| Frederick Corbett was born in 1851 in Camberwell, South East London, and was also known as David Embleton. Following his colourful military career, Corbett died of brain cancer in the Maldon Workhouse Infirmary on the 25th September 1912 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the London Road Cemetery, his death certificate showing his name as Embleton.
For the award the Victoria Cross.
[ London Gazette, 16 February 1883 ], Kafr Dowar, Egypt, 5 August 1882, Private, Frederick Corbett, 3rd Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps.
"During the reconnaissance upon Kafr Dowar on the 5th August 1882, the Mounted Infantry, with which Private Corbett was serving, came under a hot fire from the enemy, and suffered some loss, including Lieutenant Howard Vyse, mortally wounded. This officer fell in the open and there being no time to move him, Private Corbett asked and obtained permission to remain by him, and though under a constant fire, he sat down and endeavoured to stop the bleeding of this officer's wounds, until the Mounted Infantry received orders to retire, when he rendered valuable assistance in carrying him off the field".
Frederick Corbett was invested with his Victoria Cross by CinC Gibraltar, Lord Napier, at Cairo, Egypt on the 2nd March 1883.
Following his discharge from the army, Frederick Corbett sold his Victoria Cross. In 1884 Corbett re-inlisted into the Royal Artillery and was subsequently convicted of a felony by court martial. He went absent without leave from 12th to 23rd July 1884 and was subsequently arrested, charged and held in custody awaiting trial. Found guilty by District Court Martial at Aldershot for being absent without leave, theft and embezzling money belonging to an officer, he was convicted on 30th July 1884 and awarded 28 days hard labour. Corbett's name was erased from the VC Register by Royal Warrant and his VC pension was terminated.
By 1903 the Corbett VC had come into the possession of a Mr Mansfield, Clerk of Kingsbury Urban District Council, who approached the War Office apparently with the intention of restoring the VC to Frederick Corbett, or to his family. Mansfield was informed by the War Office that "as the name of Frederick Corbett had been erased from the VCR, the cross should not be delivered to Corbett or his representatives." This reply seemed to worry Mr Mansfield as to whether he was in order in retaining the decoration for himself, but a further letter from the WO confirmed that, "in view of Corbett having sold his VC at a time when he was not subject to the Army Act, Mr Mansfield was entitled to retain it."
The Victoria Cross awarded to Frederick Corbett was sold at auction by Glendining's on the 17th June 1924 for £50 and now resides in the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester.
Medal entitlement of Private Frederick Corbett - 3rd Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps
- Victoria Cross
- Egypt Medal ( 1882-89 )
- Khedive's Star ( 1882 ) ( Egypt )
|
)
Iain Stewart, 21 April 2004