45191 Rifleman James Lyall Coombes, 17/1/1888-4/5/1918. "a shell landing in the trench"

By the time James Coombes was called up in 1917 his family had already lost a son - George, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme in September 1916.

KILLED IN ACTION. 

Private George Lyall Coombes, fourth son of John Walter Coombes, of Northeast Valley, who was reported wounded on September 15, is now officially reported killed in action on that date. He left New Zealand with the 12th Reinforcements. He was educated at the North-east Valley Public School, and prior to his enlisting he was engaged in sheep farming. He was 25 years of age, and much esteemed by all who knew him.   -Evening Star, 23/1/1917.

James was promoted to Lance-corporal after three months' training and reverted to Rifleman on leaving for France.  He spent nine days in hospital in April of 1918 (perhaps he had a dose of the Spanish flu) and rejoined the Rifles on the 18th.

The Official History of the NZ Rifle Brigade has no information on the events of the day of James' death but Papers Past had the following.

RIFLEMAN JAMES L. COOMBES. 

Mr J. W. Coombes, of the North-east Valley, has received from Lieutenant J. A. Boy particulars of the death in action of his son, Rifleman James Lyall Coombes. Lieutenant Roy, in expressing the sympathy of the platoon and himself, stated that Rifleman Coombes was missed very much. He was exceedingly popular and greatly respected by all who knew him. His comrades thought the world of him, and his death cast a gloom over them. As a soldier he was reliable and trustworthy, and was the next in the list for promotion. He was killed instantly through a shell landing in the trench in which be was posted, and he was buried neat day in a cemetery near by. He did his duly nobly and lived an upright, clean life amongst his fellows, and was an example to his comrades of a true gentleman.  -Evening Star, 16/7/1918.

Personal note and observation:  I sincerely apologise in advance if I'm wrong in this - but the letter above looks to me like the kind of one written by an officer who didn't know its subject.  The kind written by an officer given the unpleasant job of easing the sorrow of a dead soldier's family by assuring them that their son lived without blame and died without pain.  

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.