BISHOPS HULL WAR MEMORIAL Erected 1921 BISHOPS HULL WAR MEMORIAL Index: page Introduction 1 Somerset County Gazette Report 1921 2 – 3 Memories of Bishops Hull 3 Those Remembered on the War Memorial 4 - 36 Memorial Board in Bishops Hull Church 37 - 40 Second World War Names 41 - 46 Extra Names 47 Sources 48 Introduction. The Bishops Hull Family History Group group holds monthly meetings at the Frank Bond Centre and is one of the many activities organised by the centre. In 2013 Bishops Hull Parish Council awarded a grant to the Family History Group with a view to research those names that appear on the War Memorial, to recognise the sacrifice of the men associated with Bishops Hull. It must be remembered that at the time of the First World War Bishops Hull covered a larger geographical area than the present Parish. It included parts of the present Galmington, and Comeytrowe, Rumwell and extended into Taunton as far as Castle Street, Tangier. The County Gazette reported that the War Memorial was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday 6th.November 1921, from this report it is clear that there were 34 names engraved on the monument when it was first erected. In “My memories of Bishops Hull”, published in February 2001, Christine Quartly recalls that the names of the fallen in the First World War had become so eroded on the memorial that in 1993 a new plaque was dedicated. This bronze plaque lists 29 names. The research has proved that not only were names omitted from this 1993 plaque but other errors have been made, we have highlighted these in our findings. During our research we have found other men from the village that had died during the war have not been included on the memorial, these names have been included in our research. There is also a wooden Memorial Board in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bishop’s Hull. Listed on this Board are names of the men from the village who took part in the First World War, a copy of this list of names appears in our research with further information where found. In 1993 a new plaque was added to the memorial dedicated to the men who died in the Second World War. A limited research has been made on these names and the results are included. At a Parish Council meeting held on 10th April 2014 it was agreed in principle to replace the First World War plaque, and to seek a Grant from the War Memorials Trust. Sources and acknowledgements are included at the end of our Research. The research has been carried out by:- Bob Steed, Ken Burgess, John Hamer and Norman Thompson. 1 The Somerset County Gazette dated 12th.November 1921, page 5 reported the unveiling and dedication of the Memorial which took place on Sunday 6th.November 1921. The following is a copy of that report:- BISHOP’S HULL MEMORIAL STONE CROSS UNVEILED TRIBUTES TO THE GALLANT DEAD The unveiling of the Bishop’s Hull War Memorial was impressively carried out on Sunday afternoon in the presence of a large attendance of parishioners. The memorial takes the form of a stone cross, which has been erected in a prominent position opposite the entrance to the parish church. The cross is raised on two steps which are let into the wall, and is enclosed from the road by an ornamental stone and chain barrier. Constructed by Messrs.Phippard, of Taunton, it is of Doulting stone, and is quite plain except for a sword carved out of the upper part. At the base appear the words, “In honoured memory of the men from Bishop’s Hull who fell in the Great War, 1914- 1919”. The names of the men commemorated appear on either side of the first step in the following order:- Harry Allan, Thomas Allan, Stafford Bastard, Arthur Batten, Mark Board, Harry Carpenter, James Cavill, Harry Cridge, James Crossman, William Gill, Percy Gray, Edward Jewell, Edgar King, Frederick Mattravers, Ian Melhuish, Walter Perry, Sydney Peters, Edgar Pratt, Albert Pugsley, Bassett Paton, Arthur Robinson, Geoffrey Smerdon, Charles Smith, Charles Strickland, Christopher Swain, Reginald Swain, Arthur Trott, Archibald Walsh, Walter Ware, Reginald Weaver, Harry Webber, Herbert Wilkins, Clarence Winn, Stanley Wood. The Memorial Committee, who worked hard for the success of their scheme, consisted of Mr.C.Leslie Fox (Chairman), Mrs Watts, Miss Lythall, the vicar, the Rev.R.C.W.Raban, and Messrs. R.J.S.Hill (Hon Secretary) H.J.Wadham, E.P.Peters, and L.Balman. Boy Scouts from Taunton, under Mr.J.Betty, and the Bishop’s Hull Girl Guides under the charge of Mrs.Scoble, formed a guard of honour, and the church and chapel choirs amalgamated for the occasion. The religious service, which was brief and simple, was conducted by the Rev.Preb.Maynard, of Milverton. After the hymns “O God, our help in ages past” and “Fight the good fight” had been sung, and prayer offered, Colonel Hartley Maud, C.M.G., unveiled the memorial. He said: “The names engraved on this cross commemorate sons of the British Empire who heard the call of duty, and went out to die for King and country. In the cause of humanity they left the best which life had to offer them, and finally gave their lives that we might live in freedom. Their remembrance will endure as long as the British language is spoken in this land. The glorious traditions which, by their heroic self-sacrifice, they have made must be upheld by the future generation. Let this cross become a pillar of help to those who are left, that they may make their lives better when they recall the names of those who died for them out in Flanders.” 2 The Rev.Preb.Maynard, in the course of a brief speech, pleaded that honour must be given to whom honour was due. That cross was to be a memorial which would stand for all time as an outward sign of gratitude and honoured remembrance of sacrifice, the price paid by those brave men had been great, but all progress in the world was by suffering, we were reaping what they had sown. Future generations and descendants of the fallen would visit that memorial to honour the names thereon engraved. It remained for us to be inspired to higher and nobler things for the sake of the memories of those men – “As they passed over all the trumpets sounded”. Preb. Maynard then dedicated the memorial “To the glory of God and in memory of the men of Bishop’s Hull who fell in the Great War”. This was followed by two minutes of silent prayer, after which bugles from the Taunton Depot sounded the Last Post. The National Anthem brought the service to a close. The school children, who had been trained by the head master, Mr.W.J.Blatchford, were also present, and Mr.W.R.Dyer, organist of the church, acted as accompanist for the singing. Muffled peals were rung on the church bells both prior and after the ceremony. The cost of erecting the memorial is £220. A number of beautiful wreaths were afterwards placed on the monument from family and relations of the fallen. MY MEMORIES OF BISHOP'S HULL By Christine Laura Quartly February 2001 The War Memorial The names of the fallen in the First World War had become so eroded, and those of the Second World War had not been added, so the Parish Council decided that there should be new bronze plaques and inscriptions giving the names of the fallen in both World Wars. On 9th February 1993, Col. Sir John Lawson unveiled these, and school children planted a tree. Prayers were said by our Vicar, Rev. Colin Randall, and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by buglers from Wellington School CCF. The Taunton Deane Mayor, Mrs. Margaret Dickson and a contingent of the British Legion as well as many people from our village attended the ceremony. 3 THOSE REMEMBERED ON THE WAR MEMORIAL Henry ALLEN Private 28738 7th.Bn. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. (Formerly 1135 W.Som Yeo) Henry was born in 1895 at West Hatch, he was one of eleven children born to William and Sarah Ann Allen. The 1901 census shows the family to be living at Bickenhall but by the time of the 1911 census the family are living at Barr Cottages, Bishops Hull. Henry died, 10th March 1917, Age 22, the Commonwealth War Graves (CWGC) shows that he was the son of William and Sarah Ann and they give the address as being West Wood, Crowcombe. Henry is the brother of Thomas (Tom) Allen. Remembered with Honour at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte. Meaulte is a village in the Department of the Somme, immediately south of Albert. 4 Thomas ALLEN (The name was originally on the memorial but has not been included on the replacement plaque) Private 17396 Somerset Light Infantry 6th.Btn Thomas (Tom) was born in 1892 the son of William Allen, he married Rose Paddick in 1911, the census for 1911 shows them to be living at Upcott Cottage, Bishops Hull. He was killed in action 2nd August 1916 and the Medal Roll shows that he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British medals. Thomas is the brother of Henry Allen. Remembered with Honour at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Charles Stafford BASTARD Private 31914 1st. Bn. Somerset Light Infantry Charles was born in 1898 at Taunton the second child of Charles Henry and Constance Sarah Bastard.