Army Veterinary Corps
There is some mystery surrounding the story of William Uriah Newcombe. Evidence suggests that he was discharged from the Army, as no longer fit for military service and thereafter he received a pension.
He died on 26 October 1918, therefore before the Armistice and well before the 31 August 1921 deadline for recognition as having died as result of war service. However he does not appear in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Register of casualties or in Soldiers Died in the Great War. He is named on a memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Portland Street but his grave at Charlton Kings Cemetery is unmarked although it is believed that he appears in the burial register.
When J Devereux and G Sacker researched their book Leaving all that was Dear – Cheltenham in the Great War, they could find no information on him in any local sources or newspaper reports.
Since the publication of the above book a number of military records have been released by the National Archives. These do provide some information on Newcombe and in particular his military service.
There is a Medal Index Card for him but this only confirms his Army number and also the fact that he served in the Army Veterinary Corps. Of much greater interest is the paperwork contained in his Army Pension Record. Interpreting this is not totally straightforward.
Evidence suggests that Newcombe originally enlisted on 13 February 1915 and this may have been into the Army Cyclists Corps.
He later transferred into the 3/1st South Midland (Gloucestershire) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and he was discharged from them on 1 July 1916, as being medically unfit.
The bulk of his papers relate to his re-enlistment, into the Army Veterinary Corps, on 17 October 1917. In answer to a question on his Declaration, with regard to previous military service, he states that this was for one year and 140 days in the Army Cyclists Corps and Royal Field Artillery.
His stated preference was for a posting to Mounted Transport, Royal Engineers or the Army Service Corps. It seems possible that his earlier medical discharge was subject to periodic check, with the provision for a recall to service, should his fitness have improved. This notion is enhanced by a note that he was deemed to have attested for service on 24 June 1916 but was not called up until October 1917.
He was discharged as ‘no longer fit for military service’ on 3 January 1918 which was just 79 days after re-enlistment — time spent at Winchester, it appears. The papers indicate that he had some form of cardio-vascular problem, which had originated about two years previously and it was deemed that the condition had been aggravated by war service.
He was issued with a Silver War Badge and was granted some form of pension: it was noted that his health would be further reviewed in January 1919.
He died on 26 October 1918, aged 29. According to a recently released Pension Record Card the cause of death was heart disease, influenza and pneumonia, aggravated by active service.
He left behind his wife Louisa, whom he had married on 8 April 1912. She was formerly Louisa Stokes, having been widowed and her maiden name was Acton. She had one son from her first marriage and as Mrs Newcombe had given birth to two daughters and a son.
The presence of the children had qualified Newcombe for an additional pension.
Newcombe was born in 1889 and his civilian occupation was a gas worker and he lived at 14 Burton Street, Cheltenham.
Researched by Graham Adams 28 July 2011 (revised 5 August 2021)