Lee, Percy Richard

Private

29 October 1914

Barton Street

10640

Age 21

Mons Star with clasp

1st Bn Coldstream Guards

Harlebeke Cemetery

Ypres

Probably joined up early 1914, entered France 7th October 1914 (as one of the replacement drafts).  The Battalion was part of 1st Guards Brigade. On 29 October 1914 at Gheluvelt the 1st Battalion suffered such causalities (over 130 dead) that it had no officers left and only 80 men.

Son of the late Richard and Damaras Lee.

Lethbridge, William Henry

Temporary 2nd Lieutenant

4 October 1917

Barton Street

11836

Age 21

12/13th (Service) Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.

Broodseinde

(Tyne Cot Memorial)

Formerly Corporal in Devonshire Regt. Entered France 22 September 1915.  Commissioned on 25 April 1917. Not listed on War Memorial but in Memorial Book.

The author acknowledges assistance from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour in this compilation

On 10 August 1917 the 13th Bn merged with the 12th, being renamed the 12th/13th. In October 1917 they were with the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division fighting near Gheluvelt, Ypres as part of Passchendaele.  On the 4th the 21st Division was supporting the ANZACs in the Battle of Broodseinde.  The battle was a great success and a black day for the German army, but only limited gains were made in the south by the British forces, with 300 casualties.

Long, John

Private

7 December 1916

(born N Tawton)

26070

Age 33

10th (Service) Bn Devonshire Regiment

Karasouli Military Cemetery, Salonika

Not in the Memorial Book, details taken from ‘Soldiers died in Great War’. 

The Bn was with 79th Brigade, 26th Division in Salonika from 1915-1918.  The Bn was involved in defending against the Bulgar invasion which was checked at Kosturina, north of Lake Dorian in December 1915. The Division dug in until the summer of 1916, when it had been reinforced and joined by Serbian, Russian and Italian units. The Bulgarian attempted invasion of Greece in July was repulsed near Lake Doiran. In early Oct 1916, the Allies began operations on the River Struma towards Serres. The campaign was successful with the capture of the Rupell Pass and advanced to within a few miles of Serres.  The Bn suffered three deaths in December 1916 which suggests that they were not heavily involved in the fighting.

Son of John and Hannah Long, of Broadclyst, Exeter.

Mann, Ernest

Private

11 Jun 1918

Exeter Street

36676

Age 34

2nd Bn Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire) Regt.

Soissons Memorial

Memorial book says “Missing since 27/5/1918".  Was formerly 4973, Worcestershire Regt.

In 1918 Bn was with 25th Brigade, 8th Division (IX Corps) which was resting at Roucy near Soissons when caught in the second massive German attack on 27 May 1918.  The War Diary says

“At 1 am intense enemy barrage of gas and high explosive was effected against the front and support lines, followed at 4.0am by an attack in considerable force. Almost immediately the Battn found itself surrounded, the enemy forced both flanks, and the result was that practically every man, including the personnel of Battn Headquarters was either killed or taken prisoner. About 80 only escaped and this party rallied in a line of trenches in a field on the right hand side of the La Ville Aux Bois – Pontavert road.”  .... “Lt Col R H Anderson-Morshead DSO missing. Major A.H. Cope DSO was put in Command of the Bde troops. Many rearguard actions were fought.” 

A total of 98 dead are recorded between 27 May and 11 June (when the remnants of the Bn left the front line).

The Soissons Memorial commemorates almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.

Martin, John

Private

24 April 1916

Fore Street

20032

Age 19

Mons Star

“C” Coy, 9th (Service) Bn, Devonshire Regiment

Fricourt

(Citadel New Cemetery)

Entered France 16 December 1915.  In mid 1915 the 8th & 9th (Service) Bn had joined 20th Brigade, 7th Division, which arrived on the Somme in December 1915 and went into rest before it took over the trenches opposite Fricourt and Mametz. On 21 April the Bn relieved the Borders regiment in the trenches opposite Mametz. There was a minor German raid at 9.40pm on the 23rd. On 24th April the Diary records “Enemy artillery and trench mortars active during the afternoon and evening. 2 Lt F. Woolocombe wounded by sniper. 1 other rank killed and 6 wounded by shell and trench mortar fire.”  John was the only death in the Bn this day.

Son of John and Emma Martin, of Park Cottage, Bowbeer, Bow, Devon. Native of Spreyton, Bow.

Metherell, Charles

Private

1 July 1916

High Street

5432 (511782)

Age 34

1st/14th Bn (London Scottish) London Regiment

Gommecourt

(Thiepval Memorial)

"Missing presumed killed".  He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Probably joined the Bn in November 1915. It was the lead (with the 12th (London Rangers) Regt.) in 168th Brigade, 56th Division at Gommecourt on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.  They took their objectives but with heavy casualties – 40% in the Bn – they withdrew at nightfall.  Over 220 died in the Battalion on 1 July 1916.  

Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Metherell.

Moore, John

1st Class Boy

31 May 1916

High Street

HMS “Invincible”

Age 16

Battle of Jutland

(Plymouth Naval Memorial)

HMS Invincible was a 17,000t battlecruiser, commissioned in 1909. She was the the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron at Jutland under Rear-Admiral Hood.  She was heavily engaged from 4am attempting to cut off the escape of the German Fleet.  Invincible, helped by sister ships, damaged or sunk several German battlecruisers before being hit by at least one 12in shell from Lutzow or Defflinger which caused a magazine explosion.  All but 6 of the 1,032 crew were killed.  Invincible is now a protected wreck at 57-02-40 N/ 06-07-15.E in 180 feet of water.

Son of John and Harriet Moore, of Georgeham Crossing, Braunton, Devon. Native of N. Tawton, Devon.

Moore, William James

Private

18 December 1914

Lakeway

(3/)6569

Age 19

2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment

Neuve Chapelle

(Le Touret Memorial)

“Presumed killed in action”.  Bn was part of 23rd Brigade, 8th Division and was recalled from Cairo.  It went into the line south of Armentières in late 1914. The division's first large-scale operation took place at Neuve Chapelle on 18 December 1914 aimed at preventing the Germans sending troops to Russia. The War Diary makes clear the orders were given at 6.45 with the attack timed for 4.30pm.  This rushed planning meant that “not having had time to explain scheme to his officers sufficiently, [they] lost direction ... and were caught up in barbed wire, losing heavily.”  The 2nd Devons followed closely by two companies of the 2nd West Yorkshires took the German trenches but were driven out the next day. Bn suffered 56 dead, including Sgt William Woolacott (below) with a total of 121 ORs killed, wounded or missing.

The Le Touret Memorial commemorates 13,000 men who died from August 1914 to 1915 in France and Flanders who have no known grave.

Son of Mrs. Mary Moore, of High St., N. Tawton, Devon. 

Northcott, George

Private

19 April 1918

Exeter

19691

Age 35

1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt.

Bienvillers Military Cemetery

Died of Wounds. Part of 14th Brigade, 32nd Division from 31 Dec 1915. The Division was heavily attacked in the Battle of the Ancre from 5 April 1918. 

Son of Fredrick Northcott, of Exeter St., N. Tawton, Devon; husband of Florence Mary Northcott of 20, Mill St., Crediton.

Parish, Arthur John

Private

24 April 1917

(born N Tawton)

16785

Age 20

10th (Service) Bn Devonshire Regiment

Dorian Memorial

Not in the Memorial Book, details taken from ‘Soldiers died in Great War’. 

Part of 79th Brigade, 26th Division, heavily engaged in the Battle of Dorian in Salonika seeking to break through Bulgar positions.  Bn suffered 57 dead in the battle.

Son of Mrs. Lydia Jane Parish, of Rewe, Exeter, Devon.

Penwarden, Leslie Edwin

Sapper

3 July 1917

Barton Street

148976

Age 22

8th Div Signals Coy, Royal Engineers

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Joined up on 7 December 1915, was formerly a Telegraphist at Mitcheldever Station, Hants.  Posted to Signals Company with 8th Division HQ, unclear when he went to France.  In mid 1917 8th Division were in the Ypres sector. 

He appears to have been wounded on 3 July, there is a telegram from the OC 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station that he died from a gunshot wound lower jaw, right wrist, right buttock and ankle.  The Casualty Clearing station reports “very quiet along the front” but at 2pm “completed admitting 80 dying and 142 sitting men, many of these cases were very serious shell wounds so that our surgical staff were kept busy”. 

He was the only casualty that day from his unit.

Lijssenthoek was on the main communication line to the rear of the Ypres battlefields and was where several Commonwealth casualty clearing stations were sited.

Son of Francis and Charlotte Penwarden, of Barton Hill, N. Tawton, Devon

Phare, Henry

Stoker 1st Class

31 May 1916

Bank Cottage

K/9261

Age 21

HMS Indefatigable

Battle of Jutland

(Plymouth Naval Memorial)

Not in the Memorial Book, details taken from Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

HMS Indefatigable was an 18,500t battlecruiser launched in 1909. At Jutland she was with the 2nd Batttlecruiser Squadron and was engaged by the German battlecruiser Von der Tann. She was hit by two volleys which caused a magazine explosion at 4.03. She sank immediately with the loss of 1,015 men, only 2 survivors were rescued.

Son of John and Sarah Phare, of Bank Cottage, Sampford Courtenay, North Tawton, Devon.
 

Pierce, Arthur George

Acting Corporal

29 March 1916

The School House

2516

Age 26

2nd/4th Bn Devonshire Regiment

Kut War Cemetery

Attd. 2nd Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regt. Entered Theatre of War 12 August 1915.

Arthur’s service with the 2/4th Devons and RWK mirrors that of Alfred Lee in the Siege of Kut.  He may have been attached to the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kents) from August 1915.  The 2nd Queen’s Own were split in two, B & D Coys went to 30th Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division of the Indian Army and were besieged at Kut. The whole Division was captured on 29 April 1916.

Son of Mr. J. C. and Mrs. S. L. Pierce, of Holly House, N. Tawton, Devon.

Pizzey, Harry

Private

24 September 1918

High Street

GS/6871

Age 33

4th Bn Royal Fusilliers

Reading Hospital

Died of wounds, buried N. Tawton Cemetery.  Son of George & Emma Pizzey.