E. H. Coombe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ephraim Henry Coombe | |
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MHA
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| Preceded by | John William Downer |
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| Succeeded by | Richard Butler, 1912, Henry Burgess Crosby, 1917 |
| Constituency | Barossa |
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| Born | 26 August 1858 Gawler, South Australia |
| Died | 5 April 1917 Adelaide |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal and Democratic Union, 1906-1912
United Labor Party, 1915-1917 |
| Spouse | Sarah Susannah Fraser Heywood |
| Profession | Newspaper Editor |
| Religion | Anglican |
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Ephraim Henry Coombe (August 26, 1858-April 5, 1917) was born at Gawler, South Australia. He was the eldest son of Ephraim Coombe, a farm-labourer and shopkeeper from Devon, and his wife Mary, née Lock. After working as a grocery assistant in his father's shop, he became a journalist and editor of the Gawler Bunyip newspaper. Later, in 1914, he became editor of the Adelaide Daily Herald. On 1 March 1880 in Adelaide he married Sarah Susannah Fraser Heywood of Willaston.
Coombe was the member for Barossa[2] in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1901- 1912. He resigned from the Liberal and Democratic Union and joined the United Labor Party. He re-entered Parliament in 1915, again as member for the Barossa.
Coombe is remembered for his defence during World War I of the Barossa Valley German community, members of whom were suspected of disloyalty and persecuted. During World War I, Coombe opposed anti-German measures such as the closure of Lutheran schools. He also opposed conscription. Coombe died in 1917. A memorial was erected in his honour in Tanunda's main street.
In March 1917, Coombe had been prosecuted under the War Precautions Act, fined £10 and "bound over to keep the peace". Despite having three sons who were serving in the forces, he was accused of disloyalty because of his support for his constituents. His premature death at the age of 58 from cerebral haemorrhage in 1917 has been attributed to the stress of "persecution" over the loyalty issues.[3]
In 1887/88, Coombe had played first class cricket for South Australia. However, he only played in one match scoring 10 runs.[4]
Coombe was active in the arts, being governor of the Adelaide Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery in 1901-06. He also wrote a history of his home town, 'History of Gawler, 1837-1908', published by the Gawler Institute in 1910 as a memento of the jubilee of the Institute and the Municipality of Gawler, 1908.[5]
[edit] References and notes
- ^ Statistical Record of the Legislature 1836 to 2007. Statistical Record of the Legislature of South Australia from the Inauguration of the Government on 28 December 1836, until 24 April 2007. Legislative Council. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ The electorate of the Barossa no longer exists; and would be similar to the current (in 2006) Electoral district of Schubert
- ^ Explanatory plaque beside the Coombe memorial in Tanunda.
- ^ Ephraim Coombe. Australia players and officials. Cricinfo , part of The Wisden Group. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Libraries Australia - History of Gawler, 1837-1908 / compiled by E.H. Coombe..
