Private Daniel German, Devonshire Regiment, died 9 April 1918, aged 19. The son of Mrs. Mary Ann German, of 58, North St., Ashburton, Devon.

www.cwgc.org.

Daniel was born in Ashburton in 1898 and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 2nd quarter of 1898. Daniel was the younger brother of John Germon born in Ashburton in 1887: John died whilst serving in the Devonshire Regiment in France and Flanders in 1918.

The 1901 census shows the family living in North Street, Ashburton, with head of the family Robert, who was born in 1859. He is employed as a general labourer. Mary Ann is Robert's wife: she was also born in 1859. There are three daughters who work: Thurza born 1880, Bessie born 1883 and Kate born 1885. All three girls are employed in the woollen industry and all were born in Ashburton. John is still at home and he is a general labourer, and there are a further five children: Jessie born 1888, Sidney born 1892, Ivy born 1895, Winifred born 1896 and Lillian born 1901, all born in Ashburton.

The 1911 census shows the family still in North Street, but Mary Ann is now head of the family, and she is employed as a housekeeper. Thurza is employed as a weaver, William is a general labourer, Bessie and Jessie are weavers, Kate is a wool sorter and Sidney is a general labourer. Daniel aged 12 is at school, and since the 1901 census three more children have been born: Lilian Pretoria born 1902, Ellen born 1902 and George born 1903. They are all at school.

Daniel enlisted into the 5th (Prince of Wales) Battalion Territorials in Ashburton, and his service number was 240372. He had previously served in the Devon Regiment as a private, number 1795.

Daniel's medal index card does not record when he first entered a theatre of war, but he did serve in Mesopotamia and Palestine, and it was during his time in Palestine that he was killed in action on the 9th April 1918. Daniel is remembered at the Ramieh War Cemetery and also on the Ashburton War Memorial

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

                                                                        **********


Serjeant Jack German, Devonshire Regiment, died 20 June 1918, aged 32. The son of Robert and Mary Ann German, of Ashburton, Devon; husband of Ellen Meyers (formerly German), of 29, Compton Place, St. Mary Church, Torquay.

www.cwgc.org.

John was born in Ashburton in 1886 and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 2nd quarter of 1886. The 1891 census for Ashburton records the family living in North Street, with head of the family Robert born 1859 in Ashburton. His occupation is recorded as a general labourer, and his wife, Mary Ann, who was born in Ashburton also in 1859 is a wool weaver.

The parents have four daughters and two sons, and all the children were born in Ashburton: Thirza born 1879, William H born 1881, Bessie born 1883, Katie born 1885, Jessie born 1888 and John. Apart from Jessie all the children are scholars.

According to the 1901 census the family are still living in North Street. Robert is still employed as a labourer, Mary Ann is at home, Thirza and Bessie are wool weavers, Kate is a wool sorter and John is a builder's labourer. Jessie is aged 13. Sidney A is aged 9, Ivy is 6, Winifred is 5, Daniel 2 and Lillian aged 10 months have all been born since the 1891 census.  

John married Ellen Dunn (born Torquay in 1889) in 1909 and the marriage was registered in Newton Abbot in the 3rd quarter of 1909. The 1911 census records John residing in North Street, Ashburton with his wife and son Ernest. Ernest was born in 1900 in Ashburton.

John's medal index card shows that he served as a private soldier with a service number of 603 in the Devonshire Regiment as a Territorial soldier earning a Territorial Forces War Medal. When war broke out John joined or rejoined the 1/5th (Prince of Wales) Battalion (Territorials) with a service number of 240074, and during his career he attained the rank of Sergeant.

John was killed in action on the 20th June 1916, the day the 1/5th Devon's assaulted the line Sarcy-Aubilly during the second Marne, and it is probable that it was during this action that John was killed. A total of 2 officers and 34 other ranks were killed in action, and 7 officers and 185 other ranks wounded. John is remembered in the Bienvillers Military Cemetery and also on the Ashburton War Memorial.

John's brother Daniel also died whilst serving his country on the 9th April 1918 in Palestine, and a separate entry for Daniel is on the web page.


Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

                                                                          ***********


 

Reginald George Gibbs RN

Reginald was born in Exeter in 1893 and his birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Exeter. I cannot trace the 1901 census for Reginald, but the 1911 census shows the family living at 70, Ennis Road, Plumstead, Kent.

Head of family is Henry Smyth born in Barnstable in 1860. He is employed as a clerk in Woolwich Arsenal, and Reginald is employed as a tailoring worker. I can find no details for the marriage of Reginald's parents, if they were married, but there is a record of Henry and Clara being married in 1908 in St Thomas, Exeter, Devon.

I have a copy of Reginald's service record, but there is very little information available due to his early demise. He joined the Royal Navy with a service number of L5833 and his trade was Officers Steward 3rd class. His record shows that he was on the crew list for HMS Monmouth on the 6th August.

HMS Monmouth was on patrol off the west coast of South America as part of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock's Squadron. The squadron consisted of HMS Good Hope (Craddock's flag ship) and HMS Monmouth, both armoured cruisers, and HMS Glasgow, a light cruiser. The crews were untrained and inexperienced. On the 1st November 1914 the squadron encountered the German armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau off the coast of Chile at Coronel. The British ships were outmatched both in speed and firepower and were very quickly overwhelmed. Early in the battle an 8.2 inch shell from Gneisenau penetrated the armour of the forward 6 inch gun turret on Monmouth, destroying it and causing a massive fire on the forecastle.

More direct hits followed and Monmouth was put out of action. A short while later, drifting and on fire, Monmouth was attacked by the newly arrived light cruiser Nurnberg which proceeded to fire seventy five 4.1 inch shells at very close range into what remained of Monmouth. Both Monmouth and Good Hope sank with a total loss of 1570 lives. There were no survivors from either ship, and no bodies were recovered for burial.


Above: HMS Monmouth. Photograph supplied by Bob Shemeld.

Reginald is remembered on Plymouth Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe, panel 4, and also on

the Ashburton War memorial. John's father, who still lived in Plumstead, was informed of his death.

I can find no link between Reginald and Ashburton.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

                                                                        **********


Pte Frederick W Gilbert.

Frederick was born in Burlescombe, Devon in 1896; the 1901 census for Ashburton records the family living in Windsor Court, North Street. Thomas Gilbert, the head of family, born in Tavistock in 1858, is employed as a general labourer (mill hand). Mary is Frederick's mother, and she was born in South Molton in 1865.

There are four more children in the family: John born in Ashburton in 1885 is a wool sorter, Sarah born in Ashburton in 1886, William born in Wellington Somerset in 1893 and Mary born Ashburton in 1898.

The 1911 census for Ashburton confirms the family still living in North Street, with Thomas now employed as a wool combing jobber. John is a wool comber and William is a feeder wool combing engine. Frederick's occupation is a woollen mule piece, and Mary is a wool sorter. A further son, Tom, born 1901 in Ashburton is at school, but Sarah the eldest daughter is not recorded on the census

Frederick enlisted into the Welsh Regiment in Cardiff sometime after 1915, and on enlistment he was living in Pontypridd. His service No was 60038, he was engaged into the 13th (Service) Battalion Welsh Regiment and he served as a private. The 13th Battalion (2nd Rhondda) became a part of the 114th Brigade in the 38th (Welsh) Division, and landed at Le Havre in December 1915. The Division was brought into action almost immediately, and spent the duration of the First World War in action on the western front until the armistice in 1918.

The Division's single action of 1916 was the capture of Mametz Woods during the Battle of the Somme. It was so badly mauled that it did not return to major action for over a year, when it successfully captured the Pilkem Ridge on the 31st July 1917. The Division was also involved in the Battle of Langemark.

1918 saw the Division in action at the Battles of Albert and Bapaume. The Battle of Bapaume was fought between the German and British Forces between the 21st August and the 3rd September 1918; it followed the Battle of Amiens, and is also referred to as the second phase of that battle. The British pushed the Germans back 8kms, capturing 34250 prisoners and 270 guns, as well as vital strategic positions.

The attack is believed to be the turning point of the First World War on the western front, and the beginning of what was known as the allies' 100 day offensive. It is likely that on the 30th August 1918, during the Battle of Bapaume, Frederick was killed in action. He is remembered in the Morval British Cemetery near Pas de Calais, and his grave reference is A20.

Frederick was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

                                                                              **********


 

Private William John Hannaford, Somerset Light Infantry, died 4 October 1917, aged 31. The husband of Mary Ann Hannaford, of 6, Station Cottage, Ashburton, Devon.

www.cwgc.org.  


William was born in Ashburton in 1886, and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 2nd quarter of 1886.

The 1901 census for Kingsbridge Lane, Ashburton shows William living in the house of William and Mary Eales. William is their grandson, and his occupation is recorded as a Roin Barrier (I am not certain if this is correct, I assume it has some bearing on the woollen mills); also living in the same house is a granddaughter called Mabel Hannaford, and she was born in Ashburton in 1888.

In 1906 William aged 20 married Mary Ann Voicey, born Cullompton 1887, and the marriage was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1906 in Totnes. The 1911 census for Ashburton shows William and Mary Ann living at 6 Station Cottages in Ashburton; they have been married for 4 years and have 2 daughters, Phyllis Cecilia born 1908 in Buckfastleigh, and Doris Susan born 1910 in Ashburton. William's occupation is recorded as a wool washer labourer.

William had previously served in the Devonshire Regiment when he enlisted at Barnstable into the 1st Battalion Prince Albert's Regiment Somerset Light Infantry. His rank was a Private and his service No 235139, and according to his Medal Index Card he would have enlisted after 1915. The 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry were a part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, and they arrived in France on the 22nd August 1914 and stayed on the Western Front until the end of the war.

They were in action in the second Battle of Ypres in 1915, The Battles of Albert and Le Transloy in 1916, and in 1917 they were present at the 1st and 3rd Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle and the 1st Battle of Passchendale.

The Battle of Broodseinde was fought on the 4th October 1917 near Ypres in Flanders at the east end of the Gheluvelt plateau by the British 2nd and 5th Armies and the German 4th Army. The battle was the most successful allied attack of the Battle of Passchendale. Using bite and hold tactics with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter attacks, the British devastated the German defence. There was unrest in the German command and they prepared to withdraw; this would have lost the Belgium coast to the Germans. The weather in September had been settled, but heavy rain began on the 4th October, and this affected the remainder of the campaign.

The British had to move their artillery across ground which was devastated by gunfire and was soaking wet. This caused some restriction on movement, and the result of this push gave a victory to the British. The casualties were high with total losses to the Allies of 20,000 and 35,000 to the Germans.

It is probable that this is the action in which William was killed, and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 41 to 42 and 163a. William is also remembered on the Ashburton Memorial. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Samuel Harding (son of James William Harding and Sarah Ann Wills was born abt. Mar 1875 in Ashburton, and died 13 May 1915 in Gallipoli.
On 13 May 1915 Samuel was a leading stoker aboard the "Goliath" and was torpedoed and sunk with all hands by a German manned Turkish destroyer. His twin, John Harding, always refused to believe that his brother had died.
Thanks to Jim Greenwood

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/g/r/e/Jim-Greenwood/index.html for permission to use this quote and information

Samuel's memorial is at the Plymouth Naval Memorial

http://www.cwgc.org/

Above: Plymouth memorial
Myown photograph 1999

Samuel Harding RN

Samuel was born in Ashburton on the 14th February 1876, and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 1st quarter of 1876. The 1881 census for Ashburton records the family living in North Street, Ashburton, with James W as head of the family. He was born in 1839 in Ashburton, and his occupation is a stonemason.

Samuel's mother is Sarah born 1846 in Ashburton, and she is at home. The eldest son Frederick, born 1867, is a stone mason, and the only daughter Ann born 1871 is a scholar. Apart from Samuel there are two further sons, James born 1873 and John born 1875. Both were born in Ashburton and both are scholars, as is Samuel.

The 1891 census shows the family living in Heavyhead Lane, Ashburton. James W and Frederick are stonemasons, and Samuel and John, both aged 16, are masons' labourers. Two further daughters have been born in Ashburton to the family, these being Edith born 1882 and Bessie born 1887.

The 1901 census for Torquay shows Samuel as head of family living at 27, Queen Street, Torquay. Two of his sisters are living with him, Edith aged 29 and Bessie aged 22: both are domestic servants. In 1912 Samuel married Margaret E. Henley, and the marriage was registered in Newton Abbot in the 4th quarter of 1912.

Samuel enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 31st July 1895 for a period of 12 years, and throughout his career he was a stoker, with a service number of 280105. He served on a variety of ships including HMS Torch, Black Prince, Hood, Leander, Vulcan and Thesus, and was discharged after his time was served on the 30th July 1907. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve (RFR) on the 1st August 1907 with a new service number of RFR (Dev B 1893). He re-enrolled on the 30th July 1911 to serve until the 31st July 1917. Samuel joined HMS Goliath on the 5th August 1915, and he was promoted to leading stoker. He stayed with the ship until his death on the 13th May 1915.

At the outbreak of the First World War HMS Goliath joined the 8th Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet. She was then dispatched to Loch Awe in Scotland as a guard ship and also to support the Plymouth Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry at Ostend. On the 29th September 1914 HMS Goliath transferred to the East Indies to support cruisers on convoy duties in the Persian Gulf and German East Africa.

HMS Goliath took part in the blockage of the German Light Cruiser Konisberg in the Rufiji River until November 1914. The ship was also involved in the bombardment of Dar es Salaam on the 28th and 29th November 1914. HMS Goliath underwent a refit in Simonstown, South Africa between December 1914 and February 1915 and then resumed operations against Konigsberg at the Rufiji River until March 1915.

On the 25th March 1915 HMS Goliath was ordered to the Dardanelles to participate in the campaign there. Goliath was part of the allied fleet supporting the landings at X and Y beaches during the landing at Cape Helles. On the 25th April the ship sustained damage from Ottoman gunfire; she maintained on station to support the troops landing that day.

On the night of the 12th-13th May Goliath was anchored in Morto Bay off Cape Helles. At around 01.00am on the 13th the Turkish Torpedo Boat Destroyer-i-Milliye which was manned by Turkish and German sailors, fired two torpedoes which struck Goliath abreast her fore turret and abeam the fore funnel causing a massive explosion. Goliath began to capsize immediately and being hit by a third torpedo she sank, taking with her 570 of the 700 strong crew including the captain of the ship.

Samuel's body was never recovered, but he is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe, and also on the Ashburton War Memorial. Samuel's wife, who was living at 27, Queen Street, Torquay, would have been able to claim his 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.


 Photo supplied by Bob Shemeld, to whom many thanks for the above research.

                                                                    **********

Walter Harris

Member of the Constitutional Club, commemorated on memorial in the club

Western Times 11 August 1922 p5 col2


2nd Lieutenant Walter Lewis Harris

Walter was born in Ashburton and his birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1892. The 1901 census for Ashburton records the family living in Western Road, Ashburton: head of the family was John Harris born 1841 in Drewsteignton, and his occupation is shown as the railway station master. His wife Henrietta born in Harberton in 1859 is at home.

Five sons are recorded at this address, William J born in 1879 is a dairyman, Albert H born 1886, Walter Lewis born 1892, Percival S born 1895 and Norman C born in 1900, all born in Ashburton. There are also five daughters: Minnie born in Newton Abbot in 1870 is an assistant school mistress, Florence M born in Newton Abbot in 1876 is a dairymaid, Ellen M born 1884 in Ashburton is a draper's assistant, Alice E born 1888 and Winifred P born 1895 were both born in Ashburton.

The 1911 census records the family still in Western Road, head of the family is now the eldest son William John, Henrietta is still tending the family, Florence has no recorded occupation, Walter is a booking clerk for Great Western Railway, Winifred is a shop assistant and draper, Norman aged 11 is at school. A further daughter has been born in 1902 in Ashburton and she is called Doris.

Walter's Medal Index Card shows he must have enlisted in late 1914 or early 1915. He originally served in the Royal Engineers and his service No was 47319. He also held the rank of L/Cpl. He entered a war theatre on the 6th July 1915 when he landed in France; he also served in Salonika, possibly with the Royal Engineers, and then with the 10th Devonshire Regiment. He was serving with the Devon's when he was killed in action. 

The 10th Battalion Devonshire Regiment which was a part of the 26th Division saw service in Salonika in 1916 and 1917 where they were in action against the Bulgarian forces. During 1916 they were in action at the Battle of Horseshoe Hill, and in early 1917 they took part in the Battle of Dorian. The terrain in which the 26th Division were stationed made soldiering difficult - it was craggy country scarred by deep ravines, and the Bulgarians held good defensive positions. Walter was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 9th January 1917, a month prior to the Battle of Dorian. The 10th were faced with the formidable Petit Couronne feature to the south west of the town of Dorian. Tactically any assault on the ridge of Petit Couronee would be a hazardous  enterprise, but if the Bulgarian front line could be broken between Lake Dorian and the Varda river this would leave the way open for an advance into Bulgaria. 

A plan was set for a series of raids to test the defences, of which one would deploy the whole of the 10th Battalion. The Petit Couronne was a network of trenches, galleries and dugouts, including a trench mortar position which had been a source of much trouble and impervious to artillery fire. The task of the 10ths raid was to destroy this mortar trench site.

There were two ravines, the first Tor ravine and the second Dorset ravine; both ravines would be well covered by the enemy. Major Brown was tasked to take B and C Companies up Tor ravine. The commanding officer's group who assaulted Dorset ravine fairly easily gained ground and took up a good position. Major Brown's group had to fight for every yard of ground and after two hours of fierce skirmishing with only a limited supply of ammunition had nothing but their bayonets to fight with.

The casualty list was lengthening steadily. The commanding officer ordered D Company to cover the withdrawal while the rest of the force broke clear. Nearly 600 officers and men took part in the raid, and nearly a quarter became casualties. Walter was one of the casualties who was killed in action during this assault on the 10th February 1917. He is remembered at the Dorian Memorial in Salonika, and his mother would have received his 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Walter's brother Percival Stanley also served during the 1st World War in the Machine Gun Corps and he attested into the MGC from the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry on the 20th July 1916. He served in the 1st Devon's in the Balkans and Gallipoli in 1915 and 1916; when they were withdrawn from Gallipoli they were transferred to Sherika in Egypt where he remained until the end of the war. He survived the war and died in 1980.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research


                                                                       ********

 Private J Hatch*, 'not yet 20', reported killed February 1917. The youngest son of Mr and Mrs Hatch, Terrace House. Had previously lost a brother in the war

Western Times 17 February 1917 p3 col4

* John Hatch on Ashburton War Memorial

                                                                   

John was born in Rattery near Buckfastleigh in 1897 and his birth was registered in Totnes. The 1891 census records the family living in Rattery, and the head of the family is John Hatch. He was born in Rattery in 1860 and his occupation is a farmer. His wife, Laura Ann also born in Rattery in 1857, is tending the household. The parents have three children living with them: William aged 2, Harold John aged 1 born in Rattery and Hilda Amy born in Rattery in 1891.

The 1901 census for Ashburton shows the family living at Great Bridge, North Street. John Hatch is now recorded as a wheelwright and carpenter, and the children, aged 12, 11 and 10 are at school. The 1911 census shows the family living in Terrace House, Ashburton, but William aged 22 is residing at the Grammar School, where he is an Assistant Master–the Headmaster at this time is James Mortimer. Harold John is a wheelwright assisting in fitter's business, Hilda Amy is assisting her mother, and John is at school.

John enlisted into the 1/4th Devonshire Regiment in Newton Abbot late 1914 or early 1915. His service number was 5645 and after training he landed in Egypt on the 5th September 1915 as reinforcements. The Dorset Regiment had taken heavy casualties at the Battle of Shaiba and reinforcements were needed. These came from the 4th Dorset's, 1/4th, 1/5th and 1/6th Devon's, the Somerset Light Infantry, the Wiltshire's and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

The Battle of Al Amara was fought in September 1915 and the Devon's took heavy casualties. The 1/4th main Battalion had now arrived in Basra after sailing from Karachi and they now joined the 37th Indian Brigade.

On the day that John died the 1/4th Devon's were involved in the battle at Hai Redoubt. This was a fierce battle fought against the Turkish defenders, when the Ghurkhas and the 1/4th Devon's along with Indian troops assaulted the Turkish trenches time and time again. Hand to hand fighting was fierce and many were killed or wounded, but eventually the Turks were defeated.

Victory came at a cost: fifteen officers and four hundred and three men went into action, and only five officers and one hundred and eighty six men were unscathed. Four officers and sixty three men were killed, and the remainder were wounded.

John is remembered at the Amara War Cemetery, and also the Ashburton War Memorial. John's father would have been able to claim his 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Lance Corporal William Knowling Hatch, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, died 23 April 1916, aged 27. The son of John and Laura Hatch, of Terrace House, Ashburton, Devon.

www.cwgc.org.

Member of the Constitutional Club, commemorated on memorial in the club

Western Times 11 August 1922 p5 col2


William was born in Rattery near Buckfastleigh and his birth was registered in Totnes in the last quarter of 1888. The 1891 census records the family living in Rattery, and the head of the family, John Hatch, born in Rattery in 1860, records his occupation as a farmer. William's mother, Laura Ann, also born in Rattery in 1857, is tending the household. The parents have three children living with them, William aged 2, Harold John aged 1 born in Rattery, and Hilda Amy born in Rattery in 1891.

The 1901 census for Ashburton shows the family living at Great Bridge, North Street. John Hatch is now recorded as a wheelwright and carpenter, the children aged 12, 11 and 10 are at school, and a further son had been born in Rattery in 1897, called John.

The 1911 census shows William aged 22 residing at the Grammar School, where he is an Assistant Master. The Headmaster is called James Mortimer.

William enlisted into the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the line, and was a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry); his service No was 2470 and he eventually was promoted to L/Cpl. On the 15th April 1915 the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars embarked and sailed on the SS Minneapolis, disembarking in Alexandria (Egypt) on the 24th April 1915. William's Medal Index Card confirms this. The Battalion made camp at Chatby Beach.

While William's battalion, the 5th Mounted (Yeomanry) Imperial mounted Division remained in Egypt the (1st South Midlands Brigade British 2nd mounted Division) Royal Gloucestershire Hussars sailed for Gallipoli on the 11th August 1915.

William's battalion was involved in numerous actions throughout the next couple of months in Egypt, but one battle stands out as the most probable action in which William died; this was called the Battle of Katia on the 23rd April 1916.

The Battle of Katia, also known as the Affair of Qatia by the British, was an engagement fought east of the Suez Canal and North of El Ferdan Station, in the vicinity of Katia and Oghratina, on the 23rd April 1916 during the defence of the Suez Canal Campaign of World War 1.

An Ottoman force made a surprise attack on three and a half squadrons of the 5th Mounted Brigade, which was widely scattered to the east of Romani. The Mounted Brigade had been ordered to protect the railway line and water pipe line, which was under construction. The Ottomans' attack was a complete success decimating the equivalent of a Regiment.

British deployments on the 23rd April 1916, which was St George's Day, found the 5th Mounted Brigade dispersed over a wide area. The Brigade was made up of the Warwickshire Yeomanry, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, and the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars.

Regiments were deployed as follows: At Oghratina were two squadrons of Worcestershire Hussars with four officers and sixty other ranks of the 2/2nd Lowland Field Company Royal Engineers. At Katia were one squadron and a machine gun section of the Gloucestershire Hussars, along with forty dismounted men of the Worcestershire Hussars, along with medical corps and vets. At Romani in reserve were a machine gun section and the Gloucestershire Hussars less one squadron.

The oasis at Oghratina had been occupied by one squadron from the Worcestershire Hussars and a detachment of thirty six Royal Engineers thirty six hours before the Ottoman attack; a second squadron arrived twelve hours before the attack, so defences were weak. These squadrons stood to at 0400 in a dense sea fog; they heard the sounds of the pumps operating at wells 500 yards to their south west. A detachment was sent to investigate and they surprised the Ottoman force, opened fire and caused heavy casualties.  On returning to their lines the force was met by heavy rifle fire from a larger force and soon afterwards British squadrons on the right were attacked. By 0515 the whole camp was under attack from the north, east and south east in overwhelming strength at a range of 50 yards or less.

At 0330 "A" Squadron Gloucestershire Hussars stood to arms and saddled up; a patrol was sent out and returned to report all clear. At 0530 heavy fire was heard from Oghratina, and a message was received that the attack had been repulsed. At 0845 a patrol sent out towards Oghratina saw six hundred Ottoman soldiers marching towards Katia in open order about 1.5 miles away, followed by more troops and cavalry advancing to the south west to surround Katia. At 0945 a battery of mountain guns opened fire on Katia which killed or maimed some of the horses.

Rather than retiring to Romani the officer in charge decided to stay at Katia and hope for support from Romani. The Gloucestershire squadron maintained rapid fire against the increasing numbers of Ottoman attackers, and just before 1100 British reinforcements arrived at Katia. Heavy fire from the attacking force continued for several hours at Katia, and the Ottoman force gradually pressed in on the Yeomanry's flanks. They worked their way in to 50 yards and then rushed the squadrons.

At about 1300 the Katia garrison commander had collapsed due to wounds, and when he came to he saw the camp had been captured. Officers and men grabbed whatever horses they could find and fled the camp: a total of eighty men escaped, two officers were killed and three wounded and taken prisoner, while seventeen other ranks were killed with fifty six missing.

William was killed in action, possibly during this action above; he is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial panel 3. William's parents would have been able to claim his medals, which would have been the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.


Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the research above.

                                                                       ********


Stoker 1st Class Archibald Head, RN.

Died 26 July 1917, aged 32. The son of William Head, of North St., Ashburton, Devon.

www.cwgc.org.


Archibald was born in Ashburton in 1888, and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the last quarter of 1888. The 1891 census shows the family living at Gages Cottage, and Archibald is three years old. His father, William, born 1857 in Scorriton is employed as a stoker in a woollen factory; Emma is Archibald's mother and she was born in Tavistock in 1857. The parents have another three sons: William born 1881 in Scorriton is a scholar, as is his brother Fred born 1883, also in Scorriton. The final son is Edward, born in 1890. There are also two daughters, Bessie M Born 1885 in Scorriton and Hilda born 1886 in Ashburton. Both girls are recorded as scholars. Archibald's mother died in 1900.

The 1901 census records Archibald living at Middle Stoke Farm in Holne, where he is a live-in servant and farm boy aged 13. Archibald enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 7th November 1904 aged 16; it appears on his service record that he must have told the recruiters that he was 18 years of age. He enlisted for a period of twelve years and his service number was 307972.

Archibald trained as a stoker in the Navy, and during his career he served on many ships, including HMS Blake, Carnarvon, Empress of India, Repulse, Kent, Duke of Edinburgh and HMS New Zealand. Archibald was also present at the Battle of Jutland whilst serving on HMS Lion: this ship to ship engagement took place in the North Sea between the 31st May 1916 and the 1st June 1916.

 

Above: HMS Ariadne. Photograph supplied by Bob Shemeld.

On the 22nd March 1917 Archibald was transferred to HMS Ariadne, a cruiser built by J and G Thompson of Clydebank. She was launched in April 1898, converted to a mine layer in early 1917, and joined the Nore Command. On the 26th July 1917 whilst on patrol off Beachy Head on the south coast of England Ariadne was hit by a torpedo fired from the German submarine UC-65, commanded by Otto Steinbrinck. The UC-65 was built as a mine laying submarine and was commissioned into the German Navy on the 7th November 1916.

In eleven patrols UC-65 was credited with sinking 105 ships, either by mines or torpedoes. The UC-65 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS C15 submarine on the 3rd November 1917. There were 38 men killed when HMS Ariadne was sunk of whom Archibald was one; his body was never recovered for burial. He is remembered on the Plymouth Memorial and also Ashburton Memorial. His father, living in North Street at this time, was informed of Archibald's death, and would have been able to claim Archibald's British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Stoker 2nd Class Sidney Heales, RN, died 9 January 1915, aged 16. The Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Heales, of 33, East St., Ashburton.

www.cwgc.org.

Sidney was born in Ashburton in the year 1898, and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 2nd quarter of 1898. The 1901 census for Ashburton shows the family living in Station Cottages, Ashburton: Samuel is head of the family and he was born in Ashburton in 1870. His occupation was that of an agricultural labourer.

Sidney's mother Jessie, born in Ashburton in 1872, is at home and there is the eldest son Samuel born in Ashburton in 1897. The 1911 census records the family living at Bowling Green, Ashburton: Samuel the father is still a labourer and Jessie is tending the family. The eldest son Samuel is an assistant in the stone quarry, working with his father. Sidney is at school, and there is a daughter called Birttna (?)* born in Ashburton in 1902. There is another son, Harry, born 1903, also in Ashburton.

Sidney's service record shows that he joined the Royal Navy for a period of twelve years on the 1st December 1914. His service number was K23635; he was training at HMS VIVID 2 in Plymouth . Records show that on the 31st December 1914 his character was very good and his ability was satisfactory.

On the 9th January 1915 at his home in Ashburton Sidney died of cerebo-spinal meningitis. He is buried in Ashburton churchyeard, and is remembered on the Ashburton Memorial. His parents were living at 33 East Street, Ashburton, and would have been able to claim his 1st World War trio of medals.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

*A Bertha Heales was registered in the Newton Abbot district in the Dec quarter of 1901. http://www.freebmd.org.uk/


Above: 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred', the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Photograph courtesy http://www.greatwar.co.uk to whom many thanks.

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 Private Hubert Hext, Devonshire Regiment, died 11 November 1918, aged 20. The son of William Henry and Susan Hext, of Balland Cottage, Ashburton.

www.cwgc.org.


Hubert was born in Ashburton in 1898 and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 3rd quarter of 1898.In the 1901 census for Ashburton the family are living in East Street, and William Henry Hext, born in Holne in 1866 is head of the family. His occupation is a painter, and Hubert's mother, Susan, born in Boscastle, Cornwall in 1867 is at home tending the family.

Also at home with Hubert is his elder brother William Henry, born 1892, and his sister Gertrude born 1895, both born in Ashburton. The 1911 census records the family living in Balland Cottage, Ashburton: William Henry is a house painter, Susan is still tending the family, William aged 19 is a gardener, Gertrude is a dressmaker and Hubert is at school.

Hubert joined the 4th Battalion (Territorials) Devonshire Regiment on the 6th May 1914, prior to the start of the First World War. His service number was 202584 and he was a private.

At the start of WW1 the 4th Devon's were at annual camp at Woodbury Common near Exmouth and when informed that they were to be mobilised they packed up the camp and marched back to Exeter. The Battalion was then moved to Plymouth, and then to Salisbury Plain for training. They embarked at Southampton on the 9th October 1914 for Karachi, arriving on the 11th November 1914, where they came under orders of the 3rd Lahore Divisional area of Ferozepore.

In February 1915 they were transferred to the Independent 42nd Indian Brigade, and on the 2nd March 1916 they landed at Basra ready to be involved in the Mesopotamia Campaign. They were attached to the 41st Indian Brigade, and on the 5th May 1916 they were transferred to the 37th Brigade 14th Indian Division.

It is not clear when, but during all these movements Hubert transferred or was attached to the 5th Battalion Devon's, and his service number became 1769. Once again Hubert's details become sketchy, but he was taken ill and presumably transferred back to England, having been discharged with sickness on the 25th October 1916. He died on the 11th November 1918, and is buried in Ashburton Churchyard extension, in the south-west part.

His parents were still living in Balland Cottage, and they would have been entitled to claim his British War Medal and Victory Medal. Hubert is remembered on the Ashburton War Memorial.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Private James Hole, 5239, 2/4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, died 10th December 1916 in India. Although his residence was Chard, Somerset, he had been born in Ashburton.
No age for him is given on the Commonwealth and War Graves Commission site, but it seems likely that James is on the 1891 census for Ashburton as the two year old son of William and Elizabeth Hole, living at Aswell (presumably Auswell). William, 26, is an agricultural labourer. The birth of a James Hole was registered in the Newton Abbot district in the September quarter of 1888.
In 1911 the family are living in Ipplepen, and James is a farm labourer like his father.
He is buried in Dinapore No. 3 cemetery, and is remembered on the Chard War Memorial. A British War Medal and Death Plaque for James was for sale in 2015 - not in my possession.
http://www.cwgc.org
http://www.freecen.org.uk
1911 census RG14, Piece 12743, Schedule number 46
Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
www.stmaryschard.co.uk
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Lance Corp Cecil Honeywill, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, died 1915, aged 19. The son of Samuel and Mrs. Honeywill of the Rose and Crown Inn. Formerly in the Ashburton Post Office, Lance Corporal Honeywill enlisted at the outbreak of war.

Western Times 29 April 1915 p3 col2

Herbert Cecil Honeywill was born on Portsea Island (Portsmouth), Hampshire about 1895 and his birth was registered in Portsmouth in the first quarter of 1896. The 1901 census for Portsmouth records the family living at 6, Worsley Street, Portsmouth, with head of the family Samuel Honeywill, born in Ashburton in 1863. He is serving in the Royal Marine Artillery.

Herbert's mother, Georgina, born in Portsmouth in 1868 is looking after Herbert. The 1911 census for Ashburton shows the family living at the Rose and Crown in West Street. Samuel is the Innkeeper and a pensioner from the Royal Marine Artillery; Georgina is assisting in the running of the Rose and Crown, and Herbert is an errand boy for a boot shop.

There is no service record for Herbert, but he did enlist into the Coldstream Guards at Woolwich in Kent, almost certainly in early 1914 as he entered a theatre of war on the 11th November 1914 in France. He held a rank of Lance Corporal and had a service number of 10955; it appears that he was serving in the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

The 2nd Battalion was stationed at Windsor as part of the 4th (Guards) Brigade of the 2nd Division: they were mobilised for war on the 13th August 1914 and landed at Le Havre as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). They were involved in the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, the Battle of Marne, the Battle of Aisne and the first Battle of Ypres.

During late 1914 and early 1915 they were involved in winter operations, the Battle of Festubert and the Battle of Loos. I cannot confirm which action Herbert was killed in on the 19th April 1915, but the role of honour confirms he died near Givenchy. Herbert is remembered in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner Cuinchy, and also on the Ashburton War Memorial. Herbert's parents would have been able to claim his 1914 Star and clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research

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F Howis*, Lancashire Fusiliers,  reported killed

Western Times 20 November 1917 p5 col3
*Frederick Howis on Ashburton War Memorial

Frederick Samuel Howis was born in Ashburton in the first quarter of 1886 and was registered in Newton Abbot. His father was George, born 1853 in Ashburton, and his mother, daughter of Joseph Jeffery of Chagford, was Emma born in Chagford in 1857.

On the 1901 census for Ashburton the family lived in North Street, and George is recorded as a wool sorter. There are five sons, George, born 1877 recorded as a groom gardener (Domes), William, born 1884 is employed as a painter, and Frederick is working as a butcher’s boy. The fifth son is Samuel, born 1897 and he is 4 years old. The parents also had a daughter called Mary and she was born in 1891.

The 1911 Ashburton census records the family still living in Barnstable Cottage in North Street, and George (father) is recorded as a wool packer, Emma is still at home running the family, son George is employed as a cab driver at a livery stables, and sons Charles and Samuel are employed as wool sorters. Another daughter has been born in 1902, and she is called Lily. Frederick has left home and I have found a little information about him after he left home.

It appears Frederick was employed at the racing stables in Malvern Wells, and then became a miner; he subsequently served on board a mail boat. Frederick joined the Lancashire Fusiliers on the 27th July 1916 in Tredegar Monmouthshire, and was given the service No 282127 he served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders from February 1917 and served in the 2/7th Battalion. Frederick was killed in action at Ypres on the 9th October 1917. His platoon officer wrote:” Private Howis played his part as nobly as any. He was shot by a sniper and wounded, and hit again by shrapnel before he could be conveyed to the dressing station. I have known him about six months as the best in platoon work. He was at all times, and in all places a soldier and a gentleman, a nicer man I have never met. The best sniper in the battalion, and everybody loved him. His loss is a great blow to all of us”.

He married Elsie May at Colchester on the 30th Sept 1916, and Elsie was the daughter of Walter Smith of Malvern Wells, and Frederick and Elsie lived at Secamore Cottage Malvern Wells.

The 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division in 1914-1918

On the 31st August 1914 the War Office issued instructions for all units of the Territorial Force to form a reserve unit. The men who had agreed to serve overseas were separated from the rest. Those left as home service only, were formed into second line units, which would be the reserve. They were joined by many new recruits from September 1914 onwards.

The first line, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division went to Egypt in September 1914. The units of the second line, the 2nd East Lancashire Division remained at home for quite some time

Along with other second line Divisions it suffered greatly from lack of equipment of all sorts, and training was inevitably affected. The Division continued to supply drafts to the first line. In 1916 the Division moved to the South Coast of England and took responsibility for the defence of part of the east coast, most units were based in Suffolk. The Division received orders on the 11th February 1917 for embarkation for France. Entrainment began on the 25th February and by the 16th March all units had arrived and the Division concentrated under X1 Corps. The Division then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements.The operations on the Flanders Coast (operation Hush) 26th June to 25th September 1917. The Battle of Poelcapella 1917 a phase of the third battle of the Ypres (6th – 10th October 1917).

Frederick's MIC CARD (Medal Index Card) this shows he was entitled to the British War Medal and The Victory Medal.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research

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 George Frederick Knapman

George was born in Ashburton about 1881, the son of George and Ann Knapman. His birth would have been registered in Newton Abbot. The 1881 census records the family living in Gallant Square, Ashburton, with George Snr. as head of the family. He is twenty eight and was born in Stoke Gabriel circa 1853. His occupation is that of agricultural labourer. George's wife is Ann, born in Plymouth about 1854. They have a further child, Albert E., who was born in Ipplepen about 1877: he is recorded as a scholar. Also living with the family are two step-children, John E aged 7 born in Ipplepen and Charlotte aged 8 born in Denbury. Both are scholars.

The census for 1891 shows the family living in the parish of Wolborough, Newton Abbot, and all the children's surnames are given as Bentley. There are a further four children: Maud aged 8, Isabella aged 6 and William aged 4 were born in Landscove and all are recorded as scholars. Nellie aged 2 was born in Woodlands.

George Frederick Knapman enlisted in Exeter into the Devonshire Regiment aged 19 years and 8 months on the 26th February 1900. His service number was 5914, and prior to enlistment he was a labourer. George served in the South African Campaign against the Boers during 1900-1902 and was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal and clasps for Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. George's enlistment was for 7 years with the colours and 5 years with the reserves, so his service time would have expired in 1912.

George is recorded as marrying Edith May Baslam in Newton Abbot in 1910, and on the 1911 census he was a limestone quarryman, and husband of one year to Edith Knapman.They were living at Ware Cross, Kingsteignton.

At the outbreak of the 1st World War George re-entered the Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion in Exeter as a private with a service number of 3/6520. He joined the BEF and on the 6th November 1914 entered France with the original cadre.The battalion landed at Le Havre with 29 officers and 938 other ranks, and settled into a routine of trench digging and relieving troops in frontline trenches. They came under fire from snipers on numerous occasions. On the 16th December 1914 the battalion relieved the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment in C lines, and on the 17th December one man was killed and another wounded. 

On the 18th December 1914 the Devons were ordered to lead an attack on the German trenches, and D and C Companies were to lead the attack supported by B Company. A Company were to come on to the right if called upon. An artillery bombardment commenced onto the German trenches, and D Company started to take some of them. C Company's Major Goodwyn was wounded and did not have time to brief his officers, and consequently the company lost direction and went too far to the west. They got caught up on the barbed wire, losing many men, and only a few men managed to join up with D Company. A total of 4 officers were killed and 5 wounded, and 121 NCOs and men were killed, wounded or missing, one of them being George Frederick Knapman.

George has no known grave, but is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial panels 8 and 9 and Kingsteignton War Memorial.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research

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Private William Henry Lambell, Devonshire Regiment, died 1 July 1916, aged 32. The son of William and Emma Lambell, of Court House, St. Laurence Rd., Ashburton, Devon.

www.cwgc.org.

William Henry was born in Chudleigh, Devon, about 1894 and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the 2nd quarter of 1894. The 1901 census for Chudleigh records the family at 3 Court Woodway Street, Chudleigh, with head of family William. He was born in Chudleigh Knighton in 1867 and his occupation is a general labourer. William's wife, Emma, born in Chudleigh in 1863 is at home looking after the family.

The eldest daughter is Florence aged 13, born in 1888, and there is Lily aged 10, born in 1891; both were born in Chudleigh. The eldest son is William Henry, born in 1894, and there is also Ernest born in 1896; they were both born in Chudleigh. The youngest daughter, Fanny, was born in 1898 in Chudleigh.

The 1911 census for Chudleigh shows the family living in Palace Cottage, Chudleigh, with head of family William H  employed as an engine driver. Emma is still looking after the family, and Florence, aged 23 and single, has no recorded occupation. Lily has got married to Walter Sharp, and both she and her husband lives with the family. William aged 18 is a labourer, as is Ernest; Fanny is 12 years old and a further son called Frederick was born in Chudleigh in 1902.

William enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment in Newton Abbot, with his address on enlistment as Bickington. His service number was 9350 which indicates he enlisted about 1911/1912. The 2nd Battalion were stationed in Cairo at the outbreak of war, and on the 13th September 1914 the battalion sailed for Southampton, arriving on the 1st October 1914. On the 6th November 1914 they landed at Le Havre, joining the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division at Tertre, west of Mons in Belgium. 

William died on the 1st July 1916 when the battalion was involved in the first day of the Battle of the Somme. At the end of the day the 2nd Devon's had lost 11 officers and 237 men, killed, missing, or believed killed. William is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and also on the Ashburton War Memorial. William's parents, living at Court house, St Lawrence Lane, Ashburton, were informed of his death.

Many thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research


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Private Charles Leaman, Devonshire Regiment, died 25 January 1915.

www.ancestry.co.uk Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919


Charles (Charley) Leaman

Charles was born in Ashburton about 1886 and his birth was registered in Newton Abbot in the third quarter of that year. The 1891 census for Ashburton shows the family living at No. 7 Browne's Buildings (??) Ashburton, with head of family Joshua. He was born in 1841 in Widecombe, and his occupation is that of an umber miner. Mary Ann is Joshua's wife. Born in Tavistock in 1846, she is looking after her nine children.

Apart from Charles the other children are: Edwin born 1870, William born 1871, John born 1884, Clara born 1874, Bessie born 1875, Selena born 1880, Maud born 1882 and Jessie born 1888, all in Ashburton.

The 1901 census shows some of the family living at Whistley Cottages, Ashburton. Joshua is still a miner and Mary is still at home. Charles (Charley) is a labourer in a woollen factory; the other children have not been listed.

The 1911 census records that Charles has enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, and that he is stationed in St George's Barracks in Malta. He is a private and his serial number is 8820: this would indicate the he must have enlisted about 1908/1909, and that he enlisted in Exeter.

The 2nd Battalion were serving in Cairo when war broke out, and they boarded SS Osmanieh in Cairo, bound for Southampton on the 13th September 1914, arriving there on the 1st October 1914. On the 6th November the Battalion landed at Le Havre and joined the 23rd Brigade 8th Division in Belgium. They were stationed at Tertre, west of Mons.

The 2nd Battalion spent the first two months of 1915 in trenches at Neuve Eglise. It was supposed to be a quiet period, but casualty figures were rising through troops being killed and wounded from sniper fire during hand overs. During the period 1st January to the end of February 1915 38 men were killed and 79 wounded. It is probable that Charles became another statistic during this period when he was killed on the 25th January 1915. He is remembered at Le Touret Memorial and also on the Ashburton War Memorial.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Richard C Lee
Richard was born in Staverton about June 1891 and his birth was registered the same year in Totnes, Devon. The 1891 census shows that Richard had just been born and his parents were living at Penn Becca Quarry, Woodend, near Ashburton. John was the head of the family; he was born in Staverton in 1862. Richard's mother Ellen was born in 1869, and there is a further son called Frank. He was born in 1890.
According to the 1901 census the family were living at Ruggadon near Staverton, and head of the family John, now a widower, is a horseman on a farm. George is 11 years of age and Richard is 10 years old.
Richard is recorded as living in Ashburton when he enlisted into the Coldstream Guards in Totnes. He enlisted as a private and his service number was 9033. Richard first saw service in France on the 13th August 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force, which was sent to France in the initial stages of the war. At the time of Richard's death on the 15th October he was serving in the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, and according to his medal index card he was accidentally killed.
Richard qualified for the 1914 star and clasp, and is remembered at Chocques Military Cemetery, and also on the memorial at Staverton.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the above research.

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Leslie J Lomax

Member of the Constitutional Club, commemorated on memorial in the club

 

Western Times 11 August 1922 p5 col2

Leslie John Lomax was born in Plumstead London during the 3rd quarter of 1892. His father, Walter born 1883, and his mother Elizabeth born 1854, lived at 91 Plumstead Road Woolwich according to the 1891 census, and this is more than likely the address at which Leslie was born.

The 1901 census records the family at 78 Church Lane, Charlton and Kidbrooke London, Leslies father is employed as a licensed victualler, and his mother is a housewife. Also recorded is another son called Walter, born 1879, and three sisters, Ethel born 1882, Francis born 1885 and Dorothy born 1891 and Leslie aged 9.

A change of scenery for the family brought them to Ashburton where they are recorded on the 1911 census as living at Moor View Jepthing Barn Ashburton. Leslie's father has passed away, and his mother Elizabeth is recorded as the head of family, Sisters Ethel and Frances work at home, and Dorothy is recorded as a music teacher. Leslie is employed as a Clerk at a Serge Factory in Ashburton.

I have been unabled to find a copy of Leslie’s service records, so cannot confirm when he enlisted, however it is possible he enlisted either into the Army, or the Royal Flying Corp as a serviceman, and then transferred to Cadet training to become an observer in the RAF. The London Gazette 2nd August 1918 shows that Leslie John Lomax received a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant Observer on the 4th April 1918. Whether Leslie was already in Palestine at this point, or whether he was then drafted to Palestine is uncertain. However Leslie served with 113rd Squadron as an observer and at that time in 1918 he would have been partnered with a pilot who flew either a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, B.E.2C, R.E.8 or the Nieuport 17, 23 or 24 aircraft, the observers role was to spot and record targets, then relay this information back to the Royal Artillery who would then engage these targets.

Unfortunately Leslie’s career as an observer was cut short on the 24th June 1918 when he was killed in an accidental drowning. Only 2 other aircrew were killed serving in 113rd Squadron in Palestine and these were, Lieutenant AM Hepworth killed whist flying a Nieuport on the 4th May 1918 and 2nd Lieutenant J Topping was killed in action on 16th September 1918 whilst flying as an observer in a R.E.8.  Leslie John Lomax is remembered at Ramleh War Cemetery in Israel, and his grave/memorial reference is K39.

Leslie’s mother was informed of his death, and she was living in Plymouth at 6 Yelverton Terrace North Road.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the research above.

The account of Leslie's death in the Western Times says that he had been a member of the Territorials before the war, and had served with that force throughout the conflict, chiefly in Egypt and India. He had previously worked for Messrs Berry and Sons, and was the seventh member of the staff to be killed during the war.

Western Times 11 July 1918, p3 col4

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Joseph Lowrey

Joseph was born in Ashburton in the 2nd quarter of 1892 and his birth registered in Newton Abbot. The 1901 census for Ashburton records the family living in North Street, Ashburton, with head of family James born in 1861 in Buckfastleigh. He is employed as a labourer, and his wife Mary Ellen, born Ashburton in 1862 is at home. There are two further sons and two daughters: Ellen born 1889, John born 1891, Henrietta born 1897 and James born 1900 all in Ashburton.

According to the 1911 census the family are living at Great Bridge, Ashburton. James is still a labourer and Mary Ellen is at home. Daughter Mary is a worsted spinner, John is invalided, Joseph is an apprentice, Henry a wool sorter and James is at school.

Joseph enlisted into the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment between 1913 and early 1914, and after training he entered France on the 3rd December 1914. The 1st Devons were in the line over the winter period, and incidents were few; however casualties mounted through shelling and through sickness. In the five months the 1st Devons were opposite the Messines Ridge there were 200 casualties and a total of 24 officers and 850 men had to be brought in as reinforcements.

Joseph died of wounds received during the first five months of the 1st Devons being on the front line, on the 3rd April 1915. He is remembered at Loker Churchyard, and also on the Ashburton Memorial.

Thanks to Bob Shemeld for the research above.

Mark Lowrey adds the following: 'Joseph Lowrey was wounded at "Peckham Corner" (at this point the trenches were only 50m apart!) on the front in the Kemmel sector in 1915. He died of wounds at Loker, and we made our visit to him on 3rd April 2015, exactly 100 years to the day of his death.'

Many thanks to Mark for the above

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