Even at the time the two battalions were raised in August and September 1914, not all the recruits were Devon men. There had been considerable competition in the County  from recruiting by the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. These two battalions of Devonshires went to France in 1915 and were not involved in heavy fighting before the Battle of the Somme and replacements of casualties were not always County men. In the 9th Devons, 68 of those killed in action that July day were Devon-born although not all of them were resident in the County on enlistment, whereas 20 of the 38 dead belonging to the 8th Battalion were born in the County.*

When my wife Pat and I first visited this cemetery in 1993, some debris of battle was still apparent. The local farmer had been digging chalk from the side of Mansel Copse. He had deposited his harvest of unexploded shells at the side of the road to await collection by the French Army. Further along the track, there were the rusting remains of a sarding tin lying beside an unexploded British hand granade, an item not to  be touched under any circumstances. I found a spent rifle bullet on the track.

Private Albert Edward James.Harwood of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Jane Harwood and husband of D. Harwood of 9, Addison Road, Neachells, Birmingham. Born in Birmingham. Died 1 July 1916 aged 37.

Private Herbert Rowland of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Eliza Harwood of Church Cottage, Thrushleton, Lew Down. Born in Marystowe, Devon. Died 1 July 1916 aged 20.