Deaths - Coales – On the 23rd inst. at 1, Commercial-lane, Wellingborough, John Coales, aged 66 years.
Tradesman’s Death – We regret to report the death of Mr John Coales, saddler and harness maker of Midland-road, which occurred early on Tuesday morning. Deceased, who was born in 1849 in Great Oakley, had been in failing health for some time. He had been in business in the town for many years. After serving an apprenticeship at Peterborough, he succeeded to the business carried out in Silver Street by the late Mr Loveday, subsequently removing to Midland road. He was a Conservative in politics. For a considerable period he was one of the committee of the Working Men’s Club, filling the position of chairman for a number of years. He leaves three sons – Mr J F [John Francis] Coales, Mr S J [Stephen James] Coales and Mr W H [William Henry] Coales – and two daughters [Gertrude and Lily]. The funeral took place at Great Oakley this (Friday) afternoon.

Wellingborough News Friday 2 June 1916

Last Tributes — Mr John Coales Laid to Rest at Great Oakley
The funeral of the late Mr John Coales, one of Wellingborough’s oldest and most respected tradesmen, took place on Friday afternoon in the pretty graveyard of the Church at Great Oakley, near Kettering, in which village Mr Coales was born and spent his boyhood.

The cortege proceeded by road from Commercial-place, Wellingborough to Great Oakley, the mourners being Sergt JF Coales (son), Miss Gertrude Coales (daughter), Lieut SJ Coales (son), WH Coales (son) and Miss Lily Coales (daughter), Mrs G Coles (sister [Annie Coales married George Coles, 1874]), Mr Francis Coales and Mr William Coales (brothers), Mrs T Hobbes, Lieut Cecil Hobbes, Great Bowden, Mrs Marriott, Mr Geo. Cowper, Mr H Goodey (an employee for more than 40 years). Amongst the others present were Mr and Mrs T Bagshaw, Mr and Mrs JM Tebbot, Mr Lewis Woolston, Mrs JA Potter, Mrs Austin Haynes, Mrs Allsopp, and others. Mr W Coales, the octogenarian brother of deceased, was unable to attend. The service, both in the church and at the graveside, was impressively conducted by the vicar, the Rev. AR Graham. The coffin of oak bore the simple inscription:-

JOHN COALES
Died 23rd May 1916
Aged 66 years

Beautiful floral tributes were send by Sergt and Mrs J F Coales, Lieut and Mrs S J Coales, Miss G Coales, Mr W H Coales, Miss Lily Coales, Mr W Coales, Mr Francis Coales, Mrs G Coles, Mr and Mrs G Cowper, Lieut and Mrs Hobbes, Mrs A T Brown, Mrs F W Marriott, Mr and Mrs Bagnell and Joan (Leicester), Mr and Mrs J Williams (Wellingborough), Wellingborough Working Men’s Club and Institute and the Wellingborough Football Charity Cup. Messages of sympathy were received from Wellingborough and District Whist League, Mr F A Simonds (Reading), Mrs Bagshawe and Miss Cowper (Blackpool), Capt. Cornish (of the Cheshires), Col. McLean (Lancs and Yorks), Mr T G Denton, the Wellingborough Factory Cricket League and others.

Wellingborough Solicitor — Lieut S J Coales Dies from Wounds
Many residents in Wellingborough and district received a great shock on Wednesday evening by the sad news reaching the town that Lieut Stephen James Coales, solicitor of Market Square, had been killed.

Lieut Stephen J Coales

He was one of the earliest to join the Wellingborough Volunteers Training Corps, and became platoon commander. Taking great interest in military work, he decided some twelve months ago to apply for a commission as a second lieutenant. In the army he was duly gazetted as a second lieutenant on September 23rd, 1915 and was attached to the Sussex Regiment, which for some time was stationed in Ireland. Later he was transferred to the Royal West Kents. He was last at Wellingborough in the first week of July, a day or so before his regiment left for France. During that period he had often led his men out on night expeditions. In one of his last letters home to a friend he spoke of the arduous nature of the work at times and said that he was going into the trenches on the 14th inst.

The telegram from the War Office to deceased’s wife ran “Deeply regret to inform you that Lieut Coales was wounded on the 17th and died on the 18th.” He was 40 years of age, being the second son of Mr John Coales, of Midland road, who passed away last May. He was educated at Wellingborough Grammar School and after was for a time in the office of Messrs. Sharman, Jackson and Archer, solicitors of Wellingborough. Then he was with Mr FW Bull, solicitor of Kettering, for a time, subsequently going to Haslingden, where he served articles with a member of the firm of Woodcock and Sons, solicitors, passing his legal examinations with honours and was duly admitted as a solicitor on February 20th, 1903. Shortly after he returned to his native town and then commenced to build up a practice. He was a familiar figure in the Country and local Police Courts and he was entrusted with the defence of some sensational cases from the town and district. In 1906 he was married to Miss Kitty Toon. For a number of years he associated himself with the Conservative party of the town, acting as secretary of the club and later gave his attention to the work in the Northern Ward. In 1914, he came out as Conservative candidate in that ward, and secured 288 votes, gaining his seat from one the old members, a Liberal. He was a freemason, being a member of the Hatton Lodge. He took a great interest in farming, and at one time spent most of his weekends at Finedon.

On Thursday morning Mrs Coales received a letter from the commanding officer of the regiment in which he says: – “I am very sorry to have to inform you that your husband was wounded by a shell this morning (September 17th). He was hit in several places, and I am afraid his wounds are severe. I saw him just before he was taken off to the Field Ambulance, and he was quite conscious then, so I hope all will be well.”