EXETER - HELE'S SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL - PART 1 - 1914 - 1918

ABOUT THE MEMORIAL

The Hele's School War Memorial  relating to the First World War was completed in 1922 and erected in the Assembly Hall of the School. For many years, it was the focal point of Remembrance Day Services held at the school by the Old Heleans Association. Additional panels inscribed with a  further 71 names were added below the original Memorial after the Second World War. The wall panelling below the Memorial was carved with military symbols.

In 1959, Hele's School moved to a new site at Southam, Exeter,  and the Memorial was re-sited in the Assembly/Dining Hall of the new building there. The years which  followed saw much restructuring of the educational system in Exeter and in the 1970s, after the loss of Hele's School sixth form, a new co-educational, church-aided school called St. Peters emerged on this site. 

In 2000, the Old Helean Association reviewed the condition of the Memorial which was then 78 years old and decided to renovate it as a Millennium Project, raising money themselves and receiving a grant from the War Memorials Trust. 

2005 has seen the building of a brand new school on the Southam site to which St. Peter's will be moving in the Autumn, taking the War Memorial to yet another a new home.

The Memorial, 13 feet wide and made from English oak, has been described as the work of Harry Hems, an Exeter stone and wood carver of great merit. However, he died on 5 January 1916, two years before the end of World War I After his death, his workshop continued to be run by his son Wilfred Hems and his partner, Harry Turner Hems. After the First World War, they produced a number of imposing and beautiful Memorials in both wood  and stone, which can be seen throughout the British Isles and, like this one, undoubtedly show the influence of the firm's founder - Harry Hems.

ABOUT THE NAMES

The 81 names of those remembered on Hele's School's First World War Memorial are not only those of former pupils - members of staff  were also recorded. Most of the names also appear on other War Memorials both inside and outside the County of Devon. Names are listed below in the order shown on the Memorial commencing with the left hand panel.

Some of the men named had moved away from Exeter before their deaths and those who had moved away from England, fought as citizens of their adopted country. Use has been made of  information supplied by next-of-kin in the 1920s. Efforts have been made to trace all of the men through a variety of sources but even so, there remain some whose identity has not yet been confirmed but they will not be forgotten.

Above the Memorial is carved

LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND - WE FOR ENGLAND DIED"

The central panel has the school badge and motto at its head. It reads:

"TO THE PROUD AND GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE OLD BOYS OF THIS SCHOOL WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WARS 1914 - 1918 AND 1939 - 1945

FOR GOD, KING AND RIGHT THEY GAVE THEIR ALL

SEMPER FIDELIS

Not yet confirmed

Private Clinton Aubrey Blakeway of the 1st/4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son  of William and Amy Blakeway of 6, Northernhay St., Exeter. Born in the December  Quarter of 1889 in Plymouth. Died 1 May 1916 aged 26.

Additional information:

Clinton Blakeway went to India, and subsequently volunteered to serve in Mesopotamia. After going through the campaign with the Force, under General Townsend, he was finally beseiged in Kut, and was unofficially reported to have died two days after its fall."

"He was an artist with the degree of A.R.C.A, Kensington, London."

Additonal information:

Captain Denham was wounded in the battle of Arras on 10 April 1917 and died four days later. The Colonel of the Regiment wrote: "The Captain led his Company in the attack most gallantly and was shot by a German officer on reaching his objective."

A. MIDDLEMISS

He was an A.M.I.C.E and had been Assistant Surveyor in the Public Works Dept of Shanghai.

C. MAYNE