Winkleigh War Memorial Cross

      Below are the inscriptions on the engraved faces at the base of the Winkleigh Memorial Cross which commemorate the Winkleigh men who died in the armed forces during the First World War. Also included are J. MEDLOCK and R. MITCHELL who are not mentioned on the actual memorial, but whose names are being added to the Roll of Honour in the Church. There is also a brief and, for the first time, complete and accurate description of each man’s involvement.
      For a full description of their background and involvement in the War, click on the names below with the darker background. These full descriptions trace their background, their time in service, and describe the battles in which these men took part, and the campaigns that set the stage for these battles. More descriptions are being added regularly as they are completed.
      The East face of the Cross also commemorates those who died in the 2nd World War.

P. BEARDON

Driver Percy Beardon of the 27th Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Son of John and Elizabeth Beardon of Hollocombe. Drowned at sea on RMS ‘Leinster’ when returning from Ireland, 10 October 1918, aged 31. Percy’s death is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.

W. BERRY

Private William Berry of the 2nd battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Son of Benjamin and Ellen Berry of Hollocombe. Died of wounds in the 36th Casualty Clearing Station, Ypres, 4 October 1918, aged 26. Buried in the Haringhe Military Cemetery, Belgium.

A. BUZZACOTT

Rifleman Albert Buzzacott of the 6th Battalion, City of London Rifles. Son of Thomas and Louisa Buzzacott. Killed in action 28 March 1918, aged 35. Buried in the Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, 35 kilometres west of Laon, France.

G. COLE

Private George Cole of the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Born 1888 in Ashreigney, the third son of Thomas and Thomasina Cole. Killed in action 1st September 1918 aged 30. Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial 10 kilometers south-west of Arras.

C. DARCH

Acting Bombadier Charlie Darch of the 322nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Born 1892, the son of William Jesse and Mary Jane Darch of Narracott, Winkleigh. Husband of Hannah Cole, Sedgets, Winkleigh. Died of wounds sustained in aerial bombing 5th May 1917, aged 24. Buried in the British War Cemetery, Gradisca, Italy.

F. W. DAVEY

Yeoman Frederick William Davey of 1st Devon Yeomanry. Son of Frederick and William Davey of Penson Farm, Winkleigh. Killed in action 8th November 1915 in Gallipoli, aged 26. Buried Hill 10 Cemetery, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.

F. W. DAVEY

Private Frederick William Davey of 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Son of Mary and Frederick Davey of Sedgets, Winkleigh. Enlisted August 1914, posted to the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment August 1915. Died 7th August 1916 in Mesopotamia, aged 26, a prisoner of the Turks following the siege of Kut. Buried in the Baghdad (North Gate) British War Cemetery.

L. DAVEY

Private Louis Davey of the 88th Coy, The Machine Gun Corps, previously enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. Son of Daniel and Sarah Davey of High Street, Winkleigh. Killed in action 26 November 1917 aged 18, and commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Looverval, Belgium.

T. HARRIS

Private Thomas Harris of the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Born 1886 the son of James and Eliza Harris of Ottery St.Mary, and husband of Bertha Harris of High Street, Winkleigh. Died of wounds 16th May 1917 aged 34 and buried in the Mount Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France, the site of a base hospital.

E. HANMETT

Private Ernest John Hemmett (as enlisted) of the 12th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, the son of Elizabeth Hemmett, a widow, and John, deceased, living at Folly, Winkleigh. Died of wounds 19th August 1916, aged 25 in the King George Hospital, Ilford and buried in the All Saints Cemetery, Nunhead.
The Roll of Honour records Ernest Hemmett, as do the Army records. A photo in the local paper gives his name as Hammett, as do the 1901 census returns. The Memorial Cross, however, carries the name E. Hanmett.

A. W. HARVEY

Captain Alfred Wallace Harvey, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to 55th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Born in 1870 in New Zealand, son of the Rev. Bache Wright Harvey D.D. Killed by accident on 7th September 1916, aged 46, in Mesopotamia and buried in the Amara British War Cemetery.

W. HEARD

Private Walter Heard of the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Betsy Heard of Dolton, married 8th August 1904 Ellen (Turner) and living with children in Winkleigh. Killed in action on 2nd April 1917, aged 35 and commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

A. H. HORNER

Sergeant Arthur Harry Horner of the 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Laura Horner of Elm Cottage, Winkleigh. Wounded whilst on bombing instruction behind the lines, and died in the 21st casualty clearing station, Corbie, 6th June 1916, aged 33. Buried in La Neuville Communal Cemetery, Corbie, France.

E. JARVIS

Private Edward James Jarvis of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment, born 1890 the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Jarvis of Exeter Road, Winkleigh. Killed in action on 30th September 1915 aged 25, and commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.

L. F. JOHNSON

2/Lt. Laurence Frederick Johnson born 1896 and lived at The Old Parsonage, Winkleigh. Mother, Ada E. Johnson, a widow living at the Old Parsonage, Winkleigh, and father Ronald Frederick G. Johnson, died 1908 aged 44. Enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion, and commissioned into the 8th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment in January 1917. Killed in action 16th June 1917, aged 20 and commemorated on the Arras Memorial in the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras.

T. KNIGHT

Private Thomas Knight of the 6th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John Knight of Winkleigh, and husband of Emily Knight, living at Broadwoodkelly. Killed in action on 8th March 1916, aged 32 in Mesopotamia, and commemorated on the Basra Commonwealth Memorial, now situated on the road to Nasiriyah.

H. LUGG

Private Herbert Lugg of the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, following original enlistment in the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Jane Lugg of Moor View Cottage, Winkleigh. Married 1910 to Bessie Lugg of Lowertown. Killed in action 15th April 1918, aged 39, and commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

E. G. MANLEY

Private Ernest George Manley of the 24th Battalion, Tyneside Irish (the Northumberland Fusiliers). Son of James and Edith Manley of Colyton. Died of wounds in the 42nd casualty clearing station on 10th April 1917, aged 33 and buried in the Aubigney Communal Cemetery, Arras, France.

W. MITCHELL

Private William Mitchell of 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Lucy Mitchell of Lowertown, Winkleigh. Killed in action on 31st October 1917, aged 21 and commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, north of Ypres.

P. MOLLAND

Sapper Percy Molland of "L" Signal Coy., Royal Engineers. Son of Richard and Bessie Molland of Hollocombe. Died of wounds on 11th November 1918, aged 32 either at the 46th Casualty Clearing Station or 6th Stationary Hospital which covered the final stages of the British advance.

S. PARKER

L/Cpl. Sidney Parker of 1st Battalion Royal West Kents. Born 1896 the son of Emma and John Parker of Lute House, Chapple Farm, Winkleigh. Died of wounds on 26 October 1917 and commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, north of Ypres.

A. E. STAPLETON

Private Albert Ernest Stapleton of the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Son of Elizabeth and Alfred Stapleton of Church Hill Winkleigh. Died in Winkleigh from enteric fever and peritonitis on 31st October 1914, aged 22 and buried in All Saints Churchyard, Winkleigh.

F. TURNER

Private Frank Turner originally enlisted 1914 the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, posted to the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment 1915. Son of Ellen and William Turner living in Chawleigh. Married to Mary Louisa Baker October 1913. Died 30th September 1916, aged 27 in Mesopotamia, having been a prisoner of the Turks following the siege of Kut. Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, now re-sited at Nasiriyah, Iraq.

W. C. VANSTONE

Private William Charles Vanstone of the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Son of Elizabeth and John Vanstone, a blacksmith. Married 1909 to Mary Jane, children Samuel and Wilfred. Died in Winkleigh from lucoerthrmia on 24th October 1914, aged 34. Buried in All Saints Churchyard, Winkleigh.

J. MEDLOCK

Sgt. John Medlock of 2nd Trench Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Born in Bolton-under-Dearne, Yorkshire, and husband of Isabel Medlock, Winkleigh. Died of wounds 5th June 1915, and buried in Les Gonards Cemetery, Versailles.

R. MITCHELL

Private Richard Mitchell of the Royal Army Service Corps Remounts Depot. Son of William and Ellen Mitchell of Mount Pleasant, Winkleigh. Married on 9 Aug 1910 to Ethel Alford, and then lived at Pound House, Winkleigh. Died 12th December 1919, aged 35 from symptoms from innoculation and vaccination soon after discharge from service because of the illness. Buried in All Saints Churchyard, Winkleigh.