Private Harold D. Comer

In Ever Loving Memory/ of/ WILLIAM EDWARD COMER,/ WHO FELL ON SLEEP SEP. 3RD 1913,/ AGED 64 YEARS/ GOD'S ANGER TOUCHED HIM./ ALSO OF MMATY JANE HIS LOVING WIFE/ WHO FELL ASLEEP APRIL 20TH 1932,/ AGED 81 YEARS./ A GLORIOUS AND BLESSED REUNION FOR EVER/ AND FOR EVER./ LOVE NEVER DIES./ ALSO HAROLD DOUGLAS/ SON OF THE ABOVE/ AGED 26 YEARS./ WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY/ AUGUST 13TH 1915.

#RyburghRemembers #WW1 #RoyalEdward Harold Douglas Palmer Comer. Pte. 20599 1st Btn. Essex Regt. was formerly 17338, Norfolk Regt. Harold Comer was the son of William Edward and Mary Jane Comer. Harold's birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1888 and we find Harold (born Great Ryburgh) aged 12 on the 1901 census and at the time of the 1911 census Harold aged 22 is staying with his brother in Norwich. According to our research so far, it appears that Harold married school teacher Eva Blanche Pope Dunman in the registration district of Christchurch Hampshire in the second quarter of 1915. Eva Blanche Pope Dunman was christened 22/9/1893 Piddletown (also known as Puddletown) Dorset. Eva was the daughter of Theophilus Bartlett and Ellen Dunman. According to the 1891 census Theophilus B Dunman, born Puddletown aged 32 and a Maltster lived at the Masons Arms with his wife Ellen, born Pinford who was aged 20 at the time. Harold and Eva's marriage lasted only a few months as on the 28th July, Harold embarked Avonmouth aboard the Royal Edward heading for Gallipoli. Harold had originally enlisted in Norwich for the Norfolk Regiment. In the summer of 1915, 300 men from the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, the Regiments regular Army training battalion, had volunteered to go to Gallipoli. 100 men went in the first draft on 23rd June and 200 in the second draft on 24th July. It would appear that Harold was part of the first draft as those on the first draft are recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves records as 1st Essex, whilst those on the second draft are recorded as 3rd Norfolks. On 19 August 1915, the Royal Edward was sunk when it was torpedoed by German submarine UB-14. The Royal Edward was hit by one torpedo in the stern and sunk in 6 minutes. Around 1,000 lost their lives and Harold is one of the many commemorated on the Helles Memorial panel 144-150 or 229-233. Harold is also remembered on the Think and Thank screen and Roll of Honour in St Andrew's, the War Memorial and the Memorial Hall Great Ryburgh. He is also remembered on his parents gravestone in the churchyard at St Andrew's. Recent research traced Harold's British War Medal and plaque to a sale at Lawrences (Crewkerne Somerset) auction house in October 2009. Lawrences have kindly given permission to reproduce the following extract from their catalogue. 'A BWM & PLAQUE TO THE ESSEX REGT. British War Medal named to 20599 Pte H Comer Essex R. The Plaque named to Harold Comer.CWGC states that Harold Comer of the 1st Battn Essex Regiment is commemorated on the Helles Memorial 13/8/1915. An original box of issue card top K/1474 British War 20599 Pte H Comer. Essex R, also a 1914 Xmas Tin with Princess Mary's card and a typed leaflet. The property of Pte H Comer on obverse, Please acknowledge receipt of to-The Adjudant, 3rd Battn Norfolk Regt, Felixstowe, Suffolk. Estimate: 80-100' We understand from the auctioneer that the lot was purchased by a dealer and are likely sold on by now. As for Eva, it seems Eva collected his BWM in 1924 after marrying again as Eva Blanche Smith , Hill Crest, Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset. Perhaps this is how Harold's medals eventually came to be up for auction in 2009? Ryburgh Remembers would love to hear from relatives of Harold or from anyone who has any further information or a photograph of him. Google Ryburgh Remembers for contact details.