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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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 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.
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.
St Michael the Archangel

Address

Church Hill, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6RJ

Telephone
01245 223551

Woodham Walter

Built in 1563, St Michael's is the sole Elizabethan church in Essex and one of only six built in England during Elizabeth's reign.
Creeksea Place House and Gardens

Address

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

Telephone
01621 784535

info@creekseaplace.co.uk

Burnham-on-Crouch

Creeksea Place is a 16th century fairytale Tudor Mansion set in beautiful gardens. The house with its captivating façade and tranquil surroundings is steeped in history.
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.
Maldon Masjid - Mosque

Address

Muslim Hall, Church St, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HP

Telephone
+447904659177

Maldon

Maldon Masjid – the Maldon District Islamic Cultural Association is set in a building that was once the Labour Hall. The mosque opened in 2005 and has been restored and transformed into a tranquil place for Muslim prayers. There is a separate…
D'Arcy House, home of Margery Allingham

Address

1 South Street, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, CM9 8TR

Tolleshunt D'Arcy

A blue plaque marks D'Arcy House as the home of famous novelist Margery Allingham who wrote the Albert Campion detective stories.
Home of Myra Sadd Brown / Old Convent

Address

West Chase, Maldon, CM9 6HN

Maldon

This Grade II Listed private home (not open to the public) was built in 1880 as a mansion for John Granger Sadd of the famous Maldon Sadd family. His daughter, suffragette and women's rights activist Myra Sadd Brown lived there and is commemorated…
The Moot Hall

Address

High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5PF

Telephone
01621 851553

manager@themoothall.co.uk

Maldon

This 15th Century former manorial home houses a unique brick spiral staircase, a Georgian court room, a former prison and a Victorian Council Chamber.
St Giles Leper Hospital Remains

Address

Spital Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6EA

Telephone
01621 857373

administration@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk

Maldon

Remains of an ancient Leper Hospital said to have been founded in 1164 by Henry II.
The Maeldune Heritage Centre

Address

St Peter’s Tower, Market Hill, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4PZ

Telephone
01621 851628

info@maelduneheritagecentre.co.uk

Maldon

The Maeldune Heritage Centre, set in the beautiful old St Peter's Church, is one of Maldon's most fascinating visitor attractions, mixing local history, temporary art and craft exhibitions, tourism information and the permanent home of the…
St Mary the Virgin church Tollesbury

Address

Church Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QJ

Telephone
07908 776750

office.blackwaterbenefice@gmail.com

Tollesbury

St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful Grade II* Listed church in the village of Tollesbury. The nave and part of the tower date back to the 11th century and incorporate reused Roman bricks and tiles. Inside there is an interesting font and brass and the…
Maldon Methodist Church

Address

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

Telephone
01621 853423

mwbarrya@mweb.co.za

Maldon

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

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…
St Stephens Church

Address

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

Telephone
01621 742947

sandra.manley@btinternet.com

Cold Norton

A small church situated on the edge of the village of Cold Norton.
Elim Church Maldon (Pentecostal)

Address

17 Wantz Road, Maldon, CM9 5DB

Telephone
07940 830855

rob_sefton@hotmail.com

Maldon

Maldon's Elim Pentecostal Church is the home of the Maldon Food Pantry food bank as well as a centre for worship. Normal Sunday services are at 11:00 and all are very welcome.
Tolleshunt D'Arcy Maypole

Address

Opposite 17 North Street, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, CM9 8TF

Tolleshunt D'Arcy

In the middle of the road junction in Tolleshunt D'Arcy stands the village maypole, one of the few remaining original maypoles to be found. The bottom has been protected by a wooden cage.
Burnham War Memorial

Address

High Street, Burnham, CM0 8AG

Burnham

Burnham’s war memorial remembers 98 local soldiers who died in the First World War, and 27 soldiers and 10 civilians who died in the Second World War. The pale stone obelisk, which looks out over the estuary, was designed by the renowned architect R…
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.

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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