Our thanks to Eddie Lyons and Roy Hewitt for this article

Eddie Lyons is the author of "A Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds 1947" and co-author of "An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds and Amalgamated Companies 1837 - 1947" both published by the Oxford Publishing Company. He is Chairman of the Engine Shed Society and, like Roy Hewitt, is a member of the Western Front Association.

Today, everyone is aware that millions died on the battlefields of the so-called "Great War" between 1914 and 1918. So it may be surprising to know that before January 1st 1916, there was no conscription. All the men who went to fight before that date went voluntarily. In spite of opposition from Trade Unions, the first Military Service Bill was only passed by Parliament late in 1915 to take effect on 1 January 1916.

Conscription began in 1916 with the call-up of single men followed by married men in the May of that year. Employers were compelled to declare details of all men working for them and were subject to severe penalties for failure to declare or for omissions. In every town, tribunals were set up to hear appeals from small businesses, some with only 1 or 2 employees whose loss would be critical to the viability of the business. These appeals mostly fell on deaf ears and there  began a steady rise in business failures - Devon newspapers of the time are full of sad stories which still ring pitifully true as elderly parents pleaded to be able to keep a sole remaining son  at home and local enterprises failed to survive with critical reductions in their labour force.

People soon became cynical about these tribunals when they discovered that a man could earn far more working in a munitions factory than he could by becoming a soldier at the front and public pressure began to be applied to men who, apparently, were shirking their duty to go and fight  - this was the time when white feathers were handed out. Many men, such as Quakers who were genuine pacifists, had joined the No Conscription Fellowship - the NCF - and had registered as conscientious objectors. Others were in reserved occupations and were deemed to be needed at home in order to sustain the forces fighting abroad.

On the railways, women began to appear on platforms replacing station staff called to the front. Of the three grades of footplate men - engine cleaner, fireman and driver - only drivers were deemed to be reserved - the others could be called up and were needed in the muddy fields of Flanders to set up temporary railways to carry supplies to the front line. At Appledore, the entire track and rolling stock of the little branch line run by the Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway was requisitioned by the War office and taken out to France.

From the start of the war, however,  many footplate men felt they could better serve their country at the front and, in spite of the protection given to them by their employers, they enlisted voluntarily. The Devon-born footplate men employed by the Great Western Railway whose names appear below did not have to go but they went anyway and like thousands of others, finally laid down their lives for God, the King and the Country. Most died very young.

H. F. CASELY*

Henry Francis Casely.

Son of Henry and Johanna Casely, of 26, Halcyon Rd., Newton Abbot.

Born in Dawlish in the March Quarter of 1895. 

Listed under the Swansea Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial. He enlisted in Swansea (see Soldiers Died)

L/Cpl in the 2nd Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. 

Died of wounds 10 May 1915 aged 19.

Service No: 14184

Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Lewis George Comer.

Son of John and Eliza Comer, of 28, Westbourne Grove, Ilfracombe, Devon.

Born in Ilfracombe in the March Quarter of 1894.

Listed under Pontypool Road Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Sapper in the 123rd Field Coy., the Royal Engineers.

Died 14 Jul 1917 aged 23.

Service No: 108005

Buried in the  Abbeville Communal Cemetery.

Reginald Victor Connett. Soldiers Died calls him RICHARD but the GRO and 1901 census say he is REGINALD.

Son of Charles and Louisa Connett – his father was an engine driver. His sister (next of kin) was Beatrice Connett.

Born in Stoke Damerel in the March Quarter of 1897.

Listed under the Exeter Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Private in the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died 1 July 1916 aged 19.

Service No: 10238

Buried in the Devonshire Cemetery at Mametz.

This man is named in the GWR Magazine for 1917 on page 73 in a listing of GWR War records for Swindon. He also appears on the Roll of Honour for Swindon and Kidderminster under the Loco and Carriage Depts. His record of military service is not yet confirmed but a photograph of him exists showing him to have been a member of the Devonshire Regiment. We believe him to be

Private Frank Herbert Howard of the 1/4th Battalion (Territorial), the Devonshire Regiment who was born in Exeter.

Died 4 February 1917.

Service No: 1944

Commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

Henry Leaman

Born in the September Quarter of 1885 in Dawlish.

Listed under the Bristol Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial as Sapper H. Leaman of the 2/1st Field Company, the Royal Engineers.

Died 21 December 1916 aged 31.
Service No: 498299

Buried in Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension.

George Revell.

Son of William and Lydia Revell of Newton Abbot and twin brother of Harry (below).

Born in the March Quarter of 1894 in Newton Abbot.

Listed under the Newton Abbot Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Private in 1/6th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died 1 July 1917 aged 23.

Service No: 267820.

Buried in Basra War Cemetery.

Henry Revell, known as Harry Revell.

Son of William and Lydia Revell of Newton Abbot and twin brother of George (above).

Born in the March Quarter of 1894 in Newton Abbot.

Listed under the Llanelly Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Private in the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died 30 September 1915 aged 21.

Service No: 16085.

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Percy Snell

Born in Exeter in 1896.

His  name does not appear on the GWR Roll of Honour or in the GWR Magazine. However, it is found in GWR Records.

He is  believed to  be Gunner Percy Snell of the 60th Div. Ammunition Col., the .Royal Field Artillery.

Died 28 March 1918 aged 22.

Service No: 966604

Buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery.

Albert Henry Thorne.

Son of John and Minnie Thorne of 25, Bear St. Barnstaple.

Born in the September Quarter of 1896 in Barnstaple.

Listed under the Barnstaple Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial. 

Private in 1/6th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died 13 December 1915 aged 19.

Service No: 2405.

Buried in Kut War Cemetery.

This name is incorrectly given  as “W. F. Tremlett” in Soldiers Died – it should be “A. F Tremlett” as stated on the GWR War Memorial and on the CWGC site.  However, the information given in Soldiers Died is correct for “A. F. Tremlett”.

Albert Francis Tremlett.

Son of George and Ann Tremlett – his father worked for the GWR as a platelayer.

He was born in Newton Abbot in the September Quarter of 1896.

Listed under the Newton Abbot Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Private in 1/4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died 3 February 1917 aged  21.

Service No: 5741.

Buried in Amara War cemetery.

Harry Charles Western. (Name registered as Harry not Henry)

Son of John and Mary Western, of 11, Artizans Dwellings, Rack St., Exeter.

Born in Exeter in the June Quarter of 1896.

Listed under the Exeter Loco Dept. on the GWR War Memorial.

Private in the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.

Died  2 April 1917 aged 21.

Service Number 10206.

Commemorated on the Arras Memorial.