Coventry War Memorial Park Plaque - 1
Gunner Herbert Charles Collingbourne 1/1st Warwick Royal Horse Artillery
Herbert Charles (Bert) Collingbourne was born during the second quarter of 1892 in Coventry, son of David Charles a Cycle Machinist and Sarah Jane nee Ensley. He was the eldest of four children, Reginald Harry born in 1895, Irene 1897 and Doris Sarah 1898. At the time of his birth the family were living at 6 Colchester Street, Hillfields, Coventry and Bert was Baptised at St Peter’s Church, Charles Street on 3rd July 1892.
Tragedy struck the family however, beginning shortly after the birth of Reggie in 1895 as he died just 11 months old. This was followed in 1898 when following complications during the Birth of Doris, Sarah passed away aged just 30 on 10th November 1898. Sarah was buried in the London Road Cemetery in Coventry and David was left to bring up Bert, now aged six and Irene aged one. Doris went to live and be cared for by her Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Ann Collingbourne at 73 Vine Street, Hillfields.
By 1901 David, Bert and Irene were living at 123 Eagle Street and in 1908 David’s Father Thomas died aged 69. In 1910 aged 18 Bert joined the General Post Office in Coventry as a Learner. By 1911 the family were living at 41 King Edward Road, Hillfields and had been joined by Doris, David’s mother Mary, sister Harriet Annie Rubery and her son Reginald Arthur. They later lived at 52 St Nicholas Street, Coventry.
Bert enlisted into the Territorial Force in about 1910 and joined the 1/1st Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery enlisting as a Gunner and with service Number 360. At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914 he was mobilised and entered France on 31st October 1914 as part of the first Territorial Regiment to do so.
The following extract from The Coventry Herald January 7th & 8th 1916 gives an account of Bert’s demise.
WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A. UNDER FIRE. COVENTRY MEN AMONG THE FIRST CASUALTIES
The remarkable immunity from casualties experienced by the Coventry section of the Warwickshire R.H.A. during the fourteen months they have been in France has been broken at last as the result of a recent bombardment, when several Coventry men were injured by the bursting of a high explosive shell. The incident occurred at the beginning of last week when, in consequence of a German bombardment, the men sought safety in an old cellar protected by sandbags. One of the enemy shells forced its way through the structure and played havoc among the men. The son of Mr. Chattaway, architect of this city, was among the most seriously injured, and has been visited in hospital in France by his father. Latest reports state that a successful operation has been performed. Gunner Croydon, son of Richard Croydon, has been brought back to Colchester Hospital, while others injured who are well known locally are: Collingbourne, Short, Traherne (Chapel Fields), Reg. Fletcher (son of Mr. C. H. Fletcher). Except in the case of Chattaway, the official notifications of injury have not been received.
The battery, it will be remembered, was the first Territorial Regiment to go to France, arriving there on Nov. 1, 1914. They claim to have been more in action than any other battery, and have been complimented on their splendid work by General French.
Another account of the disastrous bombardment referred to is given in a letter from Gunner Croydon, who, in writing home says:-
“ We all went down a cellar for safety, because they were shelling us and as soon as we got down there one of the (5.9) came in and burst. The result was bricks and bits of shrapnel were flying all over the place. About six of us got hurt – Fletcher, Short, Wiliday, Collingbourne, Barklett, and myself. I believe Chattaway was hit, but I don’t know. “Spot” (Phillips) was not there at all , so was not hurt, thank God! I was the only one able to stand, so got out and went for help. I believe I am on my way for England but don’t know. I must look funny. I was hit in the face and you can only see one eye and enough of my mouth to put a ‘fag’ in. The nurses are very good to me, and the doctor, a Leamington man (Dr. Gibbons Ward, Medical Officer of Health for Leamington) is one of the best. I am on a barge on a canal on the way to the coast. Chattaway, it is believed, is seriously hurt.”
Bert subsequently died of wounds on 4th January 1916 and interred at Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. Plot II.B.7. His inscription reads DEEPLY MOURNED. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and also commemorated on the Post Office Memorial Plaque now located at the Royal Mail Coventry North Sorting Office, 1 The Stampings as well as a plaque under a tree in Coventry War Memorial Park.
Additionally, he is remembered on the family grave in the London Road Cemetery which reads:
SARAH JANE
Beloved wife of D C Collingbourne
Died Nov 10th 1898 Aged 30
Also of Doris
Dearly beloved daughter of the above
Died April 7th 1917 Aged 18 years
Deeply mourned
[Left side]
Also David Charles
Died October 1939 – aged 73.
[Right Side]
Also of Gunner Herbert C Collingbourne (Bert) No 360 Warks RHA
Their only son, died of wounds received in Action, Interred at St Omer, France Jan 4, 1916 aged 23 years
Also Reggie who died in infancy.
It is also sad to note that Doris died young only 15 months after Bert and aged just 18. David’s Mother Mary Ann also died in 1924 aged 82. David had lost his wife, youngest son, father, eldest son, daughter and mother within 22 years and all apart from his parents, no older than 30! Tragic indeed.
By 1939 David, shown was on the census as a retired lathe hand and living at 68 Rochester Road, Earlsdon, Coventry and died in October 1939 aged 73 and was buried with Sarah, Doris and Reggie.
Irene lived a longer life than her siblings, married having a daughter Marcia and died aged 73 in 1970.
A story, perhaps typical of how World War I touched every family and cut yet deeper into existing tragedies.
Tragedy struck the family however, beginning shortly after the birth of Reggie in 1895 as he died just 11 months old. This was followed in 1898 when following complications during the Birth of Doris, Sarah passed away aged just 30 on 10th November 1898. Sarah was buried in the London Road Cemetery in Coventry and David was left to bring up Bert, now aged six and Irene aged one. Doris went to live and be cared for by her Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Ann Collingbourne at 73 Vine Street, Hillfields.
By 1901 David, Bert and Irene were living at 123 Eagle Street and in 1908 David’s Father Thomas died aged 69. In 1910 aged 18 Bert joined the General Post Office in Coventry as a Learner. By 1911 the family were living at 41 King Edward Road, Hillfields and had been joined by Doris, David’s mother Mary, sister Harriet Annie Rubery and her son Reginald Arthur. They later lived at 52 St Nicholas Street, Coventry.
Bert enlisted into the Territorial Force in about 1910 and joined the 1/1st Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery enlisting as a Gunner and with service Number 360. At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914 he was mobilised and entered France on 31st October 1914 as part of the first Territorial Regiment to do so.
The following extract from The Coventry Herald January 7th & 8th 1916 gives an account of Bert’s demise.
WARWICKSHIRE R.H.A. UNDER FIRE. COVENTRY MEN AMONG THE FIRST CASUALTIES
The remarkable immunity from casualties experienced by the Coventry section of the Warwickshire R.H.A. during the fourteen months they have been in France has been broken at last as the result of a recent bombardment, when several Coventry men were injured by the bursting of a high explosive shell. The incident occurred at the beginning of last week when, in consequence of a German bombardment, the men sought safety in an old cellar protected by sandbags. One of the enemy shells forced its way through the structure and played havoc among the men. The son of Mr. Chattaway, architect of this city, was among the most seriously injured, and has been visited in hospital in France by his father. Latest reports state that a successful operation has been performed. Gunner Croydon, son of Richard Croydon, has been brought back to Colchester Hospital, while others injured who are well known locally are: Collingbourne, Short, Traherne (Chapel Fields), Reg. Fletcher (son of Mr. C. H. Fletcher). Except in the case of Chattaway, the official notifications of injury have not been received.
The battery, it will be remembered, was the first Territorial Regiment to go to France, arriving there on Nov. 1, 1914. They claim to have been more in action than any other battery, and have been complimented on their splendid work by General French.
Another account of the disastrous bombardment referred to is given in a letter from Gunner Croydon, who, in writing home says:-
“ We all went down a cellar for safety, because they were shelling us and as soon as we got down there one of the (5.9) came in and burst. The result was bricks and bits of shrapnel were flying all over the place. About six of us got hurt – Fletcher, Short, Wiliday, Collingbourne, Barklett, and myself. I believe Chattaway was hit, but I don’t know. “Spot” (Phillips) was not there at all , so was not hurt, thank God! I was the only one able to stand, so got out and went for help. I believe I am on my way for England but don’t know. I must look funny. I was hit in the face and you can only see one eye and enough of my mouth to put a ‘fag’ in. The nurses are very good to me, and the doctor, a Leamington man (Dr. Gibbons Ward, Medical Officer of Health for Leamington) is one of the best. I am on a barge on a canal on the way to the coast. Chattaway, it is believed, is seriously hurt.”
Bert subsequently died of wounds on 4th January 1916 and interred at Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. Plot II.B.7. His inscription reads DEEPLY MOURNED. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and also commemorated on the Post Office Memorial Plaque now located at the Royal Mail Coventry North Sorting Office, 1 The Stampings as well as a plaque under a tree in Coventry War Memorial Park.
Additionally, he is remembered on the family grave in the London Road Cemetery which reads:
SARAH JANE
Beloved wife of D C Collingbourne
Died Nov 10th 1898 Aged 30
Also of Doris
Dearly beloved daughter of the above
Died April 7th 1917 Aged 18 years
Deeply mourned
[Left side]
Also David Charles
Died October 1939 – aged 73.
[Right Side]
Also of Gunner Herbert C Collingbourne (Bert) No 360 Warks RHA
Their only son, died of wounds received in Action, Interred at St Omer, France Jan 4, 1916 aged 23 years
Also Reggie who died in infancy.
It is also sad to note that Doris died young only 15 months after Bert and aged just 18. David’s Mother Mary Ann also died in 1924 aged 82. David had lost his wife, youngest son, father, eldest son, daughter and mother within 22 years and all apart from his parents, no older than 30! Tragic indeed.
By 1939 David, shown was on the census as a retired lathe hand and living at 68 Rochester Road, Earlsdon, Coventry and died in October 1939 aged 73 and was buried with Sarah, Doris and Reggie.
Irene lived a longer life than her siblings, married having a daughter Marcia and died aged 73 in 1970.
A story, perhaps typical of how World War I touched every family and cut yet deeper into existing tragedies.
Herbert Charles Collingbourne's old and replaced plaque. Coventry War Memorial Park April 2021.
St Peters, Charles Street, Coventry. May 2021
6 Colchester Street, Coventry. May 2021
Eagle Street, Coventry May 2021. 123 now demolished
41 King Edward Road, Coventry. May 2021
52 St Nicholas Street, Coventry
Collingbourne family grave, London Road Cemetery, Coventry. May 2021
SARAH JANE
Beloved wife of D C Collingbourne
Died Nov 10th 1898 Aged 30
Also of Doris
Dearly beloved daughter of the above
Died April 7th 1917 Aged 18 years
Deeply mourned
[Left side]
Also David Charles
Died October 1939 – aged 73.
[Right Side]
Also of Gunner Herbert C Collingbourne (Bert) No 360 Warks RHA
Their only son, died of wounds received in Action, Interred at St Omer, France Jan 4, 1916 aged 23 years
Also Reggie who died in infancy.
Beloved wife of D C Collingbourne
Died Nov 10th 1898 Aged 30
Also of Doris
Dearly beloved daughter of the above
Died April 7th 1917 Aged 18 years
Deeply mourned
[Left side]
Also David Charles
Died October 1939 – aged 73.
[Right Side]
Also of Gunner Herbert C Collingbourne (Bert) No 360 Warks RHA
Their only son, died of wounds received in Action, Interred at St Omer, France Jan 4, 1916 aged 23 years
Also Reggie who died in infancy.
Return to: Reginald Thomas BEAUFOY
Go to: Jack ENGLAND
Go to: Harvey Michael GILLINGHAM
Go to: Hugh O HOPKINS
Go to: Frederick Bruce KEENE
Go to Sydney James RILEY
Go to James Burdett THOMPSON
Go to Matthew Lawrence WINDRIDGE
Go to: Jack ENGLAND
Go to: Harvey Michael GILLINGHAM
Go to: Hugh O HOPKINS
Go to: Frederick Bruce KEENE
Go to Sydney James RILEY
Go to James Burdett THOMPSON
Go to Matthew Lawrence WINDRIDGE
This page last updated 17 Jun 21