BRAMPFORD SPEKE - THE WAR MEMORIAL |
Since we first published the details of this memorial in 2005, one of the names - Frederick J Leach - has been changed to that of Frederick C Leach. The 1911 census reveals that young men of both names were present in the village plus the fact that both were born in Brampford Speke. These men are in addition to the Frederick Leach who was born in Bampton but, after the premature death of his father, was brought up by his grandparents at Rull Farm (aka Reel Farm) in the wider parish of Brampford Speke.
At the time, relatives of all those killed in the Great War were asked to put forward the names and details of their family members for inclusion on war memorials in order to minimise errors and correctly establish such details. Committees were set up locally to raise money for the project and to check that the names handed in were correctly applied to the memorial. Some families did not submit names at the time but the door has never closed on the normal custom of adding extra names to Devon's Great War Memorials, right down to the present day. |
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| ©Richard J Brine 2005 | © Richard J Brine 2010 |
There are two parts to the War Memorial in Brampford Speke: the first part is mounted on the wall inside the church and consists of a sheet of white marble on which names are carved; this is mounted on a sheet of pink marble. Below the heading "Roll of Honour" and a carved wreath, are the words THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918. Six names follow and the Memorial is concluded with the words "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE." A matching pair of marble sheets have been added below to accommodate the names of two dead from the Second World War, headed simply 1939 - 1945. |
Across the lane outside the church is an additional burial ground. Its gates are flanked by two granite gate posts which form the second part of the Memorial. The left-hand gate post is inscribed with the words: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN The inscription continues on the right-hand gate post: THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED IN THE CHURCH. |
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Brampford Speke - the Memorial Gates ©Richard J Brine 2005 |
WORLD WAR 1 1914 - 1918 |
| CHARLES J. ANDREWS | Private Charles John Andrews of the 1st Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. Son of George and Ann Andrews of Stevenstone Cottage, Upton Pyne. Born in the June Quarter of 1887. Died 13 October 1914 aged 27. |
| FREDERICK J. BREWER | Rifleman Frederick John Brewer of the 10th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Son of John and Harriet Brewer of Townton Farm. Born in Brampford Speke in the June Quarter of 1897. Died 20 September 1917 aged 20. |
| WILLIAM H. CARYL | Private William Henry Caryl of the 4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Fanny Caryl. Born in Brampford Speke in the December Quarter of 1895. Died 21 April 1915 aged 19. Buried in St. Peter's Churchyard, Brampford Speke. |
| WILLIAM HARVEY | Military record not yet confirmed. Son of Daniel and Emily Harvey of Church Lane Cottages, Brampford Speke. Born in Brampford Speke in 1888. |
| FREDERICK C. LEACH | See above. Military record not yet confirmed. |
| FREDERICK J. WESTERN | Private Frederick John Western of the 1st Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment. Son of Henry and Emily Western of Hill Cottage, Brampford Speke. Born in the September Quarter of 1896. Died 27 April 1917 aged 21. |
WORLD WAR 2 1939 - 1945 |
| LESLIE W. NEWCOMBE | Private Leslie William Newcombe of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Believed to be the son of Charles and Ruth Newcombe of Thorverton and husband of Dorothy Newcombe of Parracombe, Devon. Born in 1912. Died 8 July 1944 aged 32. |
| JAMES A. WESTERN | Sergeant (Air Gunner) Albert James Western of the RAF Volunteer Reserve, 405 Squadron (R.C.A.F.) Son of James and Mary Ann Western of Brampford Speke and husband of Joan. Born in 1917. Died 24 July 1942 aged 25. |
© M.E. Brine. This page last updated
12 April, 2010
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