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Vernon Hector Corbyn Died 22 September 1914
Vernon was about 16 when he died on 22nd September 1914, just weeks after the beginning of the war.
He was born in 1898, an only son of Major Hector and Lylie Evelyn Corbyn of Stair Lodge, Wokingham. He attended Fontwell School, East Grinstead, Sussex and then started as a naval Cadet at the Naval College at Osbourne, Cowes in 1911. His father had been a well known Army officer and son of a surgeon-general and died in 1909.
Vernon went from Osbourne to Darmouth and then early in August 1914 to his first ship, HMS Cressy. An old armoured cruiser , this ship was sunk by the German submarine U9 on 22 september 1914 and although there were some survivors, Vernon was one of the 1459 who died in the North Sea that day.
There is also an excellent biography of his father, Hector (provided by www.britishmedals.us)
Vernon’s father Hector Corbyn, died 1909 in India.
Autographed cabinet photograph of Hector Corbyn in the uniform of the Royal Horse Artillery. The photographer was Molkenteller, Hammes & Co of India. Hector Corbyn was the son of Deputy Surgeon-General Josesph Corbyn, Indian Medical Department (a veteran of the Indian Mutiny) and Eliza Ann Corbyn.
As a Gentleman Cadet in the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, he won the prize in Gymnastics and was presented “a revolver, holster and belt” by the Duke of Cambridge on July 24 1882. The following year, still at Woolwich and now a Corporal, he won the prize for “Drills and exercises” and was presented “a carriage clock” by the Duke of Cambridge on July 27, 1883. He passed out the RMA with marks of 22,314.
Hector was gazetted a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on August 10, 1883. Posted to N Battery, he sailed for Bombay on board the Crocodile, leaving England on November 23, 1887.
He was gazetted a Captain on December 13, 1892. He took part in the Royal Military Tournament in 1898. Gazetted a Major on March 2, 1900.
Major Corbyn commanded the 21st Battery R.F.A in the Boer War and was mentioned by Lord Roberts in his September 4, 1901 despatch. He also took part in the closing stages of the operations on the Zululand Frontier of Natal under General Buller, and was again mentioned in dispatches. He was entitled to a five clasp Queen’s South Africa medal and a two clasp King’s South Africa medal.
Major Corbyn died of an accident in 1909 in Sailkot, Punjab, India where he was serving in command of the W Battery Royal Horse Artillery. Grave at St. Peter’s Church, Leckhampton, Cheltenham:
“In loving memory of Hector Corbyn, Major Royal Horse Artillery, who died at Sialkote, India, April 18th 1909, and his only son, Vernon Hector, Midshipman RN, HMS “Cressy” who gave his life in the North Sea, Sept. 1914.”