2/Lt John Hugh CORBET 11 sqdn RFC d. 13/01/1918

[christine liava'a]

Remembering Today:

2/Lt John Hugh CORBET, 11 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps who died aged 22 on 13.01.18. Douai Communal Cemetery, France

Name: CORBET, JOHN HUGH

Initials: J H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps

Secondary Regiment: King's Shropshire Light Infantry

Secondary Unit Text: and

Age: 22

Date of Death: 13/01/1918

Additional information: Son of Reginald and Cleofe Corbet.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 20.

Cemetery: DOUAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Cemetery: DOUAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Nord

Location Information: Douai is a large town about 24 kilometres north-east of Arras and the communal cemetery is on the south-east of the town. From the town centre follow the signs for Derain and Auberchicourt. Traverse the bridge over the main railway line and the civil cemetery is located 45 metres further on to the left. The communal cemetery is located at the very rear of the civil cemetery when viewing from the entrance.

Historical Information: Douai was occupied by French troops and the Royal Naval Air Service on the 22nd September, 1914, and captured by the Germans on the 1st October; it remained in enemy hands until the 17th October, 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town from the 28th October, 1918, to the 25th November, 1919. Douai Communal Cemetery was used during the occupation years of 1914-18 by the Germans for prisoners of war and British, French, Russian, Rumanian and Italian soldiers, as well as German soldiers were buried in it.

[christine liava'a]

John Hugh Corbet is mentioned in the Corbet/ Corbett FamilyStudy Group website

Corbet Study Group

Miscellaneous Deaths list, but with less information than here

[christine liava'a]

A Corbet family come from Moreton Corbet, Shropshire

Moreton Corbet, Shropshire

Moreton Corbet is just north of Shawbury, it boasts a ruined castle and hall, once the home of the Corbet family.

The castle is still owned by the Corbet family but is run by English Heritage

Moreton Corbet Castle

[Dolphin]

Christine

2Lt Corbet was the observer on board Bristol Fighter A7174, piloted by 2Lt H V Biddington. Their aircraft was last seen over Douai in the late morning, smoking and flying east, ie into enemy territory. 2Lt Biddington was taken Prisoner of War, while 2Lt Corbet was killed in action.

The victory over Biddington and Corbet was credited to Leutnant Fritz Rumey of Jasta 5, the 6th of his eventual total of 45. Ltn Rumey was himself killed in action on 27 September 1918 during combat with No 32 Sqn RAF. After a collision between his Fokker D.VII and the SE5a of the South African Capt G E B Lawson, Ltn Rumey attempted to jump from his aircraft and use his parachute, but it failed to open. Capt Lawson survived the encounter, and the War, only to be killed when the SAAF DH9 in which he was a passenger crashed in November 1922.

Dolphin

[Guest Pete Wood]

Just to add to Dolphin's info:

George Edgar Bruce Lawson was credited with 6 victories and was awarded the DFC.

[Guest Pete Wood]

A few quick phone calls and we now have some more information on John Corbet and his family:

John was the son of Reginald Corbet who was the local squire, Justice of the Peace, and Master of the Hunt. The family lived at Adderley Hall in Shropshire.

On the death of Reginald, in the 1950s, the hall was inherited by Sir John Corbet (so John Hugh was obviously the last male heir). On Sir John's death in the 1960s, the land was sold off and is now Adderley Hall Farm - owned by Rob Cope.

Mr Cope tells me that the local church, St Peter's, has many plaques to the Corbet family and if anyone wishes to view the church (often locked), then you may contact him, or the church warden, to go inside.

Sir John is related to the Corbet family (Christopher and his wife Leila), who own Moreton-Corbet castle, looked after today by English Heritage.

I'd like to thank Mrs Corbet, English Heritage, and Rob Cope for providing the above information. I know, from my conversations with them this morning, that they appreciate the fact that John Hugh Corbet is being remembered on this day.

Pete Wood

[Guest Pete Wood]

A pic of Adderley hall in 1898, from the Frith Collection

[Guest Pete Wood]

John Hugh's father, Reginald - a portrait featured on the front cover of Vanity Fair in 1906 titled "To The Manor Born."

[christine liava'a]

John Hugh's mother- Cleofe Corbet -has an interesting first name. Can anyone find out anything about her or the name itself?

[Guest Pete Wood]

It's an old Spanish name. But I believe it originally comes from the Greek/Roman name of Cleo.

There are male and female versions (like Robert and Roberta)

Cleofe (F)

Cleofas (F)

Cleon (M)

Cleonico (M)