The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. E Combes

Eric Combes was born on 25th April 1918 in Chichester, the son of Edward Combes (1875-1941) and Caroline Agnes Combes (nee Purchase 1876-1967).

His father was a Master Mariner and served in the Merchant Marine in WW1 and in later life was Superintendent of the Redcar lifeboat in Yorkshire.

Combes joined 608 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force as an Aircrafthand in July 1938.

Called up on 24th August 1939, he remustered as an Air Gunner and after completing his training he was posted to 219 Squadron, operating Blenheims at Catterick, on 1st August 1940.

Standing: Sgt. RV Cook, Sgt. GT Williams, Sgt. C Beveridge, P/O RV Baron, P/O RC Hall, Sgt. S Austin, Sgt. DC Bunch, Sgt. E Combes

Seated: Sgt. HF Grubb, Sgt. EG Grubb, P/O WGM Lambie, F/O JC Carriere, F/O HG Goddard, F/Lt. JH Little, F/O JG Topham, P/O GM Head, P/O J Sinclair, Sgt. OA Dupee, Sgt. HK Crook.

Centre on ground unknown.

By late 1941 he was serving as a Flight Sergeant with 38 Squadron in North Africa.

He was killed on 20th November 1941 when Wellington IC T2991 'D' crashed and blew up as it made a forced landing at El Imayid following a raid on the airfields at Derna and Bardia.

Also lost were:

Sgt. P Fenn
Sgt. JV Hamilton
Sgt. GH Hellyer
Sgt. FH Lewis RAAF
Sgt. NJ Sharpe

Combes is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

Note: Combes appeared in the 219 Squadron Operational Record Book as Coombes and his name was spelt as such on the monument. However it has been subsequently discovered that Combes is the correct spelling.

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His elder brother, Sub-Lieutenant Frederick Combes RNR (born 1912) was serving in the destroyer HMS Anthony when it rescued 3000 soldiers in the Dunkirk operation.

The ship's captain recorded:

'This officer has carried out most duties of a 2nd Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant in a destroyer during his period in 'Anthony'. I would like to place on record his exceptional reliability and steadfastness in all respects, in particular as Navigating Officer. This duty he took over in the ship on 5th May owing to relief of the previous Navigating Officer by an Acting Sub-Lieutenant. Operating in such narrow waters, combined with the fact that he is a first class seaman, gave his Commanding Officer complete confidence and relieved him of all navigational anxieties.'

He was killed at sea on 10th August 1940, the record just shows 'Drowned' and is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.