From The Devon Weekly Times

9 March 1900

The first of the Queen's chocolate boxes to arrive in the village of Ipplepen has just come to hand from Lance-Corporal John Holmes of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. Corporal Holmes has seen about ten years' service - seven years and ten months with the Devons in Egypt and India, and nearly three years in the Seaforths. Holmes, in the fighting on the Modder, saw over 20 of his comrades killed and over 100 wounded. He came out without a scratch. He writes in a cheerful spirit to his parents, and his mother writes with pride how he assured her the last time he was at home that he had sworn to serve Her Majesty, and would do so with all his might.

Ipplepen has many at the front:

Lance Corporal Holmes, Seaforths

Private Beer, Royal Engineers

Private Green, Devons

Private Honeywill, Devons

Private Cooke, Devons

Private Vogwell, Devons

Private Wilkie, Devons

Private Gormon, Royal Artillery

Private Vogwell, the Rifle Brigade

Seaman Denley, HMS Thetis*

More of Ipplepen's sailor boys are on their way out - a record hard to beat for a village.

* This particular HMS Thetis was the 11th Royal Navy vessel to bear this name. Launched on 13 December 1890, she was an Apollo - class 2nd class cruiser carrying a crew of some 270 men.

She met her end on 23 April 1918 when she was deliberately scuttled in an attempt to block the harbour entrance in the Zeebruge raid during the 1st World War.

©M. Brine