#375, Robert Henry Wanklyn COBBOLD

Educated firstly at King's College Choir School and then won a foundation scholarship to Marlborough College (C3) in 1906 and won a Junior Scholarship the following year. He left in the summer of 1912 having been Head Boy and gained a Classical Scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge. He was photographed as a member of the Eagles Society at St John's in 1914.

Robert was commissioned into The Rille Brigade in November 1914 and was serving with the 2nd Bn when he was killed in action on 9th September 1915 in Flanders. The Officer Commanding his division wrote as follows "Your son had done excellent work whilst serving this division, and was a most promising officer. You have every reason to be proud of his gallantry and devotion to duty. H HUDSON, Major General, Commanding 8th Division."

He is commemorated in the Memorial Hall at Marlborough and in the church at Earls Barton.

Another memorial in the church at Hitcham reads as follows:

In loving memory of Robert Wanklyn Cobbold, St John's College, Cambridge, Lieut. 2nd Battn. The Rifle Brigade, Killed in Action Sept. 9th 1915. Resting at Fleurbaix, Aged 22years.

Blessed are the pure in Heart.

Anthony Cobbold

August 2013

With assistance from the archivist at Marlborough College.

Another memorial has been found in the Church of St. Nicholas, Salthouse, Norfolk.  It reads:

To the glory of God and in memory of the men of Salthouse who gave their lives during two world wars.  Their name liveth for evermore. 1914-1918.

  COBBOLD, Edgar Francis Wanklyn, Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, died 12th January 1916.  Son of Revd Robert Russell and Marcy Elizabeth Cobbold (nee Wanklyn) of the Rectory, Hitcham, SFK.  Born 1895 Earls Barton, NTH.  Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery , XVI.A.16

  COBBOLD, Robert Henry Wanklyn, Lieutenant, 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, attached 2nd Battalion, died 9th September 1915, aged 22 years.  Son of Revd Robert Russell Cobbold and Marcy Elizabeth Cobbold (nee Wanklyn) of the Rectory, Hitcham, SFK.  Born Earls Barton, NTH.  Buried Y Farm Military cemetery. M.36.

It is assumed that Marcy is a misprint for Mary.

There is a bell with a dedicatory marble tablet within St. Nicholas Church to the two COBBOLDS above.  The dedication reads

THE BELL IN THE TOWER OF THIS CHURCH WAS RE-CAST AND RE-HUNG A.D.1916 TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF TWO BROTHERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY.  ROBERT HENRY WANKLYN COBBOLD AGE 22, LIEUT 2ND BATTN RIFLE BRIGADE FELL AT FLEURS AIX SEP 9TH 1915.  EDGAR FRANCIS WANKLYN COBBOLD AGE 20 LIEUT 7TH BATTN CHESHIRE REGIMENT AND ROYAL FLYING CORPS FELL AT BEAUCHAMP JAN 12 1916.  JESUS CALLED THEM.