Source: 153rd Wellington web site.
Family Share: Private William Coombes was born on 17 March 1896, in London, England, United Kingdom. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Erin, Wellington, Ontario, Canada in 1916. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 20, his occupation is listed as labourer in Erin, Wellington, Ontario, Canada. He died on 25 June 1926, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the age of 30.
Trade listed as Laborer. DOB 17-3-96 (19 years 11 months) born England. 5 foot 7 1/2 inches. Blue eyes, brown hair. Methodist. NOK Mary Ann Coombes, grandmother. Born England. Enlisted Erin 25-2-16. On 153rd Battalion Nominal Roll as published Guelph Mercury 1-12-16. On proceeding overseas, rest of sentence remitted. Embarked with 153rd Halifax N.S. SS Olympic 29-4-17. (Ed note. AWOL 15-1-17 to 16-2-17. Re-attested 153rd 5-3-17. William Coombes was struck off the working copy of the 153rd Battalion Sailing List signed by Lt Col. Pritchard 24-4-17, however sometime after the 24th April Coombes was reinstated, Pte Coombes did sail with the 153rd Battalion 29-4-17. Arrived Liverpool 7-5-17. Assigned 25th Reserve for Training and Administration. Court Martial 6-10-17, found guilty of stealing money the property of a comrade. Sentenced to 9 months detention, forfeits all 287 days of pay. On proceeding overseas rest of sentence remitted. Taken on Strength 18th Battalion in the field 8-4-18. Returned to Canada for Discharge aboard SS Caronia, Halifax N.S. 22-5-19. Demobilized 24-5-19, London. Notation on Digital file: deceased 25-6-26, Deer Lodge Hospital, Winnipeg Manitoba. Buried Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg. Headstone photo courtesy Brookside Cemetery.
File: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1963A – 8, courtesy Library & Archives Canada.
Source: 153rd Wellington
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 