Charles Joseph Cobb
Charles Joseph Cobb was born 1 April 1896 in Derbyshire, England. His parents, Henry and Annie (Eeles) Cobb had 4 sons before Henry died in 1903 at 42 years old. After that, it seems that the Cobb family was forced to make difficult choices to survive. Older brother Ernest was the first to be given to Dr Barnardo’s Homes, and was sent to Canada in 1904 as one of the British Home Children, settling in Kingston ON. Charles followed in 1906, also sailing with Dr Barnardo’s Homes, settling in Manilla ON and working on the farm of Richard Barry. The other brothers, Henry and Thomas, appear to have remained in England, with Annie remarrying Richard Weaver before they both passed away in 1912.
After working for Richard Barry for 8 years, Charles enlisted on 12 November 1915 with the 109th Battalion in Lindsay. His record shows that he also served for 2.5 years with the 14th Prince Of Wales Own Regiment. Upon arriving in England, he was transferred to the 38th Battalion, where he would serve with several other local Lindsay men.
After being promoted to acting Sgt of the Bugle Band with the 109th in Witley, Charles reverted back to the rank of Private so that he could immediately join a new battalion instead of waiting for one who needed a Sgt. He was immediately transferred to the 38th and sent to France. Like the Barjarow brothers, Charles was part of the first wave at Vimy Ridge and was killed on the first day of the battle, just 8 days after his 21st birthday. The 38th Battalion war diary has long, detailed summary of the first days of the Vimy battle, but sets the stage in brief:
“Batt in trenches as previously stated, until 835 when the charge was made. The attack was made in four waves with a total strength in the waves of 12 officers and 550 OR. There were, in addition the commanding officer and six other officers at Battalion Headquarters, the RSM, 3 orderly room clerks, 14 signallers, 16 runners, 5 medical staff in Blue Bull Tunnel. During the day, three officers and 60 OR, specialists, were ordered up from Chateau de la Haie, these taking part in subsequent operations.”
Charles noted his brother Ernest as his next-of-kin, but also mentioned in his will is Cassie Dark, whom he left the sum of £10. Cassie’s brother was Pte Percy Dark, and their mother, Mrs A.E. Dark, was noted in the Lindsay Evening Post as having received word that Charles had been killed in action.
Charles Cobb’s name is on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which honours all Canadians who served during the First World War and bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave. He was 21 years old.
