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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The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall

Address

East End Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PW

stpeterschapel@outlook.com

Bradwell-on-Sea

This ancient Saxon chapel is the oldest church in England built by St Cedd in 654AD, it is one of the most restful and spiritual buildings in the country, a place to bring you peace and tranquillity. The old Saxon quote on the Chapel sign ‘In this…
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Address

The Street, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4NB

Telephone
01621 857004

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A Grade I Listed building, this 12th century church was restored during the 15th century to its present condition. Seating for 200 including choir, with wheel chair access and hearing aid loop system.
Monastery of St John the Baptist

Address

The Old Rectory, Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights, CM9 8EZ

Tolleshunt Knights

The Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist is an Orthodox monastic community composed of nuns and monks of various nationalities. The monastery was founded by Sophrony Sakharov, later canonised as Saint Sophrony. The calm…
St Stephens Church

Address

St Stephen's Road, Cold Norton, Essex, CM3 6NP

Telephone
01621 742947

sandra.manley@btinternet.com

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A small church situated on the edge of the village of Cold Norton.
Tollesbury Congregational Church

Address

East St, Tollesbury, Maldon, CM9 8QD

Telephone
01621 869230

philip.grove@tollesburychurch.co.uk

Tollesbury

Tollesbury Congregational Church has served the village since 1803.
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.
All Saints' Church, Little Totham

Address

Church Lane, Little Totham, CM9 8LU

Telephone
07908 776750

office.blackwaterbenefice@gmail.com

Little Totham

This charming Grade I Listed church has a 12th century nave and 14th century chancel. There's a fine 17th century altar tomb monument and a 15th century font. In the churchyard are two Commonwealth War Graves.
St Nicholas's, Tolleshunt D'Arcy

Address

Church Street, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, CM9 8TS

Tolleshunt D'Arcy

St Nicholas Church is Grade I listed. Its churchyard extension, a little way up the road, has three Commonwealth War Graves.
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.
St Mary's Church, Maldon inc Commonwealth War Graves

Address

Church Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HP

Telephone
01621 857191

Maldon

St. Mary's Church is known locally as the Fisherman's Church as its tower guides sailors and their craft into the Hythe Quay. The existing building dates from 1130, but archaeological evidence suggests that it used to be the site of a Saxon church.
Northey Island

Address

Northey Cottage, Northey Island, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6PP

northeyisland@nationaltrust.org.uk

Maldon

Northey is an island in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a causeway that is covered by the tide twice every day. It is a Site of special scientific interest with a large area of undisturbed Saltmarsh. It is also the site…
St Giles Church

Address

Maldon Road, Langford, CM9 4SS

Langford

St Giles' is a unique Grade II* Listed parish church dating from the late 11th century, with an unusual apse at the western end.
World War Two Avenue of Remembrance

Address

Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

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The World War Two Avenue of Remembrance at Promenade Park, beginning close to the boating lake, consists of 86 Horse Chestnut trees that were planted in 1987 to commemorate local people who died serving their country during World War Two.
Maldon Methodist Church

Address

135A High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5BS

Telephone
01621 853423

mwbarrya@mweb.co.za

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Maldon Methodist Church has a varied programme of worship and activities. The main Sunday service is at 10:30 which features both traditional and modern hymns, with occasional livelier services aimed at young families. There are regular coffee…
Salvation Army Citadel

Address

12 Wantz Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5DE

Telephone
01621 840088

maldon@salvationarmy.org.uk

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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…
St Peter's Church, Great Totham

Address

Church Road, Great Totham, Essex, CM9 8NP

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Arguably one of the most idilic settings in the district, this beautiful Grade II listed chuch sits a short walk from Great Totham, next to the site of Great Totham Hall. The grounds are intersected by several footpaths giving access to South Wood,…
Mangapps Railway Museum

Address

Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8QG

Telephone
01621 784898

jjmangapps@gmail.com

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Extensive working railway museum including locomotives, carriages, wagons, historic buildings, memorabilia and a major collection of signalling equipment. Much of the collection is under cover. Train rides are available every open day.
St Margaret's Church Woodham Mortimer

Address

Maldon Road, Woodham Mortimer, CM9 6SN

Woodham Mortimer

Pretty St Margaret's Church dates from the 12th century, but the majority of the Grade II Listed building was reconstructed in the 19th century. Features include a 13th century font and an interesting graveyard with an impressive raised memorial to…
Othona Community

Address

East Hall Farm, East End Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PN

Telephone
01621 776564

bradwell@othona.org

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Othona is an open and inclusive Community rooted in the Christian tradition and drawing on a wealth of other inspirations.
Beeleigh Steam Mill

Address

Abbey Turning, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6LL

Telephone
0345 603 7624

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By appointment. Beeleigh mill was a large flour mill on the river Chelmer near Maldon, Essex. It had two water wheels driving 10 stones (later 12), to which was added a separate building which housed a steam-powered beam engine driving five…

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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