Private Ernest Corbey
Service Number:- 307616
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1st 8th Battalion
Cemetery/Memorial Name Thiepval
Grave/memorial Reference Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B
Private Ernest Corbey was born in the second quarter of 1883, and was baptised 4th May 1883 at Withybrook Church. He was the eldest child of Lucy and Thomas Corby, their surname is sometimes spelt with or without the “e”. Ernest was followed by Thomas H., Amy E., John Frederick, Lewis Arthur, Horace, and Edith M. Their father was an agricultural labourer. On the census of 1891 are family are living at The Green, Little Lawford, Rugby and Ernest’s birth place is given as Combe Fields Warwickshire. By 1901 the family are at Main Street, Long Lawford, Rugby and Ernest is working as a labourer at the Railway Station, he is 17 years old. Thomas Corbey, the father dies June 1906 and was buried at Newbold-upon-Avon 11th June 1906, leaving Ernest’s mother a widow with 4 grown up children and three younger children. By 1911 Ernest’s younger brother Thomas is working as a Loco Fireman and according to that year’s census Ernest is a general labourer. They both had joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Ernest joining in 1905 at the age of 22 and is given as a cleaner. The family eventually move into Rugby and reside at 6 Sun Street. Ernest was in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was in France at the Battle of the Somme, where he was killed in action on 27th August 1916, aged 33 years and has no known grave. His mother received £2 6s 3d from his effects authorised 20th October 1917 and later received £3 0s 0d War Gratuity sent to her 28th June 1919. He was awarded the British and Victory Medals posthumously. The only memorial to him is his name on the Thievpal Memorial, at Thiepval, France and on Rugby‘s Memorial Gates.
RUGBY REMEMBERS HIM
Rugby Remembers 