SAMUEL COOMBES 

Confirmation has been received of the death of Lance-Corporal Coombes, of the Cheshire Regiment, which was reported last week. Mrs. Coombes, who lives at 1, Waterloo-road, Castle, Northwich, received a letter from Second Lieutenant Hutber who is in a London hospital, on Saturday, in which he said:

"It is with the very greatest regret that I have to write to you concerning the death of your husband, No. 13567 Lance-Corporal Coombes, of which you have no doubt been notified officially. On the 14th July we were isolated in an advanced portion of a captured German trench, and whilst in charge of a party performing the very necessary but highly dangerous duty of bringing up water, your husband was shot in the head by a sniper, death being instantaneous. His personal effects were collected, but as I myself was hit shortly afterwards, I was unable to do more than give orders for them to be forwarded on to you, but no doubt you will receive them in due course.

"I can only add that whilst he was in my platoon I found Lance-Corporal Coombes a most able, keen, and willing soldier, ready and cheerful at all times; in fact, a most indispensable non-commissioned officer, whose death is a distinct loss to the platoon. I beg to offer you my sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement."

Lance-Corporal Coombes was a shiftman in the employ of Messrs. Brunner, Mond and Co., and was 23 years of age. He enlisted in September, 1914, and leaves a widow and three young children.

Northwich Guardian. Friday, 4 August 1916.