William John Cobb
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
In 1884 Sarah Lee of Walkeringham, married Frederick J Swindin in Sheffield. Sarah had previously had a child, Ellen Mary Lee, whom she bought into the marriage. They settled in Village Street, Clarborough near Retford where Frederick worked as a market gardener. In the 1901 census, it shows that not only five little Swindins were born to the couple, but Ellen Mary Lee also had a child born in 1895 which she had named William John Lee. It was seven years later in 1902 in Retford, that Ellen Mary married. Her husband was George Arthur Cobb, a Retford born man who was employed as a police constable. By 1911, they were living in Sheffield at 56 Dykes Hall Road and two children were registered to them, son, William John Lee and an eight year old daughter, Phyllis Frances Cobb. It is un-known at this time if George Cobb adopted William, but he uses the name Cobb in all post 1911 records. In his Army records, he is named as William John Cobb and his next of kin is recorded as “father:- George Arthur Cobb, 17 Shepperson Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield.” Also in 1917, his marriage to Edith Mary Baker on the 28th Sept 1917, at Wortley, is to William J Cobb. After the war, they had a son born in 1920, in Sheffield and named him George W Cobb. William moved back to Clarborough for the last three months of his life. His funeral was attended by members of the Swindin family, whom William had been resident with when growing up in Clarborough.
William was attested and medically examined on 31st August 1914, volunteering for short service (three years with the colours) at Sheffield, when war was declared. He was just 19 years old and joined the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery. He was drafted to France on the 10th July 1915. He would have been in England on leave in September 1917 as this is when he married in Sheffield. The locations of his overseas whereabouts are not to hand but he returned to England on 16th May 1919 after spending 3 years 11 months in France. Although his record shows him to have been discharged on 18th June 1919 he continued to be medically examined (for pension reasons?) after this date. William and his wife were resident at 109 West Bar (Fire Station) Sheffield when results of bronchitis and VHD (Valvular Disease of the Heart) were diagnosed. With a 100% degree of disablement, he and his wife was awarded £5 per week which was reduced to 20/- per week to his widow, the day after his death. Gunner William Cobb Retford Times 18 Feb 1921 Clarbourough – Death of Mr William Cobb – Death has claimed yet another brave hero in the person of the late Gunner William Cobb, the son of Mr and Mrs George Cobb of Sheffield. The deceased was born in Clarborough 25 years ago and attended the Clarborough School under Mrs Seals. Early in the war in 1914, young Cobb enlisted and entered the 71st Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery and saw a lot of service in France. He was gassed in three en-gagements, viz., Loos, Lens and Cambria. Ultimately he got back to England and was at Wharncliffe Hospital, Shef-field for none months. He received his discharge as incurable. He came to his native place, Clarborough three months ago. The deceased leaves a young widow and a young baby. The interment took place on Friday afternoon in the new portion at the Churchyard. The vicar of Clarborough(Rev E A Paxton)officiated and gave a short address prior to the committal prayers. The mourners were the widow, Mr and Mrs Geo Cobb,(parents of deceased), Mr Baker (father in law), Mr Geo Swindin (uncle), Miss Phyllis Swindin, Mr Tom Swindin (uncle), Mrs Waterman (aunt), Mr Walter Smith and Clara (uncle and aunt), Mr H Briggs and Mrs H Storks (uncle and cousin), Mr W Baker and Mr E Baker (brothers in law), Mr A Wilkinson (uncle), Mr and Mrs White and Miss Tomlinson (uncle and cousins), Mrs Wilfred Cobb (aunt) and friends from the village. H.B.McKinty (Late Lieut. 15th Battery R.F.A. and Acting Adjutant 36th Brigade R.F.A.) B.L., B.Com. A.C.H. 29th August, 1922 I beg to certify the Gunner William John Cobb, No.96,153, served overseas in my section of the 15th Battery, RFA (Royal Field Artillery) from May 1917 to April 1919. To my own personal knowledge he suffered during the whole of that period from the effects of gas poisoning, but with a high sense of honour and much gallantry, persistently re-fused to report himself as a casualty. I have frequently seen him spitting blood as a result of his being caught in a gas shelled area and remember distinctly that on questioning him about it he replied that he had “always done since he was gassed”. On one occasion, subsequent to a heavy gas bombardment by the enemy at the time of an attack on our lines in the Arras sector in June 1918, he was seized with a violent burst of bleeding apparently from the lungs. I personally conducted him to the dressing station at Blangy and handed him over to the medical officer in charge, who stated that he was suffering from gas poisoning. In less than a week's time he returned to the battery and said he had been at the C.C.J. at Aubigny and had left as he “felt alright” - again taking up duty with the guns. It is my impression that when Gunner Cobb was a casualty in fact, at a time previous to his joining my battery he was then a 'gas casualty' and treated in hospital in the U.K. as such. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Gunner Cobb's fatal illness was the direct result of his suffering from cronic (sic) gas poisoning acquired during his service in France and further, that his steadfast devotion to duty, in spite of his disability, and his continual refusal to report himself a casualty while able to carry on, contributed largely to his actually laying down his life for his country. He was certainly one of the finest and most courageous soldiers I ever knew. Courtesy of Annette Burton, granddaughter of William John Cobb
CWG additional information:- Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Cobb; husband of E. M. Cobb, of Clarborough. Born at Clarborough. Research by Colin Dannatt
