Charlie Frederick Cobb, born 1898
Charlie Frederick was born in Gaywood on 9th August 1898. The Cobb family believed his name to be Charlie Fred, but various records show him as Charlie Frederick and Charles Fred. Charlie Frederick seems to be the correct version.
Before the First World War, Charlie worked in the office of Ladymans in Kings Lynn. Ladymans was a large wholesale grocers. In one of his military records he is referred to as a grocers clerk, but he had also learnt the family trade of saddle and harness making and his military records mostly list his occupation as saddle maker.
In 1914 he voluntarily enlisted at Dereham, signing up for 4 years with the 2nd/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. For further details of his WWI exploits please see the section “The Cobb Family in World War One”.
After the war Charlie found it hard to settle and in 1924 left to join elder brother William in Queensland, Australia. He initially lived with him in Woodford, Queensland, where the 1925 electoral roll records Charlie as a boot maker. Charlie spent his first ten shillings in Australia on joining the Returned Soldiers League [RSL], which is the Australian equivalent of the Royal British Legion. In 1926 he was the vice president of the Woodford branch and his brother Willie was the president.
When on a recruiting drive in for the RSL in Brisbane he met Mr Ellicott who had previously run a general store in Methwold, not far from Kings Lynn. Mr Ellicott was always travelling and had lived in America, where daughter Violet Irene, known as Vi was born, Canada and Methwold. In Methwold his business was burnt down, but re-built and re-established before the family emigrated to Australia in 1927. When in Methwold, Mrs Ellicott often met Charlie Cobb when she brought orders into Ladymans. In Australia, Charlie and Vi met for the first time and were subsequently married on 7th June 1930 with Charlie riding a horse to the wedding. They were married on the “North Coast” at a large homestead owned by a friend who had three other wedding parties at the same time.
By 1936 Charlie and Vi were living in Killarney, Darling Downs, Queensland. On the 1936 and 1937 electoral rolls Charlie is described as a boot repairer. He went on to further adapt the family saddlery tradition by working on canvas manufacture, motor trimming and upholstery.
Circa 1940. Charlie enlisted at Gatton, Queensland in order to serve with the Australian army during World War Two. His service number was QX35459.
The 1943 electoral roll shows Charlie and Vi at 82 MacKenzie Street, East Toowoomba, Darling Downs. Charlie was listed as a soldier.
In 1949 Charlie was living at “Maidstone”, Devonport Street, Southport, Queensland. He was a “trimmer”.
By 1954 he had moved to “Garfield”, Welch Street, Southport. His son Charlie Richard was also a “trimmer”, working and living with him.
The 1958 electoral roll shows little change with sons James, a carpenter, and Kevin, a labourer, at home. Charlie Richard had now married Violet June and was living at Mole Avenue, Southport, He was still a motor trimmer.
The 1968 electoral roll shows little change either, although the address is now recorded as 24 Welsh Street. Beryl Dawn, a housemaid and Allan Bernard, a motor trimmer were at home. Beryl was actually Kevin’s wife, but Kevin was absent from the electoral roll at this address. James was now an assistant draughtsman, married to Barbara and living at 38 Prod Street, Southport.
The 1972 electoral roll shows Charlie and Vi still at Welsh Street. Kevin, an upholsterer, and Beryl were now at 21 Mabel Avenue.
Charlie’s other children were sons Vic and Allan. Allan moved to Darwin and at Christmas 1974 a typhoon destroyed his home. All that was left was a gable wall and an iron bath tub under which they had sheltered.
Charlie and Vi, as she was known, were both bowling fans and active supporters of the RSL. Late in life they retired from their business, bought a new house in Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast and then returned to Europe for an extended holiday. They stayed with Charlie’s brother Richard’s family at Heacham. They travelled around the country visiting friends and relatives and also visited Scotland where Charlie's research led him to believe that he had Scottish ancestry. This may have been based on the fact that Cobb is a surname that is one of the septs or sub branches of the Lindsay clan. As far as I am aware there is no evidence that my Cobb family has any direct relationship to the Lindsay’s. When in the UK Charlie always ate his regular breakfast of corn flakes with sliced banana on top.
The 1977 electoral roll shows Charlie and Vi had moved to 41 Alicia Street. Kevin and Beryl were still at 21 Mabel Avenue. Later in the year Charlie died.
The 1980 electoral roll shows Vi still at 41 Alicia Street.