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Newcombe, Edmund Freeman, enlisted at Kingston, Ontario, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Occupation: Cadet. Military Service: Captain, 21 Bn., transferred to PPCLI. Attestation Papers. Diary Reference: “Lieut. [E.F.] Newcombe struck in the jaw with rifle grenade. Expected to live,” 2:14[16] Jan ’16. According to Hodder-Williams, 86, Capt. Newcombe was wounded 15 January 1916 and struck off strength 1 March 1916. He subsequently served in the 8th Brigade and the Canadian Corps H.Q.
Additional Biographical Information:
According to the PPCLI War Diary, 27 September 1915, Lt. Newcombe was in charge of a platoon from No. 3 Company. Newcombe was wounded on 16 January 1916 (Frank incorrectly recorded January 14). The War Diary reads, “In the Trenches, 16/1/15. Lieut. Newcombe. E. F. wounded in neck by rifle grenade 11 a.m. taken straight out to Bailleul.”
Writing on 16 January 1916, Maj. A. Adamson recorded, “Newcombe (of Ottawa), one of our officers was badly hit in the neck and it was only after he got to the Doctor they were able to stop the blood.” Letters of Agar Adamson 1914 to 1919, 129.
On 16 February 1916, Maj. Adamson wrote, “I hear that young Newcombe of ours (of Ottawa) who was hit in the neck in our last trenches and the Medical officer had such difficulty in stopping the bleeding is pretty well out of business for this particular European War. The doctors have had to sew up the ordinary blood channels and push his plebian blood around by a switch line, and are doubtful of the new route.” Writing on January 16, Adamson recorded, “Newcombe (of Ottawa), one of our officers was badly hit in the neck and it was only after he got to the Doctor they were able to stop the blood.” Letters of Agar Adamson 1914 to 1919, 146.