Tag Archives: Devon

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hertfordshire, history, illness, Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, London, photography, Private, story, war

Private George Manaton

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Private George Manaton

It is with deep regret we record the death of Mr G Aubrey Manaton, son of Mr and Mrs William Manaton, of Braunton, who had just passed away at his home in Braunton. Mr Manaton was a young journalist of brilliant prospects, his scholarly attainments and aptitude for the profession being such that he made rapid steps for one so young. Having served his articles on a Barnstaple weekly newspaper, he went to London and joined the staff of one of the Newsagencies, and subsequently that of “The Times.” For a short while he was a war correspondent for the latter paper in France, and during that period made most able contributions to the paper, notably among them being a graphic account of the sinking of a large warship off the French coast, of which he was an eye witness in the early days of the war. He served for a short time with the Inns of Court Officers’ Training Corps, from which he was invalided on account of ill-health. Besides being naturally gifted in his literary capacity, Mr Manaton had a wealth of charm of personality and character, and his death, at the early age of 26, is deeply regretted, especially among his intimate friends, of whom he had a great many. He was unmarried. In their bereavement, the parents, whose eldest son was killed in the war some time since, will have a measure of sympathy both full and sincere. One of deceased’s brothers, Lieut. Arthur Manaton, is serving in France with the Yorks and Lancs Regt.

[Western Times: Tuesday 30th July 1918]

George Aubrey Manaton was born on 9th June 1892 in Braunton, Devon. The second of five children, his parents were William and Sarah Manaton. William was a tailor and outfitter, and the family lived in a nine-roomed house – Hillside – on Church Street, to the north of the town centre.

George was working as a journalist by the time of the 1911 census. When war broke out, his work took him to France, but by the summer of 1915, he felt he could no longer remain a mere observer. Back in London, on 17th June, he enlisted in the army, and was assigned to the Inns of Court Officers’ Training Corps.

Private Manaton was sent to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, for his training. His time in the military, however, was to be a short one, and he was discharged for being unlikely to become an efficient soldier on medical grounds on 26th November 1915.

At this point, George’s trail goes cold. His older brother, Fred, a Private in the 9th (Service) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, had survived Gallipoli, but was killed during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. He was laid to rest in Puchevillers British Cemetery in Picardie.

George Aubrey Manaton passed away on 25th July 1918: he had turned 26 just a few weeks before. He was laid to rest in the Methodist Chapelyard of his home town, Braunton.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Monmouthshire, Monmouthshire Regiment, photography, Private, South Wales Borderers, story, Wales, war

Private Cecil White

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Private Cecil White

Cecil George White was born in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, in the summer of 1899. The youngest of four children, his parents were called William and Mary. William was a stevedore and, at the time of the 1901 census, the family lived at 6 Whitchurch Road, to the north of the city centre.

The 1911 census shows things had changed significantly for the White family. They had left Wales, and had set up home in the Devon village of Croyde. William and Mary were now employed as farmers, with Cecil’s older sisters, Cordelia and Lilian, also helping out on the farm.

Europe descended into war in the summer of 1914, and while Cecil was initially too young to serve, he would eventually be called upon to play his part. Full details of his time in the army have been lost to time, but it would seem that he joined the South Wales Borderers, but was attached to the Monmouthshire Regiment.

Private White’s trail is tantalisingly sparse. The one document relating to his passing notes that he died of sickness in Barnstaple, Devon, on 12th November 1918 – the day after the Armistice was signed. Given the town’s proximity to the family home, it is fair to assume that he had been home on leave when he fell ill.

The body of Cecil George White – just 19 years of age when he died – was taken the short distance back to Croyde for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in the village’s Baptist Chapelyard, alongside his sister, Lilian, who had passed a few weeks before.

The family would be reunited in death: William was buried alongside his children when he died in 1946, at the age of 78. Mary died in 1960, at the age of 91, and was interred with her family.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Pioneer, Royal Engineers, story, war

Pioneer Albert Miles

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Pioneer Albert Miles

Albert George Miles and his twin Judith Ann Miles were born on 8th August 1893 in the Devon village of Georgeham. Two of five siblings, their parents were labourer and road contractor Richard Miles and his wife, Elizabeth.

When Albert finished his schooling, he found work as a farm labourer, but when war broke out, he was keen to play his part. There is little information about his time during the conflict, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Engineers and attached to the 315th Field Company. According to a later newspaper report, he served in both France and Germany.

Pioneer Miles survived the war, and was medically discharged from army duties on 10th November 1919, almost exactly a year after the Armistice was signed. He returned home, but was dogged by illness.

Great sympathy has been manifested towards Mr and Mrs R Miles, of Croyde, in the loss of their youngest son, Albert George, who passed away last Friday, aged 27. The deceased served in the RE… during the war, but had not been well since he came home. However, he took to his bed only a fortnight before he died. He then sank rapidly.

[North Devon Herald: Thursday 12th August 1920]

Albert George Miles died on 6th August 1920, two days before his and Judith’s 28th birthdays. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St George’s Church, in his home parish of Georgeham.

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

Able Seaman William Lang

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Able Seaman William Lang

William John Lang was born on 22nd August 1882, and was one of six children to Thomas and Elizabeth Lang. Thomas was a general labourer from the Devon village of Georgeham, and this is where the family were born and raised.

William initially followed his father into labouring work, but after Thomas died in 1891, he decided he wanted bigger and better things. On 28th February 1899 he joined the Royal Navy. Under the age to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, for his training.

It seemed that William impressed his teachers. By the end of November he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class, and in the spring of 1900, he was given his first assignment, on board the frigate HMS Agincourt. In August he was transferred to the battleship HMS Camperdown, and he was within days of arriving that he came of age.

William was now formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was a little over 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Lang signed up for a period of 12 years, and during that time, he would serve on eight vessels, returning to what would become his shore base – HMS Vivid in Devonport – between assignments. In January 1903 he was promoted to Able Seaman but, while his annual reviews consistently noted a very good character, as time went on, his ability varied from good to moderate.

Able Seaman Lang’s contract came to an end in August 1912, and he immediately re-enlisted. In November 1913 he was assigned to the battleship HMS Colossus, and she would remain his home for the next three years. The posting seemed to suit William well, and his annual reviews reflected this, with superior ability being noted at the end of 1914.

By the start of 1916, William’s health was beginning to be affected and, he returned to HMS Vivid. He had contracted tuberculosis, and this led to his ultimate discharge from naval service on 22nd March.

At this point his trail goes cold, but it is likely that he returned home. Elizabeth had remarried by this point, and she and her husband, Thomas Physick, were living on a farm in Georgeham. William’s lung condition would get the better of him, and he passed away on 2nd September 1916. He had not long turned 34 years of age.

The body of William John Lang was laid to rest in the family plot in St George’s Churchyard, Georgeham: father and son reunited after 15 years.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war

Private Frank Tucker

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Private Frank Tucker

Frank Tucker was born in the Devon village of Georgeham on 7th June 1890. The youngest of seven children, his parents were farmers Charles and Mary Tucker.

When Frank completed his schooling, he joined his older siblings helping on the farm. The 1911 census recorded all but one of the Tucker household doing agricultural work, Frank’s older sister Hannah being the exception, as she was working as an elementary school teacher.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and Frank would be called upon to play his part. He did not enlist until 21st June 1918, however, when he joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a Private. His service papers note that he was 5ft 10ins (1.77m) tall, with fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Private Tucker was sent to the Royal Marine depot in Eastney, Hampshire, for this training, but his time there was not to be a lengthy one.

It is with regret that we have to record the death from pneumonia, of Pte. Frank Tucker (RMA) son of Mr and Mrs C Tucker, or Darracott, which occurred at Haslar Hospital, Gosport, on Tuesday in last week after a brief illness. Deceased, aged 28, had been serving with the colours just a month, and his death came as a sad blow to his many friends and relatives resident in Braunton and district.

[North Devon Journal: Thursday 25th July 1918]

The body of Frank Tucker was taken back to Devon for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St George’s Church in his home village.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorset, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Orkney, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Scotland, story, war

Private Albert Thorne

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Private Albert Thorne

Albert Edward Thorne was born on 30th April 1874. The fourth of eight children, his parents were George and Rosanna Thorne. George was born in Nether Compton, Dorset, and this is where the family were raised. He worked as a stone mason, the 1884 census confirming he employed six men and two boys.

When Albert completed his schooling, he found work as a domestic gardener. This was not something he wanted to do long-term, however, and, on 30th May 1892, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was also noted as having a mole on the right of this abdomen and a scar on the right of his waist.

Private Thorne was sent to the Royal Marine depot in Walmer, Kent, for his training, and he remained there until the end of November. He transferred to Plymouth, Devon, and, over the next three years, split his time between there and Devonport.

On 26th December 1895, Albert married Rhoda Mills, the daughter of a local labourer, in Plymouth Register Office. The couple would have three children: Albert Jr, Arthur and Vera.

Private Thorne was a career marine, and remained in the service, based between Plymouth and Portsmouth, Hampshire, until the spring of 1914. Having completed 22 years, he was stood down to reserve status, although this was not to be for long, as storm clouds were brewing over Europe.

In August 1914, Albert was mobilised once more, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Gibraltar. A depot ship, she would support other ships in and around the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The voyage north seems to have taken its toll, however, and Private Thorne was evacuated to the hospital ship Rohilla, suffering from appendicitis, which resulted in peritonitis. The conditions would prove fatal, and he passed away on 30th August 1914, at the age of 40 years old.

The Rohilla docked at Kirkwall on the Orkney mainland. Hundreds of miles from home, is seems that Rhoda may not have been able to afford to bring her husband’s body back to Devon. Instead, the body of Albert Edward Thorne was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Magnus’ Cathedral, Kirkwall.

Rhoda remained in Plymouth, in the rooms at 64 Durnford Street that she knew as home. The 1921 census found her living there with eldest son Albert – now a construction manager at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport – and daughter Vera. The family had a boarder, Irish-born merchant seaman William Arnold, whose sister, Margaret Fitzgerald, was also visiting.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Egypt, Great War, Gurkha Rifles, history, India, Lancashire, Lieutenant, photography, story, unknown, war

Lieutenant Walter Thompson

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Lieutenant Walter Thompson

In the picturesque cemetery of St Mary’s Church, Mortehoe, Devon, is a headstone commemorating Walter Stuart Thompson. The stone notes that he died on the 16th April 1920, and that he was in his 29th year. He is recorded as being the youngest son of the late Reverend Walter Thompson from West Didsbury, Lancashire. His mother is also noted as being buried with him.

A baptism record for Christ Church, Didsbury, confirms that Walter was christened on 22nd November 1891, and gives his parents’ names as Walter and Mary Elizabeth Thompson. The family do not appear in any census records but, given that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records note that Walter was a Lieutenant in the 2nd King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles, it is possible that they emigrated in the years following his birth.

During the First World War, Lieutenant Thompson’s regiment fought on the Western Front, in Egypt and in India. As his service records no longer exist, it is unclear when or how Walter served, but it is clear that he survived the conflict, and returned to Britain at the end of the war.

What the connection was to Devon is again unclear, although it seems possible that Walter was sent there for health reasons. His passing does not appear in any contemporary newspapers, so is unlikely to have been anything out of the ordinary.

The life of Walter Stuart Thompson, therefore, is destined to remain a mystery, buried with him in the tranquil cemetery on the north Devon coast.

Australia, Australian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, story, Sussex, war, Wiltshire

Private Charles Compton

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Private Charles Compton

Charles George Compton was born in the Broadwater area of Worthing, West Sussex in 1882. One of five children, his parents were Charles and Eliza Compton. Charles Sr was a shoe maker, but when he finished his schooling, his son found work as a bricklayer.

There is little detailed information about Charles’ early life, but in 1901 he married a woman called Lilian. They went on to have three children, and, by the time of the 1911 census, they had set up home at 47 Newland Road, Worthing.

Charles sought to make a better life for his family, and, on 31st January 1913, he boarded the SS Osterley, bound for Australia. He set up home at 1 Orange Lane, in Norwood, a suburb of Adelaide, and, at some point soon afterwards, Lilian and the children joined him.

War was declared in the summer of 1914, and the Empire was called on to play its part. On 28th March 1917, Charles enlisted, becoming a Private in the Australian Infantry. His service papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, and weighed 154lbs (69.9kg). He was noted as having brown hair, hazel eyes and a medium complexion. He had two tattoos: one on his left forearm and another on his left hand.

After a few months’ training, Private Compton’s unit boarded the HMAT A30 from Adelaide, to make the journey back to Britain. His unit – the 10th Training Battalion – disembarked in Plymouth on 25th August 1917, and made its way to Larkhill Camp on the edge of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

Over the next few months, Private Compton undertook further training, and would be transferred to the 43rd Battalion of the Australian Infantry. On 30th May 1918 he was admitted to Hurdcott Hospital, near Fovant, Wiltshire, suffering from influenza. The condition would eventually prove fatal: Charles passed away on 2nd July, at the age of 36 years old.

There was another Military funeral locally on Saturday.

The deceased soldier in this case was Private Charles George Compton, and the place of interment was the Cemetery at Broadwater. Private Compton, a member of an old Worthing family… was a member of the Australian Force…

The deceased worked for the Corporation before leaving Worthing for Australia, where his wife and two children are now living.

[Worthing Gazette: Wednesday 10th July 1918]

Charles George Compton was laid to rest in Broadwater Cemetery, not far from where his family were still living.

Private Charles Compton
(from findagrave.com)

Lilian was now thousands of miles from home and family. Grieving the loss of her husband, the communication from the Army on his passing would provide her with some comfort:

Thanking you for all your kindness in sending my husband things on to me. You don’t know how greatefull I feel when I received letters saying how kind the nurses all were to him through his illness. All I wishes I could have been their, but it was not to be. I now close thanking you all.

[Letter to battalion: 14th January 1919]

Lilian would move to Lincoln Street, Adelaide: her new home she would name Worthing after her home town.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Boy 2nd Class William Bray

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Boy 2nd Class William Bray

William Clements Bray was born on 14th October 1900. One of six children, his parents were Frederick and Annie. Frederick was a Private in the Wiltshire Regiment, and was based out of Trowbridge, Wiltshire. His work took him away from home a lot, however, and so Annie was left to raise the children on her own.

By the time of the 1911 census Frederick had left the army, and had instead found work as a canal labourer for the Great Western Railway. The family of eight were living in a four-roomed cottage at 22 Prospect Place, to the north of the town centre. William was still at school, but two of his siblings – brother Frederick Jr, and sister Florence – were both employed and bringing a wage into the household.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and it seems that William was keen to play his part. He enlisted on the 12th April 1918, joining the Royal Navy. As he was under age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Powerful, a training ship based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. His service papers note that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a large scar across his chest.

Boy Bray’s time in the navy was to be tragically short. After just a few weeks he was admitted to hospital in Plymouth, Devon, with scarlet fever, and developed emphysema. He passed away on 25th November “after a long and painful illness” [Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 14th December 1918] He was just 18 years of age.

The body of William Clements Bray was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery, not far from where his parents were living.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, India, Mesopotamia, photography, Private, Royal Navy, story, war

Private Thomas Adams

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Private Thomas Adams

Thomas Charles Adams was born on 18th April 1891 in Ilfracombe, Devon. The oldest of four children, his parents were Thomas and Amanda Adams. Thomas Sr was a mason turned builder, but his son seemed keen to carve his own path in life.

On 5th October 1905, Thomas Jr enlisted in the Royal Navy. His papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with dark hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. His time with the navy seems to have been brief, he was sent to HMS Impregnable for training, but was discharged on 9th November 1905, the reason given being “Invd”. Later documents suggest that he was dismissed because he was under the regulation chest measurement, but it was likely due to the fact that he had added two years to his age in order to be accepted.

Thomas returned home, and found employment as a fitter. He was not to be deterred, however, and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a volunteer. On 30th January 1907 he gave up his job, and enlisted in the army full time. Thomas’ papers give similar physical descriptions to his naval record, but also include his weight, 123lbs (55.8kg).

Private Adams was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, and spent the next two years on home soil. On 5th January 1909, however, the life of adventure he had wanted truly began. His unit was sent to India, and he would remain overseas for more than six years. His time overseas was not without incident, however, and he had four separate admissions to hospital with neuralgia (in April 1909), gonorrhoea (1910 and 1912) and malaria (in 1914).

By May 1915, Thomas was back in Britain. He was still having health issues, however, and he was admitted to Netley Hospital, Hampshire, suffering from tuberculosis. The condition would lead to his discharge from the army, and he was formally stood down on 15th June 1915.

At this point, Thomas’ trail goes cold. It is likely that he returned to his family, who were now living in Combe Martin, Devon. This is where he passed away, on 14th October 1915, at the age of 24 years old.

The body of Thomas Charles Adams was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter’s Church, Combe Martin.