From The Scots Guards, Erskine, pg 58: It was during Colonel Wynne Finch's term of command that the Regimental Headquarters suffered its greatest blow. At a quarter past eleven on the morning of Sunday 18th June 1944 a jet-propelled flying bomb (the German V.1) dived onto the Guards Chapel when it was full of worshippers. By great good fortune the congregation on the Sunday was the smallest it had been for many months, but nevertheless the Regiment suffered sad losses. Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. Cobbold, Lieutenant H.W. Dods, Second-Lieutenant J.A.G. Duberly and two other ranks were among those killed. From information compiled by Jan Gore: Guards Chapel, see also book Send More Shrouds Lieutenant Colonel John Murray Cobbold, service number 110300, Scots Guards, aged 47. Son of John Dupuis Cobbold, D.L., and of Lady Evelyn Cobbold (nee Murray); husband of Lady Blanche Cobbold (nee Cavendish). of Glemham Hall, Suffolk. D.L., J.P., Sherriff of Suffolk. He was born in the March quarter of 1897 at Ipswich, and was always known as Ivan, a nickname given him by his nurse. He married Lady Blanche Cavendish, second daughter of the Duke of Devonshire, in the Guards Chapel in the June quarter of 1919; she was the sister-in law of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Ivan was a Captain in the Scots Guards during the First World War and served in France, where he was injured. Later he joined the family brewing business, Tolley Cobbold, and became chairman after his father’s death in 1929. He also was President of Ipswich Town FC. At the time of his death he was the Commanding Officer of the Scots Guards. He is commemorated on Panel 1 at Golders Green Crematorium, and on the Rannoch War Memorial on the east bank of Loch Rannoch. From The Times, June 27, 1944 PERSONAL TRIBUTE LIEUT.-COLONEL J.M. COBBOLD Lord Cranworth writes:- Ivan Cobbold was a man of many talents, great abilities, and infinite charm. Moreover, he was a patriot with every fibre of his being. At an early age he succeeded to many possessions and with them great responsibilities, and it was his worthy pride to know the one intimately and to undertake the latter with a full and particular care. There was no one on his estate or in his business with whom he was not fully acquainted and with whose welfare he was not concerned. As a sportsman Ivan was most distinguished. A good cricketer in the Eton XI and a fine player of all ball games, he will be best remembered as a great shot - indeed he had good claims to rank as the best of his contemporaries. When a well-known paper called for the names of the 12 best shots, his name was included in every list and usually at the top. He was an almost equally good fisherman. Moreover, he was equally interested in the sport of others. Thus, he spent much time, money and an infinity of pains in launching the Ipswich football team on what bade fair to be a most prosperous career. In his busy life he never neglected public work in his country and when he undertook a job one knew that it would be done and well done. Leaving school while young he joined the Scots Guards and saw service in France, where he was wounded. He rejoined his old regiment at the outbreak of the present war and when killed was employed with the American forces in a post of supreme importance for which he was ideally qualified. In that position, he will be hard indeed to replace. As a host he was at his very best. His aim was the happiness of each of his many guest. His home life was perfect. He was adored by his family. Their happinesss was his happiness and their sorrows and disappointments his. Such was the life Ivan Cobbold lived, and his manner of living it brought him much esteem and hosts of friends. But there was another Ivan of which the world knew less. This was the man who went about quietly doing kindnesses to those in trouble, whether monetary or otherwise. His heart, his hand, and his pocket were ever ready with the one proviso, "No one is to know." He was a man of true generousity and intense loyalty and these characteristics will stand in the memory of his friends as a monument more enduring than brass.
Casualty Lieutenant Colonel COBBOLD, JOHN MURRAY Service Number 110300 Died 18/06/1944 Aged 47 Scots Guards Son of John Dupuis Cobbold, D.L., and of Lady Evelyn Cobbold (nee Murray); husband of Lady Blanche Cobbold (nee Cavendish). of Glemham Hall, Suffolk. D.L., J.P., Sherriff of Suffolk. Buried at GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM Location: Middlesex, United Kingdom Number of casualties: 497 Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 1. Guards Chapel V1 Bomb, 18th June 1944 320937 (2702098) James Arthur Grey DUBERLY, Scots Guards
His son 362219 (2703961) John Cavendish COBBOLD, Welsh Guards Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust JOHN MURRAY COBBOLD - Ipswich War Memorial Bridgeman Images
Hi Diane, The Baron Cranworth who penned the personal tribute would be Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron - Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth - Wikipedia His son was Lt. Robert (Robin) Brampton Gurdon 3rd CG & LRDG KIA at Fuka, Libya July 1942. My father spoke very highly of Gurdon as he was his Platoon Commander in Number 2 Company 3rd CG 1940/41 after his (Gurdon) arrival in Egypt from England. Casualty Steve
Steve, Thanks for reminder that these men were members of a network of friends, acquaintances & family connections and not just their regiments. (Interesting to me is the connection to Ipswich Town FC. I used to follow the team avidly - during the Bobby Robson era - didn't make the connection. Ipswich Town F.C. - Wikipedia. The East Stand of Portman Road, formerly known as the Portman Stand, is called the Cobbold Stand, named after the former owners of the club.)
