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Corporal William Noble Coulston, 23rd Company 8th Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Cavalry, Imperial Yeomanry.

The Coulston family plot is in Layton Cemetery, Blackpool. Coulston and Troopers Carter and Whalley are all named on the Blackpool roll of honour.






Quite unusual to see the surrounding ironwork in such good condition as the metal collections during WW2 removed a lot of similar work. Inscribed on the base, from which the headstone has fallen, or been removed for safety, is inscribed:-
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PRIVATE LEONARD COULSTON A.I.F.
YOUNGER SON OF THE ABOVE WILLIAM N. COULSTON
BORN 4. NOVEMBER 1896
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 7. FEBRUARY 1917

When the three Blackpool young men - Corporal W. Coulston, Trooper Carter, and Trooper F. Whalley - set out with the other members of the Duke of Lancaster's Own contingent of the Imperial Yeomanry, there were some people who predicted that they would not see much of the real side of warfare, and that the journey to the Cape would be more in the nature of an outing. But early in the morning of Wednesday last, at Faberspruit, twelve miles from Douglas, in Griqualand West, the detachment to which the Blackpool men were attached took part in an engagement which, although distinguished by several cases of heroism and bravery, proved a particularly sorrowful one for the relatives and friends of the Blackpool men, as on Monday Mrs. W. Coulston, Corporal Coulston's wife, who resides in Caunce-street, received information from the Yeomanry headquarters of the War Office that her husband had been killed in the engagement; and yesterday, Mr. Thos. Carter, auctioneer, received news from the same source that his son, Trooper Reginald Carter, had been "slightly wounded" the same day. Nothing has yet been heard as to the fate of Trooper Whalley, who, according to Carter's last letter, had accidentally fallen from his horse and been slightly injured. The Blackpool men, it will be recalled, set sail from Liverpool on the 11th February, and after landing at the Cape were stationed for some time at Piquetberg Camp on guard over the railway from Capetown. On Sir Chas. Warren, who has several times visited Blackpool, being appointed Governor of Griqualand West, the Duke's Own were placed under his command, and moved via Worcester and Belmont to Douglas. It was outside this town that the engagement, which was of a most severe and close fighting character, took place on Wednesday morning with such distressing result. Corporal Coulston, who was about 38 years of age, was the oldest living son of Mr. John Coulston, plumber and decorator, of Hounds Hill. He leaves a widow and two children, with whom the deepest sympathy will be felt. By a sad coincidence, a letter was received from him on the same day as the notification of his death, and it is also noticeable that Mr. Carter received a letter from his son just before he got the information as to his being wounded. (The column then prints Trooper Carter's letter, in which there's no reference to Corporal Coulston.)


No further particulars are in hand as to the exact way in which Corporal W. Coulston, of Blackpool, met his death at Douglas, Griqualand West, last week, but the details of the engagement show that the Yeomen fought bravely and well against great odds, and the sad news of Corporal Coulston being killed has excited the deepest sympathy for his wife, children, and relatives in the breasts of all who knew him. He was a very popular young man, and his letters showed that he was "roughing" the camping with the greatest cheerfulness. The engagement in which he was killed brings the penalties of the war vividly before the public mind. Out of the three Imperials belonging to the town one has been killed; one (Carter) wounded, and the third (Whalley) has had an accident. Nothing has been heard from the latter, however, since the men were camped at Worcester, but it is almost a certainty that he was with the others in the fighting. In connection with Coulston's death it is probable that a memorial service will be held, at which the Blackpool Yeomanry troop will attend.

The Blackpool troop of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry attended in full force at Christ Church on Sunday morning to pay a tribute to the memory of their dead comrade, Corporal W. Coulston, who was killed whilst fighting, outside Douglas, with the British force in South Africa. The men assembled near the Central Station, Captain Cross being in command, and were played to church by the Blackpool Artillery Band, under Mr. T. Wylie. There was a full congregation. An orchestra selected from the various orchestras in the town played the tunes, and at the conclusion of the service, accompanied by the organ, gave "The Dead March" and "The War March of the Priests." Band-Sergeant Johnson, of the Duke's Own and of the North Pier, conducted the orchestra.

The Rev. R.W. Carpenter, who officiated, preached from Joshua iii., verse 17: "And all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." God, said the preacher, did everything in order. God was willing to help us and bless us, but the heart must be given to Him. Why was it that under God our brave forces had so often been victorious in the many engagements fought in the Transvaal? Because they had put their hearts into the severe task which they had before them. So, whether the calling be a military one or not one of war, the Word of God came home with ringing force. "Whatsoever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus." Our efficiency was of God. The Israelites were under no distinct covenant and promise, and yet they did not fear, there was no flinching spirit in their passage across the river. Why was it? They were going forward in the strength of God. They had more than once been made aware of the realities of death. One of their comrades had yielded up his life for his country on the field of battle. He expressed his sympathy with those who had to mourn his loss and expressed the hope that Corporal Coulston had been guided by the power of God in passing from time into eternity. There was no confidence so inspiring as that which was brought about by the strong arm of the Lord Jesus, and that voice of the Holy Spirit which whispered to the soul, "The Lord is thy refuge, and underneath are the eternal arms." As a nation and as individuals they ought to take that fact home. God had spared them again and again, especially in this Transvaal campaign, and the moral of it was clear and plain. The rev. gentleman appealed to those who were present in the Yeomanry uniform to appreciate this, and if called out to the fight not to forget the Lord their God. In the book of Deuteronomy it was told that Israel was the land of the Lord, and when, as a nation, they looked upon the many benefits He had showered upon this land, they must say He had shown that His watchful eye was upon them.

After service the troop marched along the Promenade to the Central Station, where the members disbanded. The parade to and from the church attracted much attention, and the action of the Yeomen in paying a token of respect to their dead companion was much admired. A number of the Preston detachment also attended the service and added their tribute to Corporal Coulston's memory.

A PHOTO OF MEMORIAL

F.W. Hackforth is another name on the memorial who has featured in Memorials and monuments.
www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...ed-at-faber-s-spruit