Lest We Forget

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LEST WE FORGET

Details of those from the parish of Kingston St Mary who gave their lives in two world wars

INDEX

Page 3 … First Steps Page 4… The Public Appeal Leaflet Page 5 …Newspaper Report of the Unveiling of the Memorial Cross Page 6….Other War Memorials (The Scout Memorial & Playing Field) Page 8… The War Dead Page 38.. The Roll of Service - Listing all men and women from the parish who served in WW1 Page 43 Abbreviations and sources Page 44 Addendum – Others with Close Links to the Parish

This booklet was compiled and researched by Ray Stokes on behalf of the Kingston St Mary History Society. Every care has been taken to ensure accuracy but if you spot any errors or omissions, can add to the information or supply photographs, please contact me on – Tel: 01823 762417 or email [email protected]

FIRST STEPS

At a General Meeting of parishioners 28 May 1919, it was resolved that a Memorial should be erected in the churchyard on a site close to the south gate, to honour the local men who lost their lives while serving in the First World War. Mr Frederick Bligh Bond of Bristol, a noted church architect, was employed to design and supervise the erection of the Memorial Cross. The estimated cost, including bronze tablets with the names of the Fallen and the architect’s fees was £350. The following month a printed pamphlet was circulated in the parish (see next page) appealing for donations. The committee felt it would “add greatly to the value and interest of the Memorial, if the cost of its erection is shared by every parishioner and by all who have an interest in Kingston.” The chairman of the organising committee was the Vicar the Rev Percy Shattock and the treasurer for the appeal was Mr Louis Hawkings, the headmaster of the school, who had served in the fledging Royal Naval Air Service during the war. Mr Bligh Bond produced a sketch plan of the proposed memorial in December 1919 which met with the approval of the committee and it was erected the following year. Made of Doulting stone and standing more than 14 feet high, the memorial takes the form of an octagonal Latin cross on a square plinth and three stepped octagonal base. The names of the 35 men who died in the First World War appear on plaques on the memorial. An additional plaque was added after the Second World War listing the names of the eight men who died in that later conflict and the inscription on the base updated to read: “IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–18 AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.” The memorial is a Grade 2 listed monument because of its historic interest “as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.” It is described as “a modest but good example of a memorial in the form of a Latin cross”. It was unveiled during the morning service on Christmas Day 1920 by Colonel Walsh of Kingston, and remains the centre point of the village’s Act of Remembrance each November.

This account of the unveiling ceremony appeared in the Somerset County Gazette on Jan 1st 1921 KINGSTON’S FALLEN DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL CROSS In commemoration of the men of Kingston who fell in the war a memorial cross has been erected at the entrance to the parish church. The dedication and unveiling took place at the morning service on Christmas Day. The cross which is of Doulton (sic) stone, stands about 14 feet in height, and the design is similar to those erected on the battlefields of France and Flanders. It was designed by Messrs Bligh Bond, Falconer and Baker, the well-known Bristol architects, and it stands on a plinth at the base of which is inscribed: “In grateful memory of the men of Kingston who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919.” On either side of the cross are the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice, their number being 35. There was a crowded congregation at the morning service, which was conducted by the vicar (the Rev P.E.F. Shattock) while Mr C Minett, Taunton town missionary read a portion of Scripture (Rev. vii.,9, to end). The unveiling of the memorial was to have been performed by Brigadier-General H.C. Frith C.B., but owing to unforeseen circumstances he was prevented from attending, his place being taken by Colonel Walsh C.B., of Kingston, who belongs to a well-known military family. Before the unveiling an eloquent and appropriate address was delivered in the church by the Bishop of Taunton. Fortunately, the weather was fine, the sun shining brightly when the congregation assembled around the cross in the churchyard. Following the singing of the hymn “For All the Saints” Colonel Walsh unveiled the memorial by releasing a Union Jack with which it was covered. He paid tribute to the heroism of those who had fallen and to the sacrifice of many who had survived the conflict, although still suffering from the effects of the hardships and dangers they had endured. The form of service explained that the cross had been “erected in thankfulness for the gift of victory; in remembrance of our brothers from this parish who served and suffered in the war; and especially those who gave their lives.” Their names were as follows – Geoffrey Francis Arnold, Percival Arthur Berry, Charles Billing, Wilfred Blackmore, Arthur Chidgey, Sidney Clemow, Victor Dicks, Daniel Dykes, Edward Ferris, Reginald Furzer, William John Furzer, Ernest Gamblin, Robert Anderson Gault, William George Gillett, William Hakes, Charles Hayes, Gilbert Hurford, Frederick Elworthy Kidner, William Lowman, William Harry Lye, John William Miles, Frank Ernest Palfrey, William Ring, Bertie Rowcliffe, William Samways, Walter Saunders, Walter Sealey, Henry Short, Frederick Sloley, William Edward Sully, John Charles Templeman, George Totterdell, Frederick George Tucker, Frank Walford, Frank Woodley. After the ceremony the Last Post and the Reveille were sounded by ex-Bugle-Major Hughes of the 2/5th Somerset Light Infantry while the service which followed in the church concluded with the playing of the National Anthem by the organist (Mr H.J.Treeby). The cross was subscribed for by the parishioners. After the ceremony wreaths and flowers were placed at the foot of the memorial by friends and relatives of those who served in the war.

Other Memorials There are a number of other war memorials in the village although they are not always immediately recognisable as such.

The Scout Memorial Just a short distance away from the cross, is a lantern hanging over the churchyard gate. It was put up by the local Scouts to commemorate two of their former members Geoffrey Arnold and Frederick Sloley who died in the First World War. The Scout emblem is incorporated in the ironwork from which the lamp hangs and a carved wooden plaque recording the two men’s names is set into the gate pillar.

The Village Hall Although not officially registered as a war memorial, the erection of the hall came about as a result of events in the village during the Great War (1914-1919). In 1915 the ladies of the village formed a Christmas Present Working Party (CPWP) to put together parcels to send to all the soldiers and sailors from Kingston. One later recalled: “Forty of us crammed into the small reading room at the Club, an atmosphere of bootlaces, smokes, knitting and warmth; for all those things and many others went into those parcels.” Fund raising events, including whist drives, dances and jumble sales, were organised to meet the costs.

After the end of the war Miss Arnold, who had been vice-chair of the group, wrote: “How I shall miss it all. We’d been happy working together.” However, the village school where many of the social events had been held was not an entirely suitable venue so it was decided at a meeting in the Vicarage on March 4 1919 “to remain in being until the Parish Hall be built”. The ladies stepped up their fund-raising and over the next three years raised a total of £426. After making donations to the Welcome Home supper for local servicemen on Armistice Day 1920 and the Memorial fund, they handed over £355 7s 7d (£355.38) towards the cost of the Village Hall which was eventually opened in October 1923 by the Hon Mrs Mary Herbert. For a detailed account of the opening ceremony go to the hall website (ksmvillagehall.co.uk).

Air Mechanic William Samways

Some memorials are in the most unlikely places. This plaque stands beside the drive to Volis Farm, now the home of the Taylor family.

William Samways was the eldest son of Alfred Edward Samways, a shepherd on Lord Portman’s estate, and his wife Flora (nee Watts) who lived at 14 Volis, Kingston. After serving with an artillery unit, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in action over France less than three weeks later.

Playing Field In 1948 the Hon Mrs Mary Herbert of Tetton House gifted into Trust a parcel of land of just over two acres for the purpose of providing “a recreation ground mainly for the use of children and young people”. In 1984 the Trust became a registered charity (No: 288912) under the title “The Kingston War Memorial”. The Parish Council is the managing trustee with the day to day running of the playing field being carried out by a volunteer general management committee. The playing field provides play equipment for children of all ages, a football pitch, croquet lawn and a small pavilion for small meetings and children’s birthday parties. It was also the venue for the village’s celebrations to mark the Queen’s Jubilee in 2012 and Her Majesty’s 90th birthday in 2016.

FIRST WORLD WAR 1914 - 1918

The names of 35 men who died in the First World War are inscribed on the War Memorial Cross.

Twenty-eight died in battle or as a result of wounds - the youngest Frank Woodley, aged 17, the oldest Sidney Clemow, who was 42.

The other seven died from illness or disease – five of them in the closing months of the war or just after the Armistice suggesting they may have been victims of the flu pandemic that swept Europe.

It has been calculated that one in five Kingston men in the 18 to 44 age group died in the war. Almost every family suffered the loss of a direct relative or an in-law because many local families were related by marriage.

Details of all these men, their families and links to the village, where known, are listed.

Geoffrey Francis ARNOLD Captain 1/5 battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry Killed in Action 8 March 1916, aged 24 Mesopotamia (now Iraq)

Geoffrey Francis Arnold was the son of brewer Francis Stephen and Mary Elizabeth Arnold (nee Benson) of Northway House, Kingston Road, and later Crossways, Kingston. He was a pupil at Blundell’s School, Tiverton, where his name appears on the memorial, and a former member of Kingston BP Scout troop. His family bought Kingston brewery in the 1880s. His uncle Thomas Percy Arnold lived at Marsh House from 1904 until his death in 1922. Captain Arnold was killed during the attack on Turkish-held Dujailah Redoubt during an unsuccessful attempt to relieve the besieged garrison town of Kut. He has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq, and by the plaque set into the pillar of the gate to the churchyard at Kingston St Mary. There is also an engraved brass plaque in St Andrew’s Church, Rowbarton, where he was baptised, which records that he was attached to the 37 Brigade, Signal Section.

The memorial plaque set into the gate pillar of the church

Percival Arthur BERRY Royal Navy Stoker 2nd class HMS Vivid Died 26 February 1919, aged 18 UK

Percival Berry was the youngest of three sons of Henry and Elizabeth Annie Berry (nee Seaward) of Fulford, Kingston. HMS.Vivid was the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport. He died three months after the end of the war. The cause of his death is not specified but he may have been a victim of the flu pandemic (Spanish flu) that claimed millions of lives between June 1918 and December 1920.

Stoker Berry is buried in Kingston St Mary churchyard.

Charles BILLING Private 3/6671 1/5 battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry Died 1 November 1917, aged 19 Egypt

Charles Billing was born at Hele, near Taunton, the middle of five sons of Elias William and Ann Billing (nee Salter). Soon after his birth the family moved to the Old Tanyard, Kingston. His father was a farm carter/groom and Charles also worked on a farm starting as a “milk boy”. In 1915 Elias, despite being 51 years old, volunteered for army service and served in the Somerset Mule Remount Squadron of the Army Service Corps, a unit that obtained and trained horses & mules for the Army, but was discharged in March 1916 as unfit because of a long-standing medical problem (hernia). It appears his son Charles put his age up to join the Army. He was born in the first months of 1898 and in the 1911 census his age was given correctly as 13. His medal card (below) shows he arrived overseas on 11 November 1914 when he would have been 16 years old. He died from disease (his Army record does not specify which illness) almost exactly three years later – at the age of 19. The 1/5 Somersets left Southampton on 9 October aboard the troopship Alnwick Castle bound for India, accompanied by two cruisers. It arrived in Bombay on 9 November. Over the next two and a half years the 1/5 battalion were deployed, in several drafts, to Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia to fight Turkish forces. The battalion lost more than 170 men in battle or as the result of illness. Private Billing is buried in (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria.

* William BLACKMORE Trooper 923 C Squadron, 1st battalion West Somerset Yeomanry Killed in Action 17 October 1915, aged 39 Gallipoli

**Listed on memorial as Wilfred Blackmore**

William Blackmore was the son of George and Marie Blackmore, of Lewes, Sussex, and husband of Annie Lucy Blackmore (nee Streeter), of Lancaster St., Lewes, Sussex. He had worked as a groom and coachman but immediately before the war was working as chauffeur to the Austin family who lived at Blagdon Hill, Taunton. In 1911 William and his wife were living at Brookfield Cottages, Blagdon Hill. It is not known what connection they had with Kingston St Mary. Possibly he had worked in the village previously. His name appears on the war memorial at Lewes. He enlisted in the West Somerset Yeomanry in Taunton in August 1914.Enlisted at Taunton. His death came just eight days after the battalion landed at Suvla Bay. Trooper Blackmore is buried in Hill 10 Cemetery, Turkey.

Obituary from the Sussex Express 12 Nov 1915

Arthur CHIDGEY Lance Corporal 20406 6th battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Killed in Action 13 June 1915, aged 29 France

Arthur Chidgey was one of nine children of widow Elizabeth Chidgey (nee Daveridge) and the late John Chidgey of Church Gate, Kingston. Arthur was ‘an estate labourer’. The Chidgeys, an old established Kingston family, lived in one of the cottages that was demolished to enlarge the churchyard. Lance Corporal Chidgey is buried in Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery, France.

Sidney CLEMOW Private 64452 Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force Died of wounds 2 September 1918, aged 42 Bapaume, France

Sidney Clemow was born in Lambeth. He was the son of former hotelier, postmaster and wine merchant Charles E. Clemow and his wife Annie, who retired to Kingston Cottage (now Davestones) around 1905. Sidney went to a boarding school in Bideford and then worked as a hotel manager in Kingston-on-Thames before emigrating to New Zealand where he became a farmer. He and his wife Daisy Mary Clemow lived at Deep Creek, Oneroa, Auckland. He enlisted and sailed from Wellington on 21 November 1917 for Liverpool aboard the HMNZT Maunganui. Private Clemow is buried in the Bancourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais

Victor DICKS Private 3/6037 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry Died of wounds 12 July 1916, aged 25 France

Farm labourer Victor Dicks was the second son of Albert and Matilda Dicks of Curland, near Trull. His father, a labourer, died in 1897, aged 35. Matilda then married George Keitch. They lived at the Old Rectory, Curland. Victor Dicks married Lottie Holley in Kingston St Mary church in June 1913. He was wounded during the early stages of the Battle of the Somme when 26 officers and 438 others ranks of his battalion were killed, wounded or missing. Pte Dicks is buried in the Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France.

Daniel Macpherson DYKES Private DM2/181324 688th MT Coy, Royal Army Service Corps Died 6 November 1918, aged 31 Balkans

Born in Glasgow in 1887, Daniel Dykes was the son of Jane Dykes. He was chauffeur to the Gault family and moved down from Scotland with them when they rented Tetton House. He married the family’s nanny Margaret Waddell in Kingston Church. They had one son James (Jimmy) Dykes who is buried in Kingston churchyard. Pte Dykes is buried in the British Cemetery in Skopje (now Macedonia). The great majority of those buried here were men of the RASC (MT) who died of influenza after the Armistice with Bulgaria.

The commemorative scroll given to the families of those who died in the First World War, each personalised at the bottom, in red ink.

Edward FERRIS Private 12331 6th battalion Somerset Light Infantry Killed in Action 18 August 1916, aged 36 France

Edward Ferris was the son of William and Eliza Ferris of Stall Barton, Kingston. He married Elizabeth Annie Crabbe in Kingston church and they had four daughters. The family lived in Lilac Cottage (now called Mallows) in the main street of the village.

Like many local men, he travelled to South Wales (according to family legend he walked there) to obtain better paid employment and worked as a ‘timber man assistant below ground’ in a colliery. He enlisted in Pontypridd and arrived in France on 21 May 1915. His unit fought with great distinction in the two-day Battle of Delville Wood (known to the troops as Devil’s Wood) in northern France in August 1916. Five officers and 48 other ranks were killed and more than 220 wounded or missing. After the war his widow and daughters, who were all under the age of 10 at the time of his death, left Lilac Cottage and moved into Taunton.

Private Ferris is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France

Reginald FURZER Private First Class 361st Infantry Regt, 91st Infantry Division, US Army Died 3 October 1918, aged 25 France

Reginald was the younger of two Furzer brothers killed in the war. Reginald emigrated to USA in 1913 and was a pipe fitter in Seattle. He became a US citizen in May 1918 and enlisted in Washington State. A total of 26,277 Americans died in the Mesue-Argonne offensive (Sept 25 - Nov 1, 1918) and another 96,000 were wounded. Private Furzer is buried in Mesue-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

William FURZER Private A38011 8th battalion Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Army Killed in Action 3 June 1916, aged 36 Belgium

William Furzer was the eldest son of widow Rebecca Furzer (nee Pugsley) and the late Simeon Furzer (died 1913) of The Conies, Kingston. William, a labourer, had previously served for 7 years in the Field Artillery. He emigrated to Canada but following the outbreak of war he enlisted at Port Arthur, Canada on Dec 18 1915. He was killed in battle in the Ypres Salient and has no known grave. Private Furzer’s name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

Ernest GAMBLIN Private 22582 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry Killed in Action 8 August 1916, aged 24 Belgium

Farm labourer Ernest Gamblin was the second of four sons of farm worker George Gamblin and his wife Mary Ann Gamblin (nee White) of Mill Cross, Kingston. After its terrible losses in the Battle of Albert (1st-14th July), the 1st battalion moved back to the Ypres Salient. At 10.30pm on 8 August just as they were being relieved at the end of a week in the front line, the unit diary says “the enemy made a violent gas attack accompanied by heavy shelling”. A total of 173 suffered from gas poisoning. Of these 33 died. Pte Gamblin is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium. This farm was a medical dressing station and it was in this cemetery that Lt Col John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, wrote perhaps the best known poem of the war “In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow between the crosses row on row…..”

Robert Anderson GAULT Lieutenant 4th battalion Grenadier Guards Killed in Action 16 September 1916, aged 19 France

Robert Anderson Gault was the son of Mr Leslie Hamilton Gault and his wife Marion (nee Anderson) of Tetton House, Kingston. Of Irish descent, the family lived in Montreal, Canada, where they were wealthy merchants and noted philanthropists. Mr and Mrs Leslie Gault rented Tetton House in 1914. Their son, born in Canada, had just finished at Harrow School when the war broke out. He joined the Grenadier Guards in January 1916 and was promoted Lieutenant six days before his death on the Somme. He has no known grave. Lt Gault’s name appears on the Thiepval memorial, France. NOTE: A relative Brig Andrew Hamilton Gault, also born in Montreal, was Taunton’s MP from 1924-35 and lived at Hatch Beauchamp. The Hamilton Gault playing fields, in Hamilton Road, Taunton, are named after the family.

William George GILLETT Private 27178 7th battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Formerly Trooper 1964 WSY) Died 3 November 1918 aged 22 Germany Farm labourer William Gillett was one of six children of Frank and Anna Maria Gillett (nee Davis). He was born at Ashill and baptised in the village church on 27 October 1895. In 1911 he was living with his family at Crabbs, Capland, Hatch Beauchamp, and when he enlisted he gave his home address as Hayden, Somerset. His connection with Kingston St Mary is not known. The Taunton Courier of 12 June 1918 reported that Private Gillett was among prisoners of war interned in Germany. He died just a week before the end of the war. His record is marked “Died of disease”. He is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany, which was used for the burial of more than 1,000 Allied POWs.

William HAKE Sergeant 581 6th battalion Leinster Regiment Died of wounds 12 August 1915, aged 35 Gallipoli, Turkey

Eldest son of labourer Alfred Hake, and his wife Sarah (nee Hines) of Nailsbourne, William, a farm labourer, joined the Somerset Light Infantry in 1896 and served for seven years – three of them in South Africa during the Boer War. In 1903 he married Fannie Elizabeth Andrews, of Mill Cross, Kingston, in Kingston church and the couple had at least two children. His battalion landed at Suvla Bay on August 6 1915 and over the next six days was involved in the attacks on Sari Bair (Anzac Cove) and Rhododendron Spur. Losses were high. Sgt Hake was wounded and died aboard the hospital ship HMHS Neuralia which was anchored off the coast. He was presumably buried at sea. Sgt Hake’s name appears on the memorial at Helles in Turkey, for those with no known grave. NOTE: His widow Fannie later married John Billett and their only son James Billett was killed in the Second World. See later entry.

Charles HAYES Sergeant 240174 1/5th battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry Died of wounds 24 December 1917, aged 25 Palestine

Charles Hayes – known as Charlie - was the son of William and Bessie Sutton Hayes (nee Langdon) of Cushuish, Kingston. He was born at Lydeard St Lawrence in 1893 and baptised in the local church on 16 April that year. He moved to Cushuish with his parents and like his father he was a mason working on a local estate. During November and early December 1917 his battalion was involved in a series of battles as they advanced towards Jerusalem. Like many other wounded he would probably have been taken back to the military hospitals in Alexandria in Egypt for treatment. After the war his parents moved to Portland Street in Taunton. Sgt Hayes is buried Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery.

Gilbert Henry HURFORD Private TF202429 22nd battalion Middlesex Regiment Died of wounds 29 December 1918 aged 21 in Southern Hospital Oxford

Gilbert Hurford was the second of four sons of farmer George Hurford and his wife Elizabeth. He was born in Bishops Lydeard and baptised in the local church on 31 May 1896. But sometime before 1901 the family moved to Parsonage Farm, Kingston. Before the war, Gilbert worked on his father’s farm. He joined Army on 9 May 1916 and was initially graded for “field service at home”. However, on 1 December 1916 he was posted to France. He received a gunshot wound to the head and on 2 October 1918 was transferred to 3rd Southern Hospital, Oxford, where he died almost three months later. Private Hurford is buried in Kingston St Mary churchyard

Frederick Elworthy KIDNER Rifleman 2546 No 1 Company, 16th battalion, London Regt (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Died of wounds 20 February 1915, aged 26 France

Frederick Kidner was the son of John and Emily Kidner, of Dodhill House, Taunton. His parents bought the house and farm in 1894. Frederick’s eldest brother William Kidner lived there until 1954 while his sister was well known in the parish for running the local scouts and guides. According to a family archive (available online) Frederick was born at Nynehead on 16 June 1888 and attended Mary Street House School, Taunton, before going to Sherborne School where he was a prefect. He won an exhibition to Worcester College, Oxford. In 1912, after gaining his degree, he went to Russia and joined his uncle’s business. R. & T. Elworthy Co. Ltd. at Elizabethgrad (now known as Kirovograd in the Ukraine). The firm designed, manufactured and distributed agricultural machinery on a large scale in Russia and Siberia. With the outbreak of war, he travelled back to London and joined the QWR being posted to France in Jan 1915. He was shot in the stomach by a German sniper on the afternoon of 19 February. Rifleman Kidner died the following day at a Field Ambulance station and is buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières.

Eli William LOWMAN Private PO 19278 1st battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry Killed in Action 5 September 1918 aged 21 France

Eli Lowman was born on 29 July 1897, the second of three sons of Mark and Rhoda Lowman (nee Pring) of Nailsbourne, Kingston, and baptised in St Mary’s church on 10 October 1897. He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Portsmouth on 2 March 1916 and was posted to France in July 1917 but was invalided back to the UK (through illness) on 10 April 1918. He returned to France on 13 May, to re-join the 1st battalion RMLI. Private Lowman is buried in Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, Pas de Calais.

William Harry LYE Private R/387484 75th Remount Sqn Army Service Corps Died 24 May 1919 aged 43 UK

William Lye was born in Ilchester, the son of agricultural labourer Charles Lye and his wife Sarah. He married Elsie Clara Drayton in her home parish of Bishops Lydeard on April 8 1901 and they had at least two sons. In 1911 the family were living at Stall Barton, Kingston St Mary, and he was working as a coachman. Later they moved to Grange Cottage, Kingston. A Remount Squadron consisted approximately 200 soldiers, who obtained and trained horses and mules for the Army. They were generally older, experienced soldiers used to working with horses. His death six months after the Armistice suggests he may have been another victim of the Spanish Flu pandemic. He died in a military hospital at Taunton while on demob leave. Private Lye is buried in Kingston St Mary churchyard

William John MILES Lance Corporal 1387 1st West Somerset Yeomanry Died 14 January 1916 aged 29 Alexandria, Egypt

William Miles was born on March 8 1886, son of farmer and cattle dealer William and Elizabeth Miles (nee Blackmore) of Hill Farm, Kingston (the farm occupied the area now known as Kingston Court). He went to Wellington School and then worked on the farm. He served for five years in the West Somerset Yeomanry and then enlisted in the Life Guards but was discharged owing to ill-health. He re-joined the West Somerset Yeomanry on 28 Nov 1915; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt and died in the General Hospital, Alexandria, from rheumatic fever contracted while on active service. One of his officers wrote: “He had done very well during the time in the trenches and I was very sorry to lose such a good soldier.” He was a keen rugby player and had played for Taunton for three seasons. LCpl Miles is buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery

Frank Ernest PALFREY Private M2/177723 406 Mechanical Transport Company Army Service Corps Died of wounds 21 July 1917 aged 28 Belgium

Frank Palfrey was the son of Metropolitan Police Sergeant Edward Charles Palfrey, who was born in Kingston, and his wife Maud, from Goathurst. Frank was born in Streatham, London. In October 1909, he married Lilly Rose Palfrey (nee May). In 1911 he and Lily were living at Comeytrowe, Trull, with his father, who had retired from the police, and mother. His occupation was given as cab proprietor. At the time of his death his wife was living in Boweys Lane, Kingston. They had two sons, Clifford and Edward, who was born only months before his father’s death. Pte Palfrey is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium

William RING Private 7967 1st battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Killed in Action 19 May 1915 aged 29 Belgium

William Ring was born in Taunton in 1886, the son of farrier James Ring and his wife Sarah (nee Holford). In 1901 William, then 15, was living with his family in Greenbrook Terrace, Taunton, and working as an errand boy. His father died in 1903 (at the age of 48). William married Rose Ring (nee Sealey) of Kingston, in the village church on Christmas Day 1912. On the certificate, he is described as gardener/groom. Bride and groom both gave their address as Kingston.

He was killed in the Second Battle of Ypres which was fought from 22 April – 25 May 1915 for control of the strategic Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium.

Private Ring is buried in First DCLI Cemetery, The Bluff, Ypres, Belgium

Bertie ROWCLIFFE Private 28240 11th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment Killed in Action 30 July 1916 aged 22 France

Bertie Rowcliffe was the son of farm labourer Frederick and Sarah Ann Rowcliffe (nee Duddridge) of Volis, Kingston. He was born at Cheddon Fitzpaine and baptised in the local church on 12 April 1895. After leaving school he became a labourer on a local farm. He appears in 1911 census as Herbert, although both the birth and baptismal records give his name as Bertie. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme and has no known grave. Private Rowcliffe’s name appears on the Thiepval memorial, France

William Alfred SAMWAYS Airman 1st class (Observer) 14262 49 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps Killed in Action 29 Nov 1917 aged 20 France

William Samways was the eldest son of Alfred Edward Samways, a shepherd on Lord Portman’s estate, and his wife Flora (nee Watts) of 14 Volis, Kingston. He was born in Bishops Lydeard on 3 Nov 1897, educated at Dowlish Wake Elementary School and became an apprentice Electrical Engineer. He joined the Somerset Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force) and was called up on mobilization 5 Aug 1914; transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 9 Nov 1917 and was killed in aerial combat during the fighting near Cambrai. His Commanding Officer wrote expressing his regret at losing so promising a Gunner Observer and so good a soldier who was genuinely popular and whose loss was regretted by officers and men alike. A letter written and signed by six of his comrades stated that they would miss him as a brother, for he always had a smile and a joke for everyone. Airman Samways is buried in Cambrai East Military cemetery, France

Walter SAUNDERS Private 16853 7th battalion Somerset Light Infantry Died of wounds 19 May 1916 aged 33 Belgium

Husband of Annie Saunders of Nailsbourne He was born at Nether Stowey, his wife at Creech. It is likely the couple, with their two young children, only moved to Nailsbourne in 1910. Both gave their occupation as “cowman on farm” in the 1911 census. On May 19 1916, after a month’s rest in Calais, the 7 SLI went back into the front line astride the Ypres- Zonnebeke road and immediately came under heavy shell fire that continued through the night. Private Saunders is buried in Potijze Cemetery, near Ypres.

Walter Edwin John SEALEY Private 46688 11th battalion (Midland Pioneers) Leicestershire Regiment formerly Royal Engineers Died of wounds 15 Nov 1917 aged 36 London

The Sealey family had lived in Kingston since the early 18th century. Walter, a carpenter and joiner, was the son of Albert and Mary Sealey of Yarford. He was born on 10 November 1881 and baptised in St Mary’s, Kingston, the following month. He married Alice Best in her home town of Niton, Isle of Wight, in 1908 and at the time of the census in 1911 he and Alice were living in Yarford. Alice died in August 1916, at the age of 30. Her death was registered in the Isle of Wight. Walter died in King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, London, from a gunshot wound to the spine received in action in France on October 27th 1917. He left a son, Albert Henry Sealey, aged 3 years, as an orphan.

Pte Sealey was buried in St John’s churchyard in Niton, Isle of Wight, his wife’s home town, where his name appears on the war memorial.

Henry SHORT Guardsman 21304 3rd battalion Grenadier Guards Died of wounds 30 June 1916 aged 22 Belgium

Henry Short was born in Studley, near Calne, Wilts, the son of gardener Henry Short and his wife Isabel, and baptised in Christ Church, Derry Hill, Wilts, on 16 Dec 1894. At the time of the 1911 census Henry, then aged 16, was living with his parents in Rumsey House Lodge, Calne, and working as a gardener. No known connection with Kingston but he enlisted in Taunton and went to France with his regiment on 27 July 1915. It is likely he was wounded in the vicinity of the Elverdinghe Chateau, north west of Ypres, which was occupied by the Guards Division. He was taken to No 9 Field Ambulance station but they were unable to save him. Guardsman Short is buried in Ferme-Oliver Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium.

Frederick SLOLEY Private PLY/17415 188th Brigade Machine Gun Company, Royal Marine Light Infantry Died of wounds 26 November 1916 aged 18 England

Frederick Sloley was the third son of William and Mary Sloley of Harrises Cottages, Hillcommon, previously of Vine Cottage, Kingston, Frederick was a member of Kingston Scout troop and is one of two former scouts commemorated by the lantern and plaque at the south gate of the churchyard. When he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 5 Oct 1914 his age was given as 17. In fact, he was only 16. It is likely that like many other patriotic young men in the early stages of the war, he lied about his age. The records show he was born in April 1898 and baptised in St Mary’s Church, Kingston, the following month. In August 1916, he suffered appendicitis. After treatment, he re-joined his unit in Sept 1916 and was badly wounded on 13 Nov 1916. He was invalided to UK on 20 Nov 1916. He died in King George Hospital, London, six days later as the result of gunshot wounds to the back, abdomen and spine. Private Sloley is buried in Kingston St Mary churchyard.

William Edward James SULLY Military Medal Lance Corporal PLY/17696 2nd battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry Killed in Action 26 October 1917 aged 20 Belgium

Walter Sully was born on 9 April 1897, the eldest son of Samuel and Mary Ann Sully (nee Pilton) of Nailsbourne. He was baptised in 1 May in Kingston Church. He enlisted on 16 Nov 1914, just months after the outbreak of war, and was part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, on 21 October 1915. His unit later deployed to the Western Front. He was listed as wounded, missing presumed dead during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). During this battle, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the presence of the enemy (London Gazette 4/2/1918). He has no known grave. Lance Corporal Sully’s name appears on the Memorial Wall at the Tyne Cot cemetery, Belgium.

John Charles TEMPLEMAN Private 8146 1st battalion Somerset Light Infantry Killed in Action 26 August 1914 aged 25 France

John Templeman was born in Dinnington, near Hinton St George, the son of Charles and Charlotte Templeman (nee Venn). At the time of the 1901 census he was staying with his maternal grandparents in Staple Fitzpaine. In 1911 he was serving with the Somerset Light Infantry and was stationed at Jellalabad Barracks in Mount Street, Taunton. As a regular soldier, he would have been in the first drafts to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) almost immediately after the declaration of war ( Aug 4 1914). The Somersets landed in France on Aug 23. Three days later they suffered heavy losses as they tried to halt the German advance at Le Cateau, with 19 men killed, 150 wounded and 100 missing. The Somerset Memorial Book, listing the thousands of soldiers from the county who died in WW1, gives his home address as Kingston. His name also appears on the War Memorial Cross in the churchyard and Book of Service in the church. But his connection with the village is unknown. Private Templeman has no known grave. His name appears on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. This memorial, in north east France, commemorates the 3,740 officers and men of the BEF who fell in the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne , between the end of August and early October 1914.

George TOTTERDELL Guardsman 8014 1st battalion, Coldstream Guards Killed in Action 14 Sept 1914 aged 24 France

George Totterdell was one of five children of thatcher Robert Gadd Totterdell and his wife Mary Jane Totterdell (nee Hobbs) of Tetton Gate, Kingston. His father died in 1907. Four years later, at the time of the 1911 census, George was serving with the Coldstream Guards in Victoria Barracks, Windsor. As a serving trained soldier at the outbreak of war (4 Aug 1914), he would have been among the first to be drafted to France to try to halt the advance by the Germans army which had far greater numbers and was better equipped. Guardsman Totterdell has no known grave. His name appears on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre memorial in Seine-et-Marne, France.

Guardsman Totterdell’s medal card showing he arrived in France on 13 August 1914 – just nine days after Britain declared war.

Frederick George TUCKER Private 17568 F Company, 2nd battalion, Dorset Regiment Killed in Action 25 March 1917 aged 19 Mesopotamia (now Iraq)

Frederick Tucker was the son of farm worker James and Annie Tucker (Eastment) of Tainfield Cottage, Nailsbourne. Previously the family had lived in Soap House (on the Kingston to Taunton road). Frederick was baptised in St Mary’s Church, Kingston, on 27 June 1897. After schooling, he worked as a farm labourer and a gardener at Tetton House. Before the war he had been living in Bournemouth and enlisted in Poole. Private Tucker has no known grave. His name appears on the memorial at Basra, Iraq.

Frank WALFORD Gunner 95552 248th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Died of wounds 4 October 1917 aged 37 in Belgium

Frank Walford was born in Spaxton, the son of the late Charles and Hannah Walford, and baptised in the local church on 1 Feb 1880. He was given the names Francis Frederick and although he uses these names on census documents, all the military records give his name as Frank. In 1901 he was living his family at Peartwater, Spaxton, and working as a labourer on a farm. But by 1908 he had obtained a job as a farm carter and on 4 November married Clara Crouch in Broomfield church. In 1911 they were living in Culverhay Cottages, Wiveliscome, but sometime later moved to Nailsbourne. He attested his willingness to serve in the army on 23 Feb 1916 in Taunton – when he was 35 years and one month old, and was immediately placed on the reserve. He was called up on 5 June 1916 but remained in the UK until 15 Feb 1917 when he was posted to France. His death occurred during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). According to the records he suffered a shell wound with lacerations to the right thigh. He died in No 10 Casualty Clearing Station. Gunner Walford is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. NOTE: According to Army records his widow Clara was given a pension of 26/6d (£1.35) a week to keep herself and her three children, aged 7, 2 and one.

Frank WOODLEY Lance Corporal 5604 2nd battalion Rifle Brigade Killed in Action 9 May 1915 aged 17 France

Son of gardener Henry Woodley and his wife Lucy Emily (nee Venn) of 5 Alpha Cottages, Kingston St Mary. Frank was born at Otterford, in the parish of Pitminster, and at the time of the census in 1911 was working as a telegraph boy at the Post Office in Blagdon Hill. He enlisted in Hounslow, Middlesex. According to his family, he lied about his age when he volunteered for military service. At the time of his death he would have been only 17. He was killed during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, south of Armentières in north east France, when his unit was one of the lead battalions in the attack on well-prepared German positions. The British suffered more than 11,000 casualties during the day, many of them killed within yards of their own front line. Lance Corporal Woodley has no known grave. His name appears on the memorial at Ploegsteert, Belgium NOTE: His father Henry, aged 40, enlisted for Army service in December 1915, just six months after his son’s death. He was placed on the reserve and eventually called up in July 1918 and posted to an Army Service Corps Horse Transport unit. He did not serve outside the UK and was discharged in February 1919. His service record is stamped “No longer physically fit for war service” although it gives no reason.

SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945

The names of eight men from the parish who died in the Second World War are inscribed on a plaque on the war memorial in the churchyard.

Five of these men died while serving at sea, either in the Royal Navy or as gunners on merchant ships. The youngest was 19 years old.

James Lovelace BILLETT Corporal 7946680 Royal Tank Regiment (RAC)

Killed in Action 23 January 1945 aged 22 Holland

James Billett was the son of John Billett and Fanny Elizabeth Billett (formerly Hake) of Kingston. Buried in the Mook War cemetery, near Nijmegen. Most of those buried here were killed during the advance into Germany during the winter months of 1944/1945

NOTE: His mother Fanny lost her first husband William Hake in WW1 (see earlier entry) and then married John Billett, of Hob Lane, Kingston, in 1919. James Billett was the only child of her second marriage which lasted just six years. Her second husband John Billett, a GWR railway porter, died in 1925. Family sources say he was struck by a lorry on December 25th and died the following day. Fanny lived in Verbena Cottage, Kingston, for some years until her death in April 1957.

Marcus William FURZER Able Seaman Gunner D/JX 528900 Royal Navy

Killed in action 16 August 1944 aged 19 off East Africa

Known as Billy, he was the son of Sidney and Edith V. Furzer (nee Berry) of Parks Cottages, Parsonage Lane, Kingston, Somerset, and a nephew of the Furzer brothers who died in the First World War. Initially he was based at HMS President III, a shore station beside the Thames that trained Royal Navy gunners to serve aboard defensively equipped Merchant ships. He was serving as a gunner on the 7,037 ton steam ship Empire Lancer which was sailing unescorted from Durban to the UK via Aden carrying a cargo of copper and military stores. She was torpedoed and sunk by U boat U-862 off Mozambique. Forty-two of her 79 crew died. The 37 survivors landed in Portuguese East Africa ten days later. AB Furzer’s name appears on Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorating those with no known grave, most deaths having occurred at sea.

Robert Gairdner Lieutenant Colonel Royal Artillery

Killed 14 March 1944 aged 39 London

Robert Gairdner was the husband of Anne Savile Gairdner (nee Bailey) of Kingston Manor (married 1940).

Born in 1904, he was the son of Charles Dalrymple Gairdner and Beatrice Mary Gairdner (nee Ballock), and was educated at Charterhouse and Cambridge. He became a stockbroker in Glasgow, where he held a Territorial Army commission and rose to command the 80th Lowland Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.

While serving in France, he was mentioned in despatches. He returned to this country to a staff post and was killed in London during an air raid.

Lt Col Gairdner is buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Kingston St Mary, south-west of the church tower and is also commemorated by a window in the north aisle of the church.

Max Frederic ISAAC Lieutenant Royal Navy HMS Cossack

Killed in action 23 October 1941 aged 31 in the Mediterranean

Max Isaac was born in Birkenhead in Cheshire, the eldest child of marine surveyor Gilbert J. Isaac and his wife Florence. In the Royal Naval Reserve List, he is shown as a midshipman in 1926, a sub lieutenant in 1931 and a lieutenant in 1934. He was married on April 12 1938 at Christ Church, Radyr, Cardiff, to Stella Corner, whose father Harry Corner, a wholesale clothier with a business in Taunton, bought Larch Cottage, Kingston St Mary, for the couple who are seen in the photograph enjoying a pre-war stroll along an unknown promenade. In October 1941 Lt Isaac was serving aboard HMS Cossack, a destroyer on convoy escort duties in the Mediterranean when she was torpedoed by a U-boat. A total of 159 crew died and 29 were injured. Cossack remained afloat but sank the next day. Lt Isaac’s name appears on Portsmouth Naval Memorial commemorating those who have no known grave because they died at sea. Following her husband’s death Stella Isaac continued to live alone in Larch Cottage (on the left just past Quantock Rise on the road between Mill Cross and Upper Cheddon) until she moved into a residential home in Bishops Hull where she died in January 2011.

Foster Moverley (Peter) McRAE Surgeon Lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve HMS. Mahratta

Killed in Action 25 February 1944 aged 28 Barentz Sea, off northern Norway

Son of Sydney Spencer Redgrave McRae and Sophie Moverley McRae. Peter McRae was an accomplished cricketer who played 25 times for Somerset between 1936 and 1939. A right-handed batsman he scored 972 runs including one century and four 50s.

Born in Buenos Aires, where his father had business interests, he came to England with his mother and older sister Sheila in 1919. He went to school at Christ’s Hospital (1926-34) before studying medicine at St Mary’s in London.

With his parents abroad much of the time, many of his holidays were spent in Kingston, staying with the Vicar, the Rev Percy Shattock and his wife Ethel who treated him as an “adopted” son. It is possible the Vicar was a distant relative since his father also had the unusual forename of Foster.

HMS Mahratta was escorting an Arctic convoy when she was attacked by a German U boat and sank off northern Norway. Although other ships were quickly on the scene, there were only 16 survivors - 220 crew lost their lives in the freezing Barentz Sea. In “1941–1945 The Arctic Lookout”, Noel Simon recounts the story of McRae's actions after the sinking: “Having managed to climb onto one of the few Carley floats to have come through the sinking, he set about hauling the others aboard. The float soon became overcrowded. Remarking almost casually: ‘There's not enough room for us all’ the doctor slipped over the side into the sea and was never seen again.”

Lt McRae’s name appears on Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Albert Thomas NATION Leading Stoker D/KX 91438 Royal Navy HMS Trinidad

Killed in Action 14 May 1942 aged 25

Albert Nation was the son of George and Anne Nation (nee Bond) of Fulford, Kingston; husband of Betty Maud Nation (nee Holland) of Plymouth. While on Arctic convoy HMS Trinidad, a light cruiser, was badly damaged during an engagement with German destroyers when she was hit by one of her own torpedoes which had a faulty gyro system. After it was launched, the torpedo went in a wide arc and returned to hit Trinidad killing 32 men. The ship managed to limp into Murmansk for temporary repairs. Sailing back to UK, under escort and at reduced speed, Trinidad was attacked by dive bombers and sank on 15 May. Leading Stoker Nation’s name appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Francis Richard VILLIS Sergeant 5670432 7th battalion Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps

Killed in Action 7 June 1944, aged 31 France

Francis Villis was the son of wood sawyer Francis Henry Villis and his wife Edith Maud Villis (n ee Slocombe). He was born at Stogursey in December 1913 and baptised the following month. He was married to Kathleen Jessie Villis (nee Kerton) of Kingston, Somerset. The 7th battalion Parachute Regt (which had been formed in 1942 from the 10th Somerset Light Infantry) parachuted into Normandy just after midnight on D Day (6th June). Their task was to relieve the glider- borne troops who had captured the bridges across the river Orne and the Caen Canal. They successfully defended the bridges from repeated German attacks despite being understrength because many of their men and much equipment had been dropped miles away from the target. They were eventually relieved in the early hours of 7th June having lost 19 killed and 36 wounded. Sergeant Villis is buried in Hermanville Cemetery.

John WELCH Gunner 4268877 1/1 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery

Died 30 July 1942 aged 26 at sea

John Welch was born in Durham, the son of Benjamin Archibald and Jane Welch (nee Nixon). He was married to Beatrice Mary Welch (nee Nation) of Kingston, Somerset. He joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers but transferred to RA and trained as a gunner on Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS). Of the 14,000 army gunners who served at sea protecting the ships that brought essential supplies to Britain, at least 1,236 lost their lives. His death is officially recorded as being “at sea” but it is not known on which ship he was serving. Gunner Welch’s name appears on Portsmouth Naval Memorial commemorating those with no known grave. NOTE: His wife Beatrice Mary was the sister of Albert Thomas Nation (see previous page). In the space of three months she lost her husband and brother

The Roll of Service

Having erected the Memorial Cross to commemorate those who died in the First World War (1914-1919), it was decided to compile a book giving the names of all those from Kingston St Mary who served in the armed forces or were involved in war work. The Roll of Service was ordered in July 21 1923 at a cost of £3 15 shllings (£3.75). Bound in a soft leather cover and hand written on parchment, the book contains the names of more than 200 villagers, including nine women. The names of the fallen are denoted by a red asterisk. One or two of the names are out of alpabetical order or have been added later and the wrong Clemow brother was marked as having died. A pencil circle in the original book marks the error. The frontispiece of the list is reproduced here – with a typed list of the names put into the correct order. A key to the regiments is given at the end.

* Asterisk marks the names of the fallen

Abbott, Robert SLI Bowering, William, Norfolk Y Ackland, Francis WSY Bradbury, Claude WSY Arnold, Frederick OTC. *Briggs, William SLI *Arnold, Geoffrey SLI. Bromfield, Harry R Vety Corps Arnold, Reginald ASC Bryer, George WSY Berry, Bertie RN Burford, Frederick Worcesters Berry, Charles WSY Burrows, Jack SLI Berry, Edgar RGA Burrows, Mark SLI Berry, Fred RN Burrows, Stanley ASC Buswell, Martin SLI Berry, Henry RDC Butter, Charles RGA Berry, Jack KOLI Caddick, Charles SLI Berry, Marcus W Yorks Caddick, Frederick SLI *Berry, Percy RN Caddick, George SLI Bickham, Reginald SLI Carnall, Frederick RE Bidgood, Harry SLI Chamberlain, Thomas Worcesters Bidgood, Herbert ASC * Chidgey, Arthur SLI Biffen, Alfred WSY Chidgey, James SLI Billett, Charles Canadians Chipling, William Devons Billing, Archibald WSY Clemow, Don NZMGC

*Billing, Charles, SLI *Clemow, Sidney NZR Clermow, William RNVR Billing, William R. Vety Corps Coles, Samuel RE Bishop, Alfred, Hants Court, Frank DCLI Bishop, Clifford, SLI Court, John WSY Bishop, William, Berks Curry, James, Rifle BDE *Blackmore, Wilfred, WSY Daly, William RN Bond, Charles SLI *Dicks, Victor SLI Bowering, Cyril WSY

*Dykes, Daniel ASC Hawkins, Lawrence, Glosters Hawkins, William SLI Eden, Frederick (MBE) Mil Mission Ewins, Henry SLI *Hayes, Charles SLI Farmer, Frederick RHA Hayes, Robert SLI Farmer, George SLI Hole, Charles, Worcesters Holley, Stanley RFA * Ferris, Edward SLI Holley, William, Devons Foyle, Frederick ASC Hooper, George ASC Foyle, Percy Dorsets Hosegood, William ASC Fudge, George RGA Humphris, Frederick Irish Gds Fudge, Gilbert SLI Hurford, Edward WSY Fudge, Joseph Worcesters *Hurford, Gilbert Middx Fudge, William RGA Furzer, Bert SLI Hurley, Gilbert RE Furzer, Ernest RMLI Huxley, Henry RFA Furzer, Harry DCLI Huxman, William RGA Jarvis, William RAF * Furzer, Reginald US Army Furzer, Sidney (MM) Rifle Bde *Kidner, Frederick Qn’s Westm R Kidner, William RE * Furzer, William Canadians Knowles, Tom DCLI Gamblin, Albert ASC Knowles, William DCLI *Gamblin, Ernest SLI Leach, Daniel RAMC Gamblin, Henry SLI Leach, Egerton WSY *Gault, Anderson Gren Gds Leach, Frank RAMC *Gillett, William WSY Leach, Stanley WSY Greed, Edmund WSY Leakey, Albert RAMC Greed, Francis SLI Leakey, Frank RAMC Grunter, Herbert RN Leakey, Harold 11th Hussars Hake, Frank RN Leatherby, William SLI Hake, Jack, Cycle Corps Lowman, Cecil RN *Hake, William, Leinsters Lowman, Gilbert RN Haste, John, RGA Lowman, Hubert WSY Hawkings, Louis, RNAS *Lowman, William RMLI

Lyddon, Herbert SLI *Ring, William DCLI *Lye, William ASC *Rowcliffe, Bertie Berks Manning, Fred Hants Rowcliffe, Charles SLI Marks, Sydney WSY Rowcliffe, Ernest WSY Matravers, Samuel ASC Rowcliffe, Frederick ASC Matthews, John SLI Rowcliffe, Joseph RE Mears, Edward Canadians Salisbury, Arthur SLI Mears, William Canadians *Samways, William RFC *Miles, William WSY Saunders, Ernest, RDC Mountstephens, Charles SLI *Saunders, Walter SLI

Nowles, Frederick SLI *Sealey, George RE Nutting, Harry SLI Selway, Harry RFA Palfrey, Albert RE Short, Henry Gren Gds Palfrey, Alfred RMLI *Sloley, Frederick RMLI Palfrey, Ben SLI Sloley, Walter SLI Palfrey, Edward 6th DG Sloley, William Cycle Corps Palfrey, Eland, Devons Sly, Edward Red Cross *Palfrey, Frank ASC Smitheram Cecil, Rifle Bde Palfrey, Harry RGA Smitheram, John WSY Palfrey, James, ASC Spear, James SALH Palfrey, Leslie RE Spear, Stanley SALH Palfrey, Sidney SLI Spear, William WSY Parsons, Frank MP Steevens, William RN Parsons, Harry ASC Sully, John Devon Parsons, William Devons *Sully, William (MM) RMLI Perrott, Thomas RN Sydenham, John Worcesters Phillips, Frank RAMC Tantum, George Life Gds Pollard, Henry Devons Tantum, Mortimer RASC Porter, Charles SLI Tavener, John SLI Pugsley, Frederick WSY Pugsley, Harry Australians *Templeman, John SLI Pursey, Sidney Herts Thomas, Albert Devons Thomas, Fred RAMC

Thomas, James ASC Thomas, Robert SLI

Thomas, William Devons Totterdell, Frank WSY *Totterdell, George Coldstream Gds Totterdell, Harry Coldstream Gds Totterdell, James Berks Totterdell, Robert Devons Totterdell, William Canadians Tottle, John RNR Women’s Auxiliary Forces Treeby, Henry SLI *Tucker, Fred Dorsets Kidner, Sybil, VAD Leakey, Mabel, WAAC Tucker, Harry WSY Mear, Dorothy, WAAC Tucker, Leonard WSY Palfrey, Lilian, WRAF Tucker, Sidney RAMC Platt, Edith, VAD (France) Tucker, Reginald, RFA Platt, Evelyn, VAD Walford, Frank RGA Platt, Mabel, VAD Walsh, Theobald Lomax SLI Smitheram, Mabel, Munitions Warren, Leonard SLI Thurstan, Violetta, MM, Br Red Cross Wells, Alfred 9th Lancers White, Edward RN White, Edward G SLI White, ErnestRE White, Robert Gren Gds

Wilson-Steele, John Chaplain *Woodley, Frank Rifle Bd Woodley, Harry ASC Wyatt, Henry RMLI Yandle, Henry RMLI Yandle, Walter Hussars Young, Herbert ASC

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

ASC = Army Service Corps RGA = Royal Garrison Artillery DCLI – Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry RHA = Royal Horse Artillery KOLI = King’s Own Light Infantry RMLI = Royal Marine Light Infantry MP = Military Police RN = Royal Navy NZMGC = New Zealand Machine Gun Corps RNR = Royal Navy Reserve NZR = New Zealand Regt SALH = South African Light Horse OTC = Officer Training Corps SLI = Somerset Light Infantry RAMC = Royal Army Medical Corps VAD = Voluntary Aid Detachment RE = Royal Engineers WAAC = Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps RFA = Royal Field Artillery WRAF = Women’s Royal Air Force RFC = Royal Flying Corps WSY = West Somerset Yeomanry

The information in this booklet has come from many sources, including: -

Soldiers Died in the Great War (1914-1918) Somerset County Memorial Book 1914-1919 Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Royal British Legion: Roll of Honour British Army WW1 Medal Rolls British Army WW1 Service Records UK Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929 Birth, Marriage and Death Registers

Parish Registers Census returns 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 The 1939 Register Somerset Light Infantry 1914-1919 (Everard Wyrall) Book of Remembrance 5th Battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset LI

Absent Voters Taunton 1919 Newspaper archives

ADDENDUM

Nursing Sister Violetta THURSTAN MM British Red Cross Society

Violetta Thurstan appears in the parish’s Roll of Service in WW1. It is not known whether she ever lived in the village although she visited friends, including Miss Eden at the Grange, and played a part in local events. At the opening of the village hall in 1923 thanks were given to Miss Violetta Thurstan and Miss Eden for their donation of the “very charming and artistic pictures which grace the walls.”

Violetta Thurstan achieved national fame as a Red Cross nurse in the First World War. Born Anna Violet Thurstan in Ore, Sussex, on 4 Feb 1879, the daughter of Dr. Edward Paget Thurstan and Anna Wilhelmina Reid, she trained as a nurse at The London Hospital and The Children’s Hospital, Shadwell. She went to Belgium early in the Great War and was subsequently ordered by the Germans to leave Brussels when it fell. She then volunteered to worked with the Russian Red Cross. While treating a wounded soldier she was hit in the leg by shrapnel and returned to England to convalesce. During this time, she wrote a book of wartime experiences, Field Hospital and Flying Column.

She returned to Belgium to become matron of a hospital at De Panne, only five miles from the front, dealing with severe cases straight from the trenches. In 1917 she moved to a dressing station in a farmhouse at Coxyde. When this building was bombed, despite being concussed by falling masonry, she continued to evacuated the patients for which she was given the Military Medal. In later life she moved to Cornwall, became an expert weaver and promoted the use of vegetable dyes, writing a book on the subject. She died at Penryn in 1978.

Jack Wilfrid GILL Major 51st Royal Tank Regiment

Killed in Action 4 September 1944 aged 33 Italy

Although he does not appear on the village memorial Jack Gill had a very close family association with the parish because his father and step-mother lived at Nailsbourne. Jack Gill was born in Taunton, the only child of schoolmaster Edwin “Ted” Gill, who was deputy head of Priory Boys School, and his wife May (Salmon). While he was still at school, his mother died and his father married Betty Wolfenden and they moved to Orchard Cottage, Nailsbourne. His son went on to Taunton School where he was Head Boy and won a scholarship to Bristol University which he represented at rugby and cricket. On graduating, he became the history and games master at the West Central School in Bath. A year later, in 1937, he married Evelyn Moggridge, whose father was head of local building contractors TH Moggridge and Sons. With the outbreak of war, he volunteered to join the Army and was commissioned in July 1941 and posted to the 51st Royal Tank Regiment (RTR). He was promoted Lieutenant in 1943 and sailed with the regiment to North Africa. After being hit by shrapnel at Pichon in Tunisia he was treated in a military hospital and returned to his regiment which in April 1944 landed in Italy and was involved in the ferocious battles to take Monte Casino and break the German’s defensive Adolf Line. For his part in this action he was mentioned in despatches. On 3 September he led his squadron in an attack on the Gothic Line, near Rimini. They successfully crossed two rivers but had to remain on the objective all day, waiting for support. At night they pulled back to the reverse side of the crest. He was out of his tank and talking to his second-in- command when a shell landed in the tank harbour and killed both of them. Major Gill, who left a wife and two daughters Barbara and Judith “Vicky”, is buried at Gradara Cemetery, near Rimini. His name appears on the war memorials in Vivary Park, Taunton School and the Temple Methodist Church.