COOMBS, James Roy

Roy Coombs was born at Trevor, North Wales, and was the elder son of Mr and Mrs James A Coombs of ‘Belmont’, Amblecote. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and was employed as a draftsman at Messrs. John Thompson and Co. at their Dudley Works. In 1914 he volunteered for the Worcestershire Territorial Artillery. He was Signaller, then Bombardier and eventually commissioned to the Royal Field Artillery in August 1917. He was posted to the 93rd Army Brigade and to further units. In March 1918 he was stationed in Artois facing the Hindenburg Line and awaiting attack. The first German Spring offensive was launched on the 21st March and its devastating advance forced all the British units into retreat. Second Lieutenant James Coombs was killed in action on the 24th March. He was 22 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras, Amblecote, Amblcote church and Manchester Grammar School Memorials.