Category Archives: Devon

Bed Steward, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Essex, Great War, history, killed in action, Merchant Navy, photography, story, war

Bed Steward Henry Herring

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Bed Steward Henry Herring

Henry George Herring – also known as Harry – was born on 10th November 1889. The second of six children, his parents were Thomas and Mary Herring. Thomas was a tailor from Tiverton, Devon, and the family lived at 131 West Exe South in the town.

Henry sought a life of adventure, and joined the Merchant Navy. Sadly, details of his service have been lost to time, so it is not possible to get a clear picture of his time at sea. Certainly he had moved out of the family home by the time of the 1911 census, though it is unclear whether he had enlisted by this point.

By the start of 1916, Henry was serving as a Bed Steward on board the SS Maloja, a passenger steamship that travelled between Britain and India. On 26th February she left Tilbury, Essex, bound for Bombay, with a crew of 301 and 122 passengers on board.

The following morning, Maloja was sailing through the Strait of Dover when she hit a mine. There was a large explosion and she faltered. The Canadian ship Empress of Fort William was only a short distance behind, and she steamed forward to assist, but she also struck a mine just 1km (0.6miles) away.

The Maloja’s lifeboats were readied to launch and passengers started to board, but the ships engine room had flooded, and she began to list. Three of the four lifeboats were unable to launch, and, as she was unable to stop, no rescue ships could come alongside.

The Maloja sank 24 minutes after hitting the mine. Many of the crew and passengers ended up in the water: most were rescued, but 44 bodies – including that of Bed Steward Herring – were recovered and around 100 people were unaccounted for.

Henry George Herring’s body was taken to shore: he was just 26 years old when he died. He was taken back to Devon for burial and laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Driver, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Field Artillery, story, unknown, war

Driver Thomas Dicker

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Driver Thomas Dicker

Thomas Lockyer Dicker was born at the start of 1890 in Tiverton, Devon. One of six children, his parents were Thomas and Mary Dicker. Thomas Sr was a cab driver, and the family lived at 4 Back Lane in the town.

Thomas Jr’s later life is a challenge to pin down. He doesn’t appear on the 1911 census, and his service records have been lost to time. It is clear that he had enlisted before October 1919 – and, in all likelihood, while the war was being fought. Assigned to the Royal Field Artillery, he worked as a driver, and again it is possible that he served overseas at some point.

Thomas Lockyer Dicker died at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Hampshire, on 12th April 1920, although the cause of his passing is unclear. He was 30 years of age. His body was taken back to Devon for burial, and he was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery, not far from the family home.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, photography, story, war

Boy George Hunt

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Boy George Hunt

The funeral took place at the Tiverton Cemetery, on Tuesday afternoon, of George Hunt, 17… a member of the Devon band, who died in Ireland as a result of an illness brought on by exposure. Pte. Hunt visited Tiverton for the last time at Christmas. On the return journey to Ireland he, with several others, were drafted to camp to await the arrival of a steamer. Whilst in camp he contracted a severe chill which he was unable to throw off and his parents recently received a message stating that his condition was giving rise to some anxiety. Mr and Mrs Hunt journeyed to Ireland and satisfied themselves that everything possible was being done to save their son. In spite of all efforts he died on Thursday, June 16th.

[Tiverton Gazette (Mid-Devon Gazette): Tuesday 28th June 1921]

George Cockram Hunt was born on 15th January 1904, and was the youngest of five children to William and Emily Hunt. William was a carpenter and joiner from Tiverton in Devon, and this is where the family were born and raised.

There is little additional available about young George’s life. He had enlisted in the army by the middle of 1920, and, as a Band Boy, was attached to the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. Given his age, it is unlikely that he spent any time overseas before the Armistice but, as the report of his funeral suggests, he was stationed in Ireland at the time of his death.

Boy Hunt died in barracks in Queenstown – now Cobh – in the south of Ireland. His body was brought back to Devon for burial.

George Cockram Hunt was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery, on the outskirts of the town he had called his home for less that two decades.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, photography, Private, story, war

Private James Chilcott

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Private James Chilcott

James Chilcott was born in Eccles, Lancashire, in the autumn of 1885. One of twelve children, his parents were William and Mary Chilcott. William seemed to be able to turn his hand to most things: the 1891 census recorded him as a hawker of fish, while ten years later he was employed as an insurance agent.

The Chilcotts had moved to Tiverton in Devon in around 1891, setting up home on St Andrew’s Street, to the south of the town centre. James initially found work as a bookseller’s assistant when he left school, but things were to change.

In the autumn of 1908, James married Mabel Candey. The couple moved to Nottinghamshire, settling in the village of Cresswell, where they lived in a small cottage at 6 John Street. James had found work as a coal miner in the area, which had taken the couple away from the comfort of Devon.

Over the next four years, James and Mabel would have four children, all of whom died before they celebrated their first birthday. The series of tragic events may have driven a need for Mabel to be with family, and by 1913, the couple had moved back to Tiverton. Daughter Dorothy was born in 1914.

When conflict his Europe the following year, James stepped up to play his part. Full details of his military service hare long since lost, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment, and had done so at the beginning of the war.

Attached to the 2nd Battalion, Private Chilcott was in France by 9th February 1915. Over the next few years, the unit saw fighting in most areas of the Western Front, including the Somme and Ypres. It is unclear how much of this James was involved in, but it is unlikely that he would have come away completely unscathed.

Pte. James Chilcott, of the 2nd Devons, who went through the dispersal camp at Fovant on February 20, died at Exeter on Monday from influenza. A son of Mr WH Chilcott, of St Andrew-street, Tiverton, he joined up at the beginning of the war, and had seen considerable service. He leaves a widow and one child.

[Western Times: Wednesday 26th February 1919]

James Chilcott died on 24th February 1919: he was 33 years of age. His body was taken back to Tiverton for burial, and he was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

“He leaves a widow and one child” does no justice to the pain that Mabel had to go through, having lost four children and her husband in a matter of six years. The 1921 census recorded her living on St Andrew Street with Dorothy, and showing she was undertaking home duties. She had two lodgers, who helped bring in a little more money.

Mabel Chilcott never remarried: she passed away in Tiverton in January 1946, at the age of 62.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Able Seaman Arthur Norris

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Able Seaman Arthur Norris

Arthur Norris was born on 24th February 1897 in the Wiltshire town of Mere. The seventh of nine children, he was one of four sons to Fred and Mary Norris. Fred was a domestic groom, and the family lived on Castle Street on the western edge of the town.

By the time of the 1911 census, Arthur had left school, and had found work as an errand boy. He had moved out of the family home, and was living with his older sister, Beatrice, and her husband. Piecemeal work wasn’t something Arthur was keen on, however, and in September 1913, he found himself a career.

That autumn, Arthur enlisted in the Royal Navy. Just 16 years of age, he was too young to formally join up, and so he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship based in Devonport, Devon, for his induction, and seemed to make an impression.

On 14th May 1914 Arthur was promoted to Boy 1st Class, and was assigned to the depot ship HMS Gibraltar. On 24th February he came of age, and officially joined the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was noted as having a mole on his left shoulder blade.

The now Ordinary Seaman Norris remained on Gibraltar for most of the year. After a couple of weeks back in Devonport, he was assigned to the Armed Merchant Cruiser Oropesa, and remained on board for the next twelve months. During his time there, Arthur was promoted again, gaining the rank of Able Seaman.

Over the next three years, Arthur served on three further vessels: HMS Excellent from March 1916; HMS Woolwich from April 1916 to June 1918; and HMS Columbine from July 1918.

While attached to the Columbine, Arthur fell ill. He contracted pneumonia, and passed away on 16th October 1918. He was 21 years of age.

The body of Arthur Norris was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Mere Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were still living.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Private, story, war

Private Havelock Webber

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Private Havelock Webber

It was with painful regret that the inhabitants of Bratton Fleming heard of the death of Private Havelock Webber… who passed away at Hursley, near Winchester, on Tuesday in last week. On being called to the Colours a few weeks ago, he was attached to the 3/6th Devons. Previous to joining up he followed the occupation of a tailor, and was also a part-time postman. Deceased was well-known and highly respected. He was closely connected with every movement at the Village Hall, and was a member of the Committee of Management.

[North Devon Journal: Thursday 11th May 1916]

Havelock Webber was born in Bratton Fleming early in 1878. There is no information available for his parents, but the 1891 census recorded him as living with his paternal grandparents, George and Grace Webber. At 13 years old, Havelock was already learning the tailoring trade.

Havelock doesn’t appear in the 1901 census, and the 1911 return gives little information away either. At this point he is boarding in a house with either the Bale or Musworthy family (his is a separate record, with those two families adjoining his).

Beyond this, there is little information available about Private Webber’s life or military service. He died from peritonitis on 2nd May 1916 in the Hampshire Camp. He was 38 years of age.

Havelock Webber’s body was brought back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter’s Church in his home village of Bratton Fleming, Devon.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, Suffolk Regiment, Surrey, war, York and Lancashire Regiment

Private Gilbert Smyth

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Private Gilbert Smyth

Gilbert Rowland Locke Smyth was born in the summer of 1897, and was the oldest of three children to Charles and Elizabeth. Charles was a postman and bootmaker and both he and his wife came from North Molton in Devon. The 1901 found the young family taking rooms in Dobbs Cottage on East Street, midway between two pubs: the Poltimore Arms and the Miner’s Arms.

Gilbert – who was better known as Roy – found work as a clerk she he finished his schooling. By the time war broke out, he was had moved to East Sheen, Surrey, and was employed by the civil service. He was keen to play his part, and enlisted in the army on 10th December 1915.

Initially assigned to the Suffolk Regiment, Private Smyth’s service records give an insight into the young man he had become. At eighteen years of age, he was 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall, and weighed 112lbs (50.8kg). While he had worn spectacles for a couple of years, he was noted as being of fair physical development. The document confirms that he had a mole on the top of his right arm.

Roy was not formally mobilised until October 1916. After four months’ training on home soil, his unit, the 14th Battalion, was sent to France. Private Smyth remained overseas for nearly a year, during which time he transferred to the 12th Battalion of the York & Lancashire Regiment.

At the end of July 1918 Roy was caught up in a German gas attack, and this would have a long-term effect on his health, particularly his eyesight. He returned to Britain on 30th November 1918, and, after a couple more months spent in France, he was formally discharged from the army on medical grounds on 5th April 1919.

The deepest sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs C Smyth in the loss of their eldest son, Roy… Deceased, who was employed in London in the Civil Service, was taken ill with pneumonia, and died before his father could arrive.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 6th August 1920]

Gilbert Rowland Locke Smyth died on 3rd August 1920: he was 22 years of age. He was brought back to Devon for burial, and was laid to rest in All Saints’ Churchyard in his home village of North Molton.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Devonshire Regiment, Great War, history, illness, injury, Machine Gun Corps, photography, Private, story, war

Private John Lethaby

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Private John Lethaby

The news of the death of ex-Gunner JC Lethaby, who passed away early on Monday morning last. was received… with deep regret. On the outbreak of war he was only 16 years old, but when the call came for volunteers, he put his age to 19 and enlisted. He proved his worth on the battlefields of Flanders and after being wounded, was gassed, his work as a first class machine gunner calling him into much danger. He recovered from his injuries to some extent, but after demobilisation, his health broke down and he gradually sank. His pain and suffering during the past months were borne with much patience. Last week he earnestly begged to be removed to his home… and he was brought by motor car.. on Sunday afternoon, but he passed away the next morning. He leaves a wife and child to mourn their loss, and sympathy is expressed with them as also with his mother, father, brothers and sisters… Always of a cheerful disposition deceased had a host of friends, especially among the young men of the parish. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and was entitled to the 1915-1915 Bronze Star.

[Tiverton Gazette (Mid-Devon Gazette): Tuesday 15th June 1920]

Despite the John Charles Lethaby’s obituary, there is little additional information about his early life. He does not appear on the 1901 or 1911 census returns, and there is no obvious sign of a birth or marriage certificate.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his wife’s name as Clara, and a later military record suggests that she moved to Hitchin, Hertfordshire, after her husband’s death. The 1921 census noted that she was living with her parents, Arthur and Eliza King, and had her daughter, Ada, with her.

The newspaper report suggests that John was born in 1898, which would have made him 22 when he died on 7th June 1920. His headstone gives his age as 25, which would fit in with the obituary commenting that he had added three years to his age in order to enlist. He appears to have joined the 3rd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, before transferring across to the Machine Gun Corps.

John Charles Lethaby was discharged from army on medical grounds on 19th April 1919. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis just over a year later, and was laid to rest in All Saints’ Churchyard, North Molton, Devon.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Wellington Regiment, photography, Private, story, war, Wiltshire

Private James McFarlane

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Private James McFarlane

James Malcolm McFarlane was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 24th April 1893. Little is known about his early life, although his parents are recorded as Peter and Helen.

When he completed his schooling, James found work on a farm. By the time war broke out, he was employed as a shepherd for Patrick Burke of Woodgrove, in the country’s Canterbury region.

James gave up his work to join the army, enlisting on 24th March 1916. He would have cut a striking figure, standing 6ft 3.5ins (1.92m) tall, and weighing 184lbs (83.5kg). He had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His records note that he had a small scar on his right shin, from an old pellet wound.

Assigned to the New Zealand Wellington Regiment, Private McFarlane spend three months in Trentham, on the North Island, for his training. His unit boarded the SS Maunganui and left Wellington for Europe on 26th June 1916. The troop ship arrived in Devonport, Devon, in late August, and James and his colleagues were sent to their camp in Sling, near Bulford, Wiltshire, arriving after a 4-day march.

Private McFarlane would not see any enemy action. In November 1916 he was moved to the ANZAC base near Codford, Wiltshire, and he was admitted to the No 3 New Zealand General Hospital located there. Suffering from pleurisy, he would remain there for the next two months. James passed away from pneumonia on 25th January 1917: he was just 23 years of age.

James Malcolm McFarlane was buried alongside his comrades in the newly extended graveyard attached to St Mary’s Church, Codford.

Private James McFarlane
(from findagrave.com)
Australia, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, New Zealand, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, photography, Rifleman, story, war, Wiltshire

Rifleman Alexander Shaw

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Rifleman Alexander Shaw

Alexander Richardson Shaw was born in Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia, on 10th February 1884. The second of seven children – although two of his younger siblings died when just babes-in-arms – his parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Shaw.

Little is known about Alexander’s early life. Thomas passed away in 1890, and Elizabeth was left to raise the family alone.

The next document for Alexander is his army service record, confirming that he enlisted on 27th June 1916. By this point he had moved to New Zealand and settled in Wellington. He was employed as a labourer and working for a GG Holmes.

It seems that Alexander had tried to enlist before: his records show that he had previously been turned down because of poor eyesight. At this point, however, with the war raging in Europe, and thousands of New Zealanders being called upon, he was taken on. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, and weighed 12st 6lbs (78.9kg). Alexander was also noted as having fair (reddish) hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Rifleman Shaw was sent to Trentham, outside Wellington, for his basic training. His time there was not without incident, however, and on 21st July he was confined to barracks for three days for failing to comply with an order.

On 16th October 1916, Rifleman Shaw’s unit – the New Zealand Rifle Brigade – set sail from Wellington on the SS Willochra for their ten-week voyage to Europe. Discipline remained tight on board and, as the ship was nearing the end of its journey, Alexander was again pulled up. His records simply state that his offence was ‘for clothing issued’, and he was stopped the sum of 3d 6d from his pay.

The Willochra arrived in Devonport, Devon, on 29th December 1916 and, while the rest of his unit was sent to their base at Sling Camp near Bulford, Wiltshire, Rifleman Shaw was admitted to the port’s military hospital. His condition is unclear, but by 10th January he was well enough to be moved to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital in Codford, Wiltshire.

Private Shaw was suffering from influenza, and this quickly developed into pneumonia. He passed away on 15th January 1917, just five days after being admitted. He was 32 years of age.

Thousands of miles from home, the body of Alexander Richardson Shaw was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard extension to St Mary’s Church in Codford, not far from where he had died.