Eggesford War Memorial

EGGESFORD - THE WAR MEMORIAL

The War Memorial at Four Ways, Eggesford.

©Richard J. Brine

A simple granite cross stands at the junction of four lanes in the parish of Eggesford - Four Ways as it is called locally. Now protected by a stout railed fence, the cross is mounted on three granite blocks, the upper on of which bears the inscription 1914-1919. The face of the middle stone has this inscription followed by the names - now badly weathered and hard to read.

IN PROUD AND HONOURED MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR GOD, KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR.

Close up of inscription - Eggesford War Memorial

The inscribed face of Eggesford War Memorial

ARTHUR HARRY GILL	Private Arthur Harry Gill of the 1/5 Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Mary Gill. Born in Zeal Monachorum in the December Quarter of 1894. Died 27 September 1918 aged 24.
WILLIAM LEAMON	Private William Leamon (also Leaman) of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Believed to be the nephew of Francis and Ellen Leaman. Believed born in Wembworthy in the June Quarter of 1884. Died 25 September 1915.
PERCY MANNING	Private Percy Manning of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son ofWilliam and Annie Manning of 10, Four Ways, Eggesford. Born in Eggesford in 1895. Died 6 July 1916 aged 21.
THOMAS TRIGGER PIPER	Private Thomas Trigger Piper of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Elizabeth Piper of Four Ways, Eggesford. Born in Eggesford in the June Quarter of 1895. Died 12 May 1915 aged 20.
FRANK TRIGGER	Private Francis Trigger of the 2nd Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. (The Roll of Honour describes him as a member of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment - this may have been an error or there may have been cross-posting between regiments.) Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Trigger. Born in Eggesford in the September Quarter of 1890. Died 16 April 1916 aged 26.
HUGH PETER HARTNOLL	Lieutenant Hugh Peter Hartnoll of the 1st Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment. Son of Sir Henry Sullivan Hartnoll and Lady Hartnoll of The Old Glebe, Eggesford. Died 12 December 1914 aged 21.
FREDERICK W. MANNING	Lance Corporal Frederick Manning of the Army Service Corps. Son of William and Susan Manning. Born in Instow in 1891 but believed to have grown up in Eggesford. Died 26 April 1915 aged 24.
WILLIAM PALMER	Private William Palmer of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Born in Winkleigh. Died 9 December 1916.
HENRY TRIGGER	Private Henry ("Harry") Trigger of the Somerset Light Infantry. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth of Four Ways and brother of Frank (see above). Born in the March Quarter of 1885 in Eggesford. Died 3 December 1916 aged 31. Buried in Eggesford churchyard.
JOHN VERNON	Stoker 1st Class John Vernon of the Royal Navy, HMS Indefatigable. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Vernon. Born in 1895 in Coldridge. Died 31 May 1916 aged 22.

BURIED IN EGGESFORD CHURCHYARD BUT OMITTED FROM THE WAR MEMORIAL
JAMES CORNALL	Private James Ernest Archibald Cornall of the Coldstream Guards. Son of Charles and Annie Cornall of Railway Cottage, Umberleigh. Born in the June Quarter of 1896 in London. Died 18 June 1918 aged 21.