Charles Barry Whitcombe

Charles had at least two siblings, Elizabeth and John Frederick (Frederick) who according to information on the 1901 census were born in about 1883, Marylebone Middlesex, and about 1891, Dublin, respectively. Although the 1901 census gives the surname of Charles' siblings as Whitcombe, research suggests that they were the children of Caroline Suliivan nee Dillon (b. Dover Kent) who married secondly Charles Whitcombe whose surname her children took. There are no records of the registration of the children's births under the surname Whitcombe, but there are records for Sullivan: Elizabeth Sullivan 1882 J/F/M Marylebone and Charles Barry Sullivan 1884 A/M/J Woolwich (Dillon) and a Regimental Birth record (ASC Commissariat & Transport Corps) for John Frederick Sullivan 1890 Dublin Ireland (Dillon). Charles Whitcombe was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1853 (J/F/M Monmouth). He attested in the army on 10 June 1872 at 11am at Bristol when he was 19 years and 5 months and gave his occupation as bricklayer. He had previously served in the Royal Monmouth Militia. Charles served in the Royal Artillery and re-engaged in Rawlpindi, India, on 17 June 1881 to complete 21 years service. He was promoted sergeant on 20 October 1879 and quarter master sergeant on 1 March 1884. Charles was discharged on three months notice on 30 November 1896 having served: Home: 11 June 1872-12 January 1874, India 13 January 1874-6 April 1886, Home 7 April 1886-21 February 1887, India 22 February 1887-16 January 1893 (Agra 23 March 1887, Peshawar 10 July 1891), Home 17 January 1893-30 November 1896 (Campbelltown November 1892, HMS Crocodile December 1892, Woolwich January 1893). He married Margaret (surname illegible) in Rawlpindi on 19 January 1881 but she died on 28 September 1892 leaving a son Charles Henry who was born in Rawlpindi in 1881. Charles Whitcombe senior married Caroline Sullivan in 1893 (A/M/J Woolwich); he was discharged from the army in 1896. According to the 1911 Census, Charles and Caroline had then been married for 18 years and had had four children none of whom survived. Note: There is a record of the births of two children, Osbert Cecil and William Henry Whitcombe born 1896 and 1898 respectively, births registered in Bradford, Yorkshire, (mother's previous surname Sullivan) who died in early childhood (1897 and 1898). Charles senior has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but in 1901 he and Caroline (42) were living at 31 Marple Street, Nottingham, with Elizabeth (18) of no occupation, and Frederick (10). Charles' occupation was given on the census as 'pensioner recruiter'. Charles (58) and Caroline (51) were still living at the same address in 1911 but only Frederick (20), an unemployed bank clerk, was in the home on the night of the census. Charles' occupation was given as 'army pensioner/door keeper'. Charles and Caroline later lived at 83 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. Charles probably died in 1926 (O/N/D Nottingham) and his widow on 17 January 1929 (J/F/M Nottingham). Charles' sister Elizabeth may have married Dixon Samuel Coulby in 1903 (J/A/S Nottingham, Elizabeth Sullivan). Dixon Coulby was a widower whose wife Gertrude Annie nee Cuthbert (m. 20 February 1896) had died aged 23 in 1901; they had two children, Susie Gertrude b. 1896 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Dixon Frank b. 1897 (O/N/D Nottingham) bap. St Stephen Hyson Green 11 October 1899. Elizabeth and Dixon had five children: Katherine Maria b. 1905 (J/F/M Nottingham), Percival Dixon b. 16 May 1906, Oswald Dixon b. 19 December 1909, Alma Marion b. 1911 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Sydney Dixon b. 1912 (A/M/J Nottingham-Sullivan) d. 1912 (A/M/J Nottingham). Dixon Samuel died in 1913 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 43. From information given in an 'In Memoriam' notice on the anniversary of Charles' death in 1918, it appears that Elizabeth served in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (2229 Acting Asst F/woman) from 13 September 1917-5 February 1919 and qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Charles Barry has not yet been traced on either the 1901 or 1911 Census. He emigrated to Australia and was 31 years old when he arrived so may have left England after war was declared. He lived in Melbourne and became a ships' fireman.