Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Albert John COBURN

Personal

Born: 9 October, 1899

Birthplace: Melton

Parents: Frederick Strain Coburn
Florence Annie May Marriner

Died: 2 September, 1974

Place of death: Kew, Victoria

Burial place: Springvale Botanical Crematorium, Plaque in Banksia, Wall Niche Single, Wall H Niche 687

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

2nd General (Victorian) Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 51334

Enlistment date: 13 February, 1918 Footscray

Age at enlistment: 18 years and 4 months

Address at enlistment: Post Office, Melton, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: F S Coburn, Post Office, Melton, Victoria

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Weight: 126 pounds
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Fair
Distinctive marks: Vaccination on Left arm.

Embarkation ship: HMAT A14Euripides.

Rank: Private

Return Date: 2 August, 1919

Return Vessel: Argylshire.

Arrival at Australia: 22 September, 1919.

Discharge Date: 10 November, 1919

War Service Summary

01/05/1918    Unit embarked from Sydney, NSW
30/05/1918    Admitted to ships hospital at sea; discharged  14/06/1918    Transhipped to H.M.S. Teutonic, New York
12/07/1918    Disembarked Liverpool
24/09/1918    To Havre
29/09/1918    Marched in to unit
06/01/1919    To hospital in the field, France; sick
10/05/1919    Classified as dangerously ill after being hospitalised several times with pleurisy.
26/05/1919    Transferred to England, still suffering from pleurisy
01/07/1919    Granted furlough
14/07/1919    Reported to duty from furlough
02/08/1919    Departed Liverpool for Australia
22/09/1919    Arrived in Australia

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children: Married Jessie Agnes Webster on 23rd Dec 1922.
Child, Jean Ellen Coburn died in infancy.
Seven other children including Francis Henry Coburn, born in Melton in 1925; joined the Australian Imperial Force, Service No VX141268 in 1943 (aged 18) and was killed in action on the 10 July, 1945 in Borneo.

Place/s of residence:
Melton
Hastings Road, Frankston

Occupations:
Labourer

Albert joined up to fight in WWII on 01/09/1941 but was honourably discharged on 15/12/1941 as medically unfit because of a duodenal ulcer.

Date of death:
02/09/1974 - In Kew Reg. # 21607

Place of burial:
Springvale Botanical Crematorium, Plaque in Banksia, Wall Niche Single, Wall H Niche 687

Other relevant information:

World War 2 Service Number: VX 12921.
1940 - In Palestine and the Middle East
28/04/1941 Returned from overseas to Home Service

Brother: Pte Frederick Henry COBURN, 3273, 5th Division Salvage Company also served in World War 1.

Additional Information

Melton Express
Saturday 20 April 1918 p 2
 
Despite the threatening weather on Saturday evening last, the Melton Mechanics' hall was well filled with local and district residents, who assembled to tender a "Welcome home" to Privates Cameron, Morris, and McDonald, and at the same time to bid bon voyage and au revoir to Privates G. Burland, E. Mulrooney, and Albert Coburn. Rev. F. Stanley Love was M.C., and read apologies for unavoidable absence from Privates Percy and Joe Exell, W. Moore and E. Minns (returned men); also from Rev. Father Gleeson, Rev. Davis and Rev Williams. Vocal and instrumental harmony was contributed by Misses Riddell, Crone, Scotson, Mrs. Finch, Rev. Love, Messrs. Hansforth, Steinfort and Small.  After the National Anthem, the chairman, in a spirited address, extended a welcome to the returned boys. He urged more local interest in the committee meetings and greater enthusiasm for our brave returned. Melton should not be behind other centres in doing honor to the men who had risked their lives in the great cause of freedom and humanity. - Mr. Bulman (Methodist Church) endorsed the chairman's sentiments and paid a tribute to the patriotism and bravery of the Australian boys. He hoped those who were about to sail would be spared to return. … 


Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Nominal Roll
Newspaper accounts