Obituaries Australia

Harry Coombe, c.1916

Australian War Memorial, P06349.001

"Gone into the sunset." Another Gawler-born has willingly made the supreme sacrifice, 2nd. Lieutenant H H. Coombe, eldest son of the late Mr. E. H. Coombe, M.P., being killed in action in France on August 23rd. From letters received it is apparent that he could only have reached the firing line, for his last letter was dated in England, on July 7th. Lieut. Coombe a married man with two sons, heard the call of country in Adelaide in December, 1915, and was sent to Duntroon College to pass his examinations for a commission. Successful in this, he returned to Adelaide and put in a long and weary wait for orders to embark, sailing on February 25th of this year. He had his opportunities of joining the permanent staff in Australia, but he refused, asking only to be with the boys of whom he was so proud. His last letter to his wife expressed his pleasure at the hope of joining up with the Australians; and in one corner he told his wife, "Keep smiling, I am." Harry Haywood Coombe was born in Willaston, in 1880, and learnt his trade as fitter and turner at Messrs. May Bros.' & Co., Limited, works. He married Margaret Florence, third daughter of Mrs. John McLeod, of Balaclava. After a period of employment with James Martin & Co., Mr. Coombe removed to Broken Hill, and for four of five years worked at his trade with the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. He then took up a position in the Government loco. sheds at Port Wakefield, and here developed the public life so strongly exhibited by his father. He was a councillor for four years, and was active in lodge public, and sporting bodies. The family were splendidly farewelled on the eve of their removal to Adelaide. It was whilst Lieut Coombe was in camp that he heard of the tragic end of his father, and he immediately assumed control of all mortuary requirements, lifting a great burden of stress off his mother's shoulders. So honourably had he performed life's duties that he was selected on a plebiscite as a worthy successor to his father in political affairs and if was due only to his Conscription views that he was not chosen as the candidate for Labour representation in Parliament. He went fearlessly into the duty he believed his country required of him and to-day is a memory with those brave men who laid down all that Australia might be free.