Thomas George Coombs, was a collier at Celynen Colliery, born in Crumlin, in 1896 to Thomas and Susan Ellen (nee Bradford) Coombs. He arrived in France in September 1915 with the 6th (Service) Battalion South Wales Borderers.

On 10 August 1917, the 25th Division, with his battalion as pioneers, captured Westhoek, Pilckem Ridge, in the rain with mud underfoot during the Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders. The Germans counter-attacked on the night of 10 August, but were repulsed.

Private T G Coombs (17288) was killed in action 11 August 1917, aged 21, and is buried in the Huts Cemetery, southwest of Ieper (Ypres). He is commemorated also at Celynen Collieries Workmen's Institute, Newbridge; the original Newbridge War Memorial now at the National Museum Wales, St Fagans and on that memorial's replacement in the High Street, Newbridge. Additional information can be found on the Newbridge War Memorial website.