Charles Woollcombe

Educated at Malborough College, February 1870 - December 1874. Later at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.

Appointed to the 25 King's Own Scottish Borderers. He finally reached the rank of Lieutenant General on 3 December 1913.

He served in the Afghan war 1878-79 with the I Brigade 2 Division Peshawar Valley Field Force and in the campaign of 1879-80 with the Khyber Line Force (medal).

In the Indian Frontier Campaign 1897. Was present at the capture of the Benanai? Pass, action of Jarobi.

He was given command of the Allahabad Brigade (1906 -07), and then the Garhwal Brigade until 1910. In 1908 he was promoted Major General. He left India in 1910 and returned to England.

In March 1911 he was in the Highland Division (Territorial Force), and remained in command until 1913.

Filled numerous home commands during the early part of the Geat War but wrote to Sir Douglas Haig asking if he could be given a command in France. There was no vacancy for someone of his rank, but if he didn't object to serving under a junior officer then he might have some other command. He was willing to serve in any capacity and was given command of the 11 Division in France in 1916. His division took part in the Battle of the Somme and distinguished itself at Thiepval.

From December 1916 until March 1918 he was in command of 4 Army Corps. His corps played an important part in the Battle of Cambrai, November 20 - December 2 1917.

After leaving 4 Army Corps he was sent on a special mission to Salonica.

After his retirement in1920 he took a keen interest in various associations in Bexhill, where he died in 1934.

Source: His own notes and The Times dated 8 May 1934.

IMPORTANT NOTE

It is from his researches and the book he compiled about the Woollcombe family that make up most of the information entered in this family tree.