Rousdon wayside war memorial

© Richard J. Brine

1914 - 1918

FREDERICK BATES

Corporal, 154th Company, 19th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps

Service No. T2/13655

b. 1890 - Hounslow, Middlesex

d. 22 Oct 1915 - Wimereux, Belgium

He came to Axmouth to work as a shoeing smith and lodged in the village. The Grandson of Mrs B. Stanley, of 15, Kingsley Rd., Hounslow, Middlesex, he is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Belgium, grave I.K.18 and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial

HERBERT JAMES CLEAL

Colour Sergeant, West African Regiment

Lance Corporal, 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

Service No. 9321

b. 1878 - Charton, Devon

d. 10 Aug 1915 - Galipolli, Turkey

Herbert Cleal was in the Army prior to World War 1 serving with the West African Regiment, seeing service in Egypt, Sudan and South Africa, he was serving in Sierra Leone in 1911. He is recorded as an army pensioner in 1913 and was therefore subject to re-call when war broke out. At the time of his death he was living in Abbey Wood, Middlesex.

The son of Frederick and Ellen Cleal of Rousdon, he has no known grave an is commemorated on the Helles memorial, Galipolli, Turkey, panel 156 to 158.

RICHARD JOHN GAPPER

Private, 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

Service No. 29328

b. Sep 1898 - Axmouth

d. 16 Oct 1917 - Hooge, Belgium

The son of Richard and Mary Gapper, of Landslip Cottage, Rousdon, Axminster, Devon. He is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium, grave XV.G.11 and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial.

HENRY PERCY HARRIS, M.M.  

Sergeant, 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Service No. 9430

b. May 1893 - Combpyne, Devon

d. 17 Nov 1917 - England

Henry Harris lived at Rose Cottage, Whitford, Nr Combpyne and enlisted at Axminster in 1914 and died of wounds received in Battle at Ypres, Belgium, 26 Oct 1917. Unable to find out whether he died at home, or in a military hospital in the UK.
Formally 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, he won the Military Medal. It was awarded posthumously and reads:

“LONDON GAZETTE, 4 FEBRUARY, 1918-His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in-the Field to the under mentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men: — 9430 Sjt, P. Harris, Devon. R. (Axminster)” The son of Eli Charles and Amelia Harris, of The Nest, Market Square, Axminster, he is buried in Combpyne Churchyard Extension.

ERNEST HAROLD “HARRY” LOVERIDGE

Private, 3rd Battalion, Worcester Regiment

Service No. 41883

b. 1882 - Combpyne

d. 26 Jul 1918 - Poland

Harry Loveridge died as a Prisoner of War at Szczypiorno Prison Camp in Poland. The Son of Joshua and Elizabeth Loveridge of Combpyne, he is buried in Poznan Old Garrrison Cemetery, Cemetery Memorial 8.NB: He appears as H. Loveridge on the Rouson Memorial.

ARTHUR ELI MEAKER

Private, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment

Service No. 19773

b. Aug 1897 - Hawkchurch

d. 30 Sep 1918 - France

Arthur Meaker lived Rousdon, the son of Sampson and May Meaker of Axmouth. He is buried in Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, Aisne, France, grave VI.C.11.

J.E. NICHOLS

No Information yet

HUGH QUIDHAMPTON NICKALLS

Lieutenant, Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

52nd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

b. 1896 - Nutfield, Surrey

d. 29 Jul 1917 - France

Hugh Nickalls, a native of Horley was seconded whilst commanding South Western Mounted Brigade, Signal Troop, 22 Sep 1915. Formerly of 1st Royal Devonshire Yeomanry, he was flying as observer for 52 Squadron, Royal flying Corps when he was killed in action along with his pilot Lt W. M. Roskelly on 29 Jul 1917. They were flying an RE8 aircraft, No: A4607. His squadron was based at Isel le Hameau at the time. The son of Hugh Pattison Nickalls, and Edith Catherine Nickalls, of The Kennels, Horley, Surrey, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Flying Service Memorial, France.

ROBERT EDGAR NORTHCOTT

Private, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment

Service No. 8373

b. Dec 1888 - Rousdon

d. 8 Jul 1915 - Ypres, Belgium

Robert Northcott enlisted in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The son of Samuel and Emily Northcott, of Grinton Cottage, Rousdon, he was killed in action and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, panel 35 and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial.

EDWARD EDWIN PRIDDICE

Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Service No. 6015

b. Sep 1892 - Stawell, Somerset

d. 3 May 1915 - Ypres, Belgium

Edward Priddice was a game keeper in Broomfield, at the foot of the Quantock Hills in Somerset. He was killed by German fire at Ypres aged 22 years and nine months. Son of Levi Priddice and Eliza Jane Priddice, of Rashill, Broomfield, Bridgwater, Somerset, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, panel 21 and also on the Broomfield War Memorial in Somerset.

WILLIAM JOHN SANSOM  

Private, 9th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Service No. 25662

b. Sep 1881 - Combpyne

d. 19 September 1918 - Macedonia

William Sansom was a carter at Charton Farm and enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 208790) at Axminster 12 Dec 1915. He went overseas with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 2 Nov 1916 and was killed in action while serving with 9th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. The son of the late John Sansom and Elizabeth Sansom (née Matticks), later Mrs E Hill of School Lane, Rousdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial.

Private, 116th Company, Machine Gun Corps

Service No. 103065

b. Sep 1897 - Stockland, Devon

d. 6 Nov 1917 - Flanders, Belgium The son of Henry and Mary Summers of Dowlands Cottage, Rousdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium, panel 154 to 159 and 163A and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial.

GEORGE WHATLEY

Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Service No. 201320

b. Dec 1894 - Chardstock, Devon

d. 25 Jul 1917 - Mesopotamia

George Whatley enlisted at Colyton and died in Mesopotamia, the son of Charles and Sarah Whatley, of Combpyne, Devon. He is buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq, grave XIV.A.2 and is also commemorated on the Axmouth Memorial.

1939 - 1945

Gunner, 72nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

Service No. 14290867

b. 1923

d. 26 Jul 1944 - France

The son of Charles and Violet Webber, he is buried in Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery, grave VI.B.19.