PRIVATE ROY MONTEITH COMYN
CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)
7TH JANUARY 1917 AGE 27
BURIED: AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMEMTERY EXTENSION, FRANCE
There are only a few inscriptions of just one word; I have written about Kismet, fate, the epitaph for the soldier who had survived the South African War and service on the North-West Frontier in India only to be killed on the first day's fighting, 23 August 1914, and Sacrificed, which could mean that the soldier's wife believed he was sacrificed by others or that he made the sacrifice. 'Courage' is similarly elusive. Does it mean that Roy Comyn, apparently always known as Jim, had the courage to face what frightened him, or that he was a man of bold free spirit who faced danger without fear.
Comyn was the youngest of ten children and it was Henry, his eldest brother who was 14 years older than him, who signed for the inscription. 'Jim' was born in 1890, was 11 months old at the time of the 1891 census, was a pupil at his sister's prep school, St Cyprian's in Eastbourne, at the time of the 1901 census and doesn't appear at all in the 1911 census. He next appears in the records when he returns to England from America in June 1916 on board the Philadelphia, giving his occupation as rancher. Had the long arm of conscription reached him - could it? Or had he decided it was his duty?
Comyn came from a prosperous Home Counties family - they lived at Marle Place, Brenchley in Kent. He was privately educated - his brothers went to Dulwich College but I can't see where he went. Nevertheless, he served as a private in the 9th Battalion the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and all I can tell of his war service is that just over six months after his return from America he was buried in a Casualty Clearing Station Cemetery at Avesnes-le-Sec.