Frederick Corbett

The Maldon District’s only Victoria Cross recipient forfeited his medal, died in the workhouse and was buried in an unmarked grave – but his bravery is still honoured in the town.

If you visit Maldon Cemetery, among the many war graves you will find one commemorating Private Frederick Corbett VC – the district’s only recipient of the country’s highest medal for honour, awarded only for “most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy”.

Yet this official headstone remembering his bravery was only put up in 2004 - the war hero had died in Maldon Union Workhouse in 1912 and been buried in an unmarked grave after being one of just eight of 1,358 Victoria Cross recipients to have their medal taken away from them.

His strange story began in 1853 when he was born and given the name David Embleton. He joined the British Army in 1873, serving in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, but for some unknown reason registered under the name Frederick Corbett. He initially served in Britain, but in 1879 he went with the Battalion to South Africa where he fought in the First Boer War.

In 1882 he was sent to Egypt, where a revolution was taking place, to protect the Suez Canal. During a reconnaissance mission, a small group of riflemen came under heavy fire from Egyptian forces, and Lieutenant Howard Vyse was seriously wounded. While his companions took cover, Corbett stayed in the open, totally exposed, trying to protect the dying lieutenant and stop his bleeding, before helping to carry him from the battlefield. His bravery was recognised with the presentation of the Victoria Cross in Cairo in March 1883.

History doesn’t record whether he suffered physical injury or, more likely, mental trauma from the incident, but he was discharged from the Army as medically unfit in June 1883. Facing financial ruin, Corbett, who was then believed to be struggling with alcohol, sold his medals a year afterwards and re-enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery. A string of problems followed, and before he was discharged on medical grounds again in 1891, he had been court-marshalled for going absent without leave, theft and striking an officer, which resulted in his name being removed from the VC register and his VC pension being cancelled. He ended his days in the workhouse, dying in 1912 aged 59.

When George V came to the throne, he declared that no longer would anyone forfeit a Victoria Cross, no matter what they did in later life, stating in 1920: “Even were a VC to be hanged for murder, he should be allowed to wear the Cross on the scaffold." In 2004 a military ceremony at the cemetery in London Road, Maldon, unveiled the headstone recognising Frederick Corbett's bravery and a bugler from the Royal Green Jackets sounded the Last Post.

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Maldon Cemetery & Commonwealth War Graves

Maldon Cemetery dates back to 1855 and the older parts of the cemetery are both havens for wildlife and fascinating places to visit. The cemetery is home to 21 Commonwealth War Graves.
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The Blue Boar

One of the architectural gems of Maldon, part of this quaint pub and hotel date back to the 14th century. The oldest part of the complex is the timber framed range immediately to the left as you pass through the coaching archway from Silver Street, this dates back to the second half of the 14th century. In the 1750’s the Blue Boar was a stopping off point for the Maldon Stage ‘fly’ a coach which ran between Southminster and Aldgate, London and by the turn of the century was one of the principal coaching inns in the town. Today, the inn has gained further reputation as an ale house with usually 5 fresh ales on tap brewed on site at the Stable Brewery
Former Maldon Union Workhouse

Today, St Peter's Hospital in Spital Road is a valuable NHS centre, but the grand buildings have an interesting history. Built in 1872 to replace the smaller workhouse on Market Hill, the new Union Workhouse could hold up to 450 inmates and had its own chapel, mortuary and kitchen.

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St Mary & St Margarets Church & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

Church Lane, Stow Maries, Essex, CM3 6SL

Stow Maries

The parish church of St Mary and St Margaret is Grade II* Listed. The church chancel was built in the 14th century and the nave in the 15th century. The churchyard has five Commonwealth War Graves.
Buoys of Burnham-on-Crouch

Address

Various locations:, Burnham Yacht Harbour in Foundry Lane, Belvedere Road and Coronation Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8BL

Belvedere Road and Coronation Road, Burnham-on-Crouch

If you walk around Burnham-on-Crouch look out for the three large buoys that now decorate the street scene. These historic buoys were once out in the water of the Crouch estuary, helping to guide ships safetly home, but when they were replaced at…
St Peter's Church, Goldhanger

Address

Church Street, Goldhanger, Essex, CM9 8AS

Goldhanger

St. Peter’s Church is central to the spirit of the village and the close community here. We hold services on the second Sunday of the month at 10:00am and a family service every other week.
Thomas Plume’s Library

Address

Plume Building, Market Hill, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4PZ

Telephone
01621 854850

info@thomasplumeslibrary.co.uk

Maldon

Founded in 1704 this historic library still houses Thomas Plume’s books and his small collection of paintings.
World War II Minefield Observation Tower and Pillbox

Address

Seawall, 900m south-east of Holliwell Farm, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8NG

Burnham-on-Crouch

An unusual piece of wartime history can be found on the seawall heading out of Burnham-on-Crouch towards Bradwell-on-Sea. Around 4 miles from Burnham you will come to a unique hexagonal, two-storey control/observation tower and an accompanying…
Purleigh War Memorial

Address

All Saints Church, Church Hill, Purleigh, CM3 6QJ

Purleigh

The war memorial at Purleigh stands in the graveyard extension opposite the Grade I Listed All Saints Church and takes the form of a 10ft granite obelisk on a three-stepped base, built by Wray & Fuller of Chelmsford. It commemorates the lives of 25…
Beeleigh Falls

Address

Beeleigh Falls, Maldon Road, Beeleigh, Essex, CM9 6QA

essex@waterways.org.uk

Beeleigh

Beeleigh Falls is home to a series of water falls, locks and weirs on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.
St Lawrence Heritage Church

Address

Saint Lawrence Hill, Steeple, Essex, CM0 7LN

Telephone
01621 776203

Steeple

This active rural parish church, situated on a hilltop overlooking the Blackwater Estuary provides exhibitions and community activities. Light refreshments available.
St James Church, Dengie

Address

Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex, CM0 7UH

Telephone
01621 779620

Dengie

St James, Dengie is a small parish church serving the rural villages of Asheldham and Dengie. The Grade II listed church building dates back to the 14th century, but the Nave walls may be even earlier from Saxon times, and remains of Roman bricks…
All Saints' Church, Ulting

Address

Church Rd, Ulting, Essex, CM9 6QU

Telephone
01245 380958

info@hatfieldpeverelultingchurches.org.uk

Ulting

All Saints Church stands in a picturesque setting on the River Chelmer. It is Grade II* Listed and was built in 1150, with a barrel vaulted chancel roof. There is a Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard.
Burnham United Reformed Church URC

Address

Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8HF

Telephone
01621 783393

Burnham-on-Crouch

Burnham-on-Crouch United Reformed Church (URC) has a modern building in Station Road and meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 10.30am as well as hosting a wide range of groups and events throughout the week, including youth clubs, children's…
Salvation Army Citadel

Address

12 Wantz Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5DE

Telephone
01621 840088

maldon@salvationarmy.org.uk

Maldon

The building in Wantz Road has been used by the Salvation Army for many years as our place of Worship and Christian Service. Our regular Sunday morning service is at 10.30am with various events throughout the week, including our toddler group on…
Maldon Cemetery & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

London Road, Maldon, CM9 6LJ

Maldon

Maldon Cemetery dates back to 1855 and the older parts of the cemetery are both havens for wildlife and fascinating places to visit. The cemetery is home to 21 Commonwealth War Graves.
All Saints' Church, Creeksea

Address

Ferry Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PQ

Telephone
01621 783963

vera.wadman@allsaintscreeksea.org.uk

Burnham-on-Crouch

All Saints' Church at Creeksea lies in an idyllic setting with beautiful views over the River Crouch. The current church building dates from the 1870s although there has been a church on this site since the 13th century.
St Andrew's Church, Althorne

Address

Fambridge Road, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6BY

lucientaylor@yahoo.co.uk

Althorne

St Andrew's is a Grade II listed building with a tower dating back to around 1500, although it is in need of restoration and funds are being raised. It has a modern church hall available for hire.
All Saints' Church, Maldon

Address

High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4QE

Telephone
01621 853470

Maldon

Our doors are open to everybody of all faiths – all are welcome in this house. Come along to one (or more) of our services or any of the many events held in this beautiful old building. We guarantee you a warm and friendly reception.
Tollesbury War Memorials & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

St Mary the Virgin church, Church Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QJ

Telephone
07908 776750

office.blackwaterbenefice@gmail.com

Tollesbury

Tollesbury War Memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, a beautiful Grade II* Listed church. The memorial is a wooden cross on a three-stepped brick base. There is a second, stone war memorial on the playing fields at Victory…
St Bartholomew's Church

Address

Church Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3LA

Telephone
01621 892867

priest@churchinwickhambishops.org.uk

Wickham Bishops

St Bartholomew's Church is Grade II Listed and is a fine example of Victorian Gothic church architecture. In the churychyard you will find three Commonwealth War Graves.
St Lawrence & All Saints Church, Steeple

Address

The Street, Steeple, Essex, CM0 7RH

Steeple

The Grade II Listed parish church was built in 1884 and has a timber framed steeple, shingled spire and a 15th century font. The church contains two white marble War Memorial tablets.
The Assumption of our Lady, RC Church

Address

60A Victoria Rd, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HF

Telephone
01621 852259

maldon@brcdt.org

Maldon

The Assumption of Our Lady Roman Catholic Church in Maldon was opened in 1925, replacing a temporary place of worship that had been set up in and old converted Forge in Silver Street.

The Maldon District’s only Victoria Cross recipient forfeited his medal, died in the workhouse and was buried in an unmarked grave – but his bravery is still honoured in the town.

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