Military Medals

Edmonton Bulletin

19 Feb 1917

n0rp0665

EDMONTON MEN GET HONORS FOR CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY

Acting Brig. Gen. E. Hillman, D.S.O., Formerly Supt. Of Stores and Works Dept., and Capt. Harvey Coombs, MC., Left Edmonton with 101st Regiment Early in War.

More military distinction comes to Edmonton, through the bravery of the old Edmontonians at the front. Acting Brigadier General E. Hillman, who was recently awarded the D.S.O., was formerly superintendent of the stores and works department at Edmonton in 1906-7-8, and Capt. Harry Coombs who has been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery, is an old Edmonton boy.

Previous to acting as superintendent of the stores and works department, Acting Brig. General Hillman, D.S.O., had served in the boar war under Major-General Steele, when he had the rank of captain.

From Edmonton to now Brigadier General Hilman went to the coast and subsequently enlisted at the outbreak of the war and has since been wounded. He is married and has a family. He is an old countryman by birth, coming to Canada from Yorkshire.

Captain Harry Coombs, who has been given the Military Cross, at the beginning of the war come down from the Peace River country to enlist, he having been surveying along with J.H. Smith at the time.

He left Edmonton with the 101st regiment in 1914, and was afterwards wounded in the battle of St. Julien, being invalided to England. On return to France to service he was given a commission, and was subsequently wounded again. This led to the Military Cross, the decoration being awarded for bravery in leading troops in a trench raid, although badly wounded at the time.

Captain Coombs had a brother in the 66th battalion, who has been wounded and invalided back to Canada.

E. Howard 2004/02/03