engineers were required to carry out two river crossing / bridging operations.

Engineers also had responsibility for signalling although this function became more specialised as the war progressed, eventually leading to the creation of a separate Signals Corps.


1914-15 Star

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
1914-15 Star

The decoration consists of a four-pointed star in bright bronze as shown, with the date 1914-15 on the central scroll. The reverse is plain, and is stamped with the name and unit of the recipient. The ribbon is red, white and blue, shaded and watered, worn with the red nearest the centre of the breast. It is atached to the medal through a ring.

It is similar in shape and description to the 1914 Star, to which few, if any, Australians were entitled. Those entitled were those who had already served with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) in the operations to capture German New Guinea in 1914.

The decoration, sanctioned in 1918, was issued "to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British, Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others eployed with military hospitals, who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war as defined in Appendix 'A'. Individuals in possession of the 1914 Star will not be eligible for the award of this decoration."

Appendix 'A' included the Western, Eastern, Egyptian, African, Asiatic and Australasian Theatres of war, with commencement dates individual to countries and campaigns.


British War Medal 1914-20

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
British War Medal

This medal was approved by King George V in 1919 to record the bringing of the war to a successful conclusion and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces.

The medal, which is supended from its ribbon by means of a straight clasp, without swivel, bears on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty - exactly similar to that on a half-crown - with the legend 'Georgivus V : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp'.

The reverse bears a design which represents St George on horseback, trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Overhead is the risen sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolical of man's mind controlling force (represented by the horse) of far greater strength than his own. The design is thus also symbolical of the mechanical and scientific appliances which helped so largely to win the war.

The ribbon has a orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and with borders of royal blue. It is stated that the colours have no particular signification.


Victory Medal

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]

This medal, of bronze, bears on the obverse a winged figure of Victory, full length in the middle of the medal and full face; the borders and the backgound plain, without either incription or date. On the reverse is an inscription. "The Great War for Civilization." and either the names of the different Allied and Associated Powers, or their coats of arms.

The rim is plain, and the medal hangs from a ring. The ribbon is red in the centre, with green and violet on either side shaded to form the colours of two rainbows.

It has also been approved that any officer or man who has been "mentioned in despatches" shall wear a small bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of this medal. Only one oak leaf is so worn, no matter how many "mentions" the wearer may have received.

The medal is designed to obviate the exchange of Allied Commemorative war medals, and is issued only to those who actually served on the establishment of a unit or ship in a theatre of war. [This is an important distinction, as those Australians who served only in Australia, or only in Australia and England, were not entitled to the award.]


The Rising Sun Badge

This version of the Rising Sun Badge was worn by soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, and the badge has become an integral part of the Digger tradition.

Worn on the the upturned brim of the slouch hat, it is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC.

There are a number of versions of the genesis of the badge, the most widely accepted being that it derived from a Trophy of Arms - various swords and bayonets mounted on  a semi-circular display in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

The original version worn in South Africa was modified in 1904 and worn by Australian soldiers through two World Wars.

Later changes were made to the style of the crown and the wording on the scroll. The "King's Crown" is the one shown to the left, while arches of the "Queen's Crown" rise at the same angle as the base of the crown, curve at their highest point to a level mid-way on the orb below the cross and then down to below the orb.

In 1949 the scroll was changed to read "Australian Military Forces".

In 1969 the badge was modified to incorporate the 7-pointed Federation Star with a central Queen's crown over the Torse Wreath (a twisted roll of fabric) from the original 1902 version, and the scroll wording changed to "Australia".

In the 75th anniversary year of the the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, there was a drive to return to traditional accoutrements worn by Australian soldiers during the World Wars, which clearly identify the Australian Army. The Queen's crown returned to its central position and the scroll now reads "The Australian Army'.

The ANZAC 'A'

ANZAC 'A'

The brass letter 'A' to represent service related to Gallipoli (ANZAC) was authorised to be worn 'over unit colour patches on both sleeves of the service dress jacket and greatcoat" by Military Order 354 of 18 Aug 17 and AIF Order 937 of 6 Nov 17, as amended in terms of qualification by Military Order 20 of 19 Jan 18 and by AIF Order 1084 of 25 Jan 18.

The size of the letter 'A', introduced as one inch in height (AIF Order 994 of 30 Nov 17), was reduced to three-quarters of an inch by AIF Order 1012 of 11 Dec 17. Provision for wearing the brass letter 'A' was also included in General Routine Order 0.815 of 17 Dec 43 and GRO 310 of 7 Dec 45.


British War Medal 1914-20

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
British War Medal

This medal was approved by King George V in 1919 to record the bringing of the war to a successful conclusion and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces.

The medal, which is supended from its ribbon by means of a straight clasp, without swivel, bears on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty - exactly similar to that on a half-crown - with the legend 'Georgivus V : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp'.

The reverse bears a design which represents St George on horseback, trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Overhead is the risen sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolical of man's mind controlling force (represented by the horse) of far greater strength than his own. The design is thus also symbolical of the mechanical and scientific appliances which helped so largely to win the war.

The ribbon has a orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and with borders of royal blue. It is stated that the colours have no particular signification.


Wound Stripe

Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916. (slightly amended for layout)
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED

Wound Stripes

The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :

    Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches [2.5cm] in length sewn perpendicularly on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.

    In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the bottom of the sleeve.

    Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original one at half inch interval.

    Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department; the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public.


Long Service Badges

[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
Long Service Badges
A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917 (slightly amended for layout)

The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.

    The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches [7.6cm] above the edge of the cuff.

    Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which will not carry an increased pay or allowance.

    One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of embarkation in Australia.

    No badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet.

    Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.

    A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.

    The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.


Overseas Service Chevrons

[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]

Overseas Service Chevrons

Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, January 1918 (Slightly amended for layout)

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.

    Chevrons of two colours have been approved.

      The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red.

      If earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue.

      All additional chevrons after the first will be blue.

    The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch [0.63cm] in width, the arms 4 inches [10.2cm] long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm:

    In the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch [2.5cm] above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four inches [10.2cm] above the bottom edge of the sleeve.

    The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.

    In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.


Some Government Issued Badges

Nearest Female
Relative Badge

War Widows
Guild Brooch

Silver War Badge

Discharged Returned
Soldier Badge

Government issued badge in enamel and sterling silver issued to the wife, mother or nearest female relative of a serving soldier. Additional bars were suspended below for further individuals.

Membership badge of a Kookaburra in sterling silver, issued by the Government to the widows of men who lost their lives due to their service. Numbered on the reverse.

Awarded to service personnel who sustained a wound, or contracted sickness of disability in the course of the war as a result of which they were invalided out, or to soldiers who had retired during the course of the war.

First issued in 1916. Slight variations are indicative of a number of makers. 267,300 were issued. Numbered on the reverse but the numbers have no link withlength of service or Service Number.

[Badge information collated from Australian War Memorial, "Australians Awarded" by Clive Johnson and en.wikipedia.com]