William Comery
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born abt. 1884, the son of George and Emma Comery. He had four brothers; John George, Henry Harrison, Albert Henry and George, and five sisters; Elizabeth Emma, Emma Elizabeth, Bertha Ellen, Edith and Eleanor. William married Edith (née Handley) in Nottingham register office on 12 April 1913, and was the father of William Leslie (b. 4 May 1913) and Albert Henry Comery (b. 11 July 1914). The notice of his death in the local paper gives his address as 16 Hollis Street, but fragments of documents in his army record indicate that his wife moved to 2 Babbington Place, Basford, as this is the address to which his personal effects were to be returned. Edith remarried in March 1917 to Samuel Dickinson. The declaration of relatives form completed in March 1919 gave Edith's address as 14 Palm Street but when in July 1920 the army sent William's memorial plaque to this address it was returned marked 'gone away'. Also named as relatives on the declaration were: George and Emma Elizabeth Comery (parents) and siblings George Comery (15), Bertha Ellen Harrod nee Comery (20), Emma Elizabeth Comery (22), Edith Comery (18), Eleanor Comery (10), all of whom were living at 68 Maud Street. One brother, John George Comery (39), was living at 9 Chard Terrace, and another, Henry Harrison Comery (28), was at 8 Minerva Street, Shirebrook, while their sister, Elizabeth Emma Deacon nee Comery (36), was living in America. William's brother, Albert, was also a regular soldier, joining the Sherwood Foresters in 1907, and was serving with the 1st Bn when he was killed on 11 March 1915; he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.
Attested 2 February 1905 on a short service engagement, joining at Winchester on 4 February 1905 and posted 27 September 1905. Thereafter his service included several overseas drafts: Home Service 2 February 1905-26 September 1905, Egypt 27 September 1905-12 February 1909 Home 13 February 1909-29 September 1909, Malta 30 September 1909-11 November 1910 India 12 November 1910-5 March 1912, Home 6 March 1912. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 9 March 1912 at the age of 27 years and 4 months. His intended place of residence was initially his family home at 68 Maud Street, New Basford, but this was deleted on the form and replaced with the marital home at 22 Babbington Street, Sherwood Street, Nottingham. He was discharged to the Army Reserve at Gosport on disembarking from India. He was mobilized on the outbreak of war and was killed in the October. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial (Panel Reference: 51 & 53). His total service was 9 years 267 days. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He incurred several minor injuries whilst in service: Report on wounds or injuries except on wounds received in action. 1911: While serving in India he was admitted to hospital on the 27 (obliterated) suffering from inflammation (-). 'Disability of a slight nature and in all probability will not interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier.' OC’s certificate certifying that the injury occurred in the performance of military duty: 'At Chandegash on or about 25th October 1911 when acting as escort to guns on a field day of marching through bush he received a number of thorns in his right arm. These (-) inflammation. He was on duty (-) of hospital stoppage approved.' Another form 21 March 1906 (Egypt) documents a sprained left ankle (possibly suffered in the gym), the injury is described as ‘disability trivial’. His disciplinary record suggests a rebellious personality. Regimental conduct sheet 1907: Improperly dressed and then parading for (-) ‘behaviour inconsistent (-) when given an order by a NCO. 10 days CB. September 1908: Having in his possession a helmet the property of a comrade. 10 days CB (confined to barracks). November 1908: Making an improper remark to a NCO. 10 days CB. June 1909: Absent from tattoo until apprehended by the Civil Police on 11 June 1909 at Nottingham. ‘Being deficient of articles of personal clothing and necessaries. 10 days detention. 26 July 1909: Absent from Tattoo until 10am 17 July 1909. 14 days CB. September 1910: Disobedience of orders for patients in military hospitals. Using threatening language to a hospital orderly. Breaking out of barracks whilst a soldier in open arrest. Drunk returning to barracks about 6pm. Using threatening and obscene language to NCO. Resisting the escort. Awarded 14 days detention by commanding officer, returned to duty 11 October 1910. June 1911: Improper conduct. (-) about 2.20pm. 10 days CB. February 1912: Absent from Tattoo until 10.5pm. (-) returning to camp about (-). Improperly dressed returning to camp. Fined 2.6d.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 16 November 1914: 'Comery. Killed in action October 25th, William Comery of KRR, age 30, son of George and Emma Comery, 68 Maud Street, New Basford, Nottingham.' Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 17 November 1914: 'Private William Comery, King's Royal Rifles, 16 Hollis Street, New Basford.' Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 7 April 1915: Photograph of AH Comery, 68 Maud Street, New Basford, killed in action March 13th [1915] … His brother, William, King’s Royal Rife Corps, was killed at Ypres on October 26th [1914] His widow received a pension of 18/6d a week for herself and two children with effect from 17 May 1915.
