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Private Robert McComb

 

Number: 9516

Company: 54th (Belfast) Company, 13th Battalion, First Contingent

ENLISTMENT

Date: 23 January 1900

Place: Belfast

Age: 21 years stated on enlistment. (Born 4 November 1881 in Pound Street, Banbridge, County Down.)

Trade or calling: Carpenter

Place of birth: In the Parish of Banbridge, in or near the Town of Banbridge, in the County of Down

Address: 34 Percy Street, Belfast

Family: Single. Father James McComb, general labourer, mother Eliza McComb (nee Mateer), of 34 Percy Street, Belfast.

Previous military service: No

Description: Height 5' 7". Complexion fresh, eyes brown, hair brown. Scar left knee.

Religion: Presbyterian

ACTIVE SERVICE

Date to South Africa: 3 March 1900

Date home: 17 June 1901

Service medal, clasps and other awards: Queen's South Africa Medal. Cape Colony, Orange Free State clasps (Recorded on 46th (Belfast) Company roll.)

DISCHARGE

Date: 22 June 1901

Place: United Kingdom

Reason for discharge: The termination of his engagement

 

McComb was among the 400 men of the 13th Battalion captured by Boer forces at Lindley on 31 May 1900. He was released on 30 August with most of the other members of the battalion when the British captured Nooitgedacht.

On 24 December 1900 he was court martialled for "committing an offence against the property of inhabitants of the country in which he was serving." He was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for six months, commuted to 56 days' Field Imprisonment No.1.

This page last updated 25 August 2026.