The West family in 1915

THE WEST FAMILY IN 1915

On Friday 3 December 1915, the Western Times published a brief piece under the heading "Five Fremington brothers in the Army".

The five brothers were the sons of Charles and Emily West who were living on Fremington Hill at the time. Following in his father's footsteps, Charles was a stone mason. At one time, his mother (Elizabeth) had been the village schoolmistress and most of the family of Charles and Emily were named after their uncles and aunts - her children. It was a large family and at least two sisters and another brother have so far been traced. That 6th and youngest brother is mentioned briefly in the paper; he was Eli George West who, in 1915, was already a member of the Volunteer Training Corps at the age of 14.

The newspaper reproduction of the photographs of the serving brothers suffer badly from the technological limitations of the time and the poor quality of the paper they were originally printed on.

Private Alfred Charles West of the 2nd Troop, Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (a Yeomanry regiment) was the eldest of the brothers. He was born in 1889 in Shaftsbury, Dorset, which was also the birthplace of his mother. He married Augusta Maud Mary Richards who came from the village of Sowton, just outside Exeter. They lived in Teignmouth.

Alfred died of wounds 29 March 1916 in the UK aged 27. He is buried in Manchester's Southern Cemetery.

Private John West of the Royal North Devon Hussars was born in Fremington in the December Quarter of 1891.

He married May England in 1914. It would appear that he survived the war.

Private William Charles West of the 7th Wiltshire Regiment was born in Fremington in the September Quarter of 1893.

The Regimental Diary for 3 December 1915 (the publication date of the article quoted) states that on this day the regiment was in Greece:

"Remained in camp in Salonika; weather frosty. Strength 29 officers, 900 other ranks. 29 detached."

In 1917, Salonika was to become the scene of one of the Regiment's bloodiest battle but it would appear that William survived the war.

Private Frederick West of the Royal North Devon Hussars was born in the March Quarter of 1895. He too, seems to have survived the war.

Private Archibald Eli West ("Archie") of the 4th Dorset Regiment was born in the September Quarter of 1896. He also seems to have survived the war.