British Army Veterinary Corps
Charles Cranston CORBETT
Captain
Died 3 February 1918 · Aged 28
His story
Captain Charles Corbett was born in Clearwater, Manitoba, on 12 June 1889. He graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College on 28 April 1916.
In June 1916, Charles Cranston was appointed to the British Army Veterinary Corps and, on 6 July 1916, received a Commission as a temporary Lieutenant. He attached 186th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, which served as The Divisional Artillery with the 39th Division.
In 1917, the 186th Brigade saw action during the Battle of the Somme, including fighting at Ancre, The Battle of the Mein Road Ridge and the Battle of Polygon Ridge. In July 191, Lieutenant Corbett was promoted to Temporary Captain.
On 27 January 1918, Captain Corbett was reported as missing, and his body was found in a wood face downward with a revolver in his hand.
A Court of Inquiry held in February 1918 determined that Captain Cranston’s death occurred between 31 January and 3 February 1918. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Captain Corbett is buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Photographs and documents
Before the war
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Date of Birth
- 12 June 1889
- Place of Birth
- Clearwater, Manitoba, Canada
- Veterinary College and Date of Graduation
- Ontario Veterinary College - April 1916
Military service
- Last Rank
- Captain
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- Secondary Regiment
- Royal Field Artillery
- Secondary Unit
- 186th Brigade
- First Theatre of War
- France June 1916
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- No
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- No
- Medals and Awards
- British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 3 February 1918
- Age at Death
- 28
- Place of Death
- France
- Cause of Death
- Self inflicted gun shot wound
- Cemetery
- Mendingham Military Cemetery
- Location
- Mendingham, Belgium
- Grave Reference
- IX D 14
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes
- Emblem or Badge on Headstone
- Army Vetwerinary Corps
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- War diary entry recording Captain Corbett's death — reproduced document
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “Charles Cranston Corbett”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/charles_cranston_corbett/.
Contribute information
Can you add a letter, family photograph or document that tells us more about his life before service? Please give its source and any permission needed for display.