BEER - THE CHURCHYARD WAR MEMORIAL

This fine Memorial on the corner of St. Michael's churchyard dominates the main street of Beer. Carved from the local Beer stone and topped by an ornate cross, you can see at a glance that it is lovingly cared for and full of meaning for local people. Like many Memorials, it was adapted at the end of World War 2 so that more names could be added.

Two of the men named in the 1914 - 1918 section are buried a short distance away in Beer Church Cemetery: they are Edward Miller and James Potter. Three more men from the First World War are also buried in the cemetery but are not included on either the churchyard memorial or the memorial inside the church: they are John Burtlett Ham, Reginald Arthur Lee and Charles Henry Mountstephen.

One man  named in the 1939 - 1945 section is buried in the nearby church cemetery - he is Victor Wilkins. Another man - Robert Wilson - is also buried in the cemetery but his name does not appear on the listings inside or outside the church.

The commemoration on the outward face reads:

Beer War Memorial

© Richard J. Brine

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE GALLANT MEN FROM THE PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WARS

1914 - 1919

1939 - 1945

"THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD"

1914 - 1918

WALTER TOM ABBOTT

Able Seaman Walter Thomas Abbott of the Royal Navy, HMS Invincible. Son of Robert and Sarah Abbott of 4 Rose Cottage, Cemetery Lane, Beer. Born in the March Quarter of 1888 at Beer. Died 31 May 1916 aged 28.

Lance Corporal Anthony Bartlett of the 2/9th Battalion, the London Regiment. Born in Seaton in the December Quarter of 1896 but brought up in Beer where his father was a fisherman. Died 26 September 1917 aged 21.

Private George Carslake of the 1/5th Battalion, the West Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and Annie Carslake of Colyton. Born in Beer in 1890. Died 15 July 1916 aged 26.

Private William James Carslake of the 1/5th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment. Born in Beer in the June Quarter of 1901. Died 19 June 1917 aged 16.

Private Walter George Woolley Clarke of the Devonshire Regiment. Clarke Son of George and Emily Clarke of Beer and husband of Emily Clarke of Barline, Budleigh Salterton.. Born in the March Quarter of 1879 in Beer. Died 20 February 1917 aged 38. Buried in Budleigh Cemetery.

Private Stephen Ambrose Fisher of the 20th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Son of Ambrose Brewin Fisher (HM Inspector of Schools ) and Emily Fisher of The Cottage, Seaton. Born in 1892 in Windermere. Died 23 July 1916 aged 24.

Seaman Norman George Franklin of the Royal Navy Reserve, HMS Defence. Son of George and Susan Franklin of Beer. Born in 1889 in Beer. Died 31 May 1916 aged 27.

Second Corporal Archibald Walter Gush of the 23rd Division Signal Company of the Royal Engineers. Son of Walter James and Elizabeth Francis Gush of Marine Cottage, Beer and brother of Charlie (see below). Born in the December Quarter of 1889 at beer. Died 17 November 1918 aged 25.  Awarded the Military Medal and Bar.

Private Charlie Cleaver Gush of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Walter James and Elizabeth Francis Gush of Marine Cottage, Beer and brother of Archibald (see above). Born in the June Quarter of 1891 at Beer. Died 20 August 1916 aged 31.

Petty Officer Stoker William John Harner of the Royal Navy, HMS Falmouth. Son of  George and Martha Harner of Beer and husband of Bessie Harner (formerly Newbury) of West Street, Colyton. Born in the September Quarter of 1893. Died 22 March 1918 aged 29.

Private Arthur Timothy Hawker of the 11th Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment. Son of James and Harriet Hawker of Church Cottage, Beer and husband of Julia Olive Hawker of 4 Parsons Lane Branscombe. Born in Axmouth in the March Quarter of 1889. Died 22 March 1918 aged 29.

The birth of a child named Reginald Williams Hookings was registered in East Stonehouse in the June Quarter of 1896.

Reginald Hooking, the son of John and Eliza Hooking of Beer was listed in the 1901 census as being 8 years old.

Private Reginald Hookings of the 114 Coy., the Machine Gun Corps. Son of Jack and Eliza Hookings of 3, Fore Street, Beer and husband of Caroline Bubbins (formerly Hookings). Died 31 August 1917 aged 24.

Private Frank Lumbard of the 2/4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.  Son of William Lumbard of Bridge Cottage, South Petherton, Somerset, and believed to be the grandson of Frank Lumbard who was born in Beer in 1861. Born near Chard in 1890. Died 10 August 1916 aged 26.

31513 Sergeant Edward Miller of the Royal Field Artillery. Son of William and Eliza Miller of Beer Street, Axminster. Born in Beer in 1885. Died 6 November 1917 aged 32.

Private Thomas Leonard Miller of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of  Thomas and Flora Miller and husband of Elsie May Miller of 5, West View, Beer. Born in the March Quarter of 1888. Died 11 March 1917 aged 29.

Driver Sidney Leonard Mutter of the 29th Division, Ammunition Col., the Royal Field Artillery. Son of John and Amanda Mutter and husband of Lily Ethel Mutter of Oaken Cross, Marnhull, Dorset. Born at Beer in the June Quarter of 1889. Died 23 October 1915 aged 26.

Stoker 1st Class William John Mutter of the Royal Navy, HMS Defence. Son of William and Elizabeth Mutter of Beer. Born in Beer in the June Quarter of 1875. Died 31 May 1916 aged 41.

Able Seaman William Robert Orley ("Robert") of the Royal Navy, HMS Defence. Son of Samuel and Christiana Orley of Beer and husband of Rose Ellen Orley (formerly Ayres). Born in the March Quarter of 1879. Died 31 May 1916 aged 37.

Captain Arthur Percy Palmer of the 1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards. Husband of Josephine Palmer of Hampstead, London. Born in 1872. Died 27 September 1915 aged 43. Awarded the DSO.

Sapper Heber Edward Perry of 203 Field Company, the Royal Engineers. Son of James and Elizabeth Perry of Beer and husband of Alice Perry of 45 Ladysmith Road, Exeter. Born in Branscombe in the December Quarter of 1885. Died 20 January 1918 aged 32.

Private James Potter of 1/7th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Potter of Beer. Born in Beer in the June Quarter of 1878. Died 22 May 1917 aged 39. Buried in Beer Church Cemetery.

A Harry Wyndham Ralph is recorded in the 1901 census as having been born in Seaton in 1899. Similarly a Harold Frank Ralph is recorded as having been born in Plymouth in the June Quarter of 1898; however he used the name Frank according to military records. If this refers to Harry Ralph of Seaton, no information has yet been found relating to his military records.

Private Leonard Walter Cgarles Rodgers of 1/5th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of William and Letitia Rodgers of 2 Quarry Cottages, Beer. Born in Beer in the December Quarter of 1898. Died 17 April 1918 aged 19.

Private Herbert Edmund Westlake of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Louisa Westlake of Myrtle Cottage, Beer and husband of Charlotte Westlake (formerly Hayley) of Spring Gardens, Beer. Born in Beer in the June Quarter of 1880. Died 4 October 1917 aged 37.

Mess Room Steward Richard Herman Westlake of the Mercantile Marine, SS Daleby (West Hartlepool). Son of William and Rosina Westlake of Lamorna House, Beer. Born in Beer in the March Quarter of 1890. Died 29 April 1917 aged 27.

Private John Henry Woodgate of the 7th Battalion, the Queen's Own (West Kent Regiment). He died 12 October 1917. His connection with Beer has not yet been traced although a family of this name lived there for many years.

1939 - 1945

Not yet confirmed but in the 1930s Frank Ayres and his wife (possibly William's father and mother) had a grocery business in Beer and Frank's sister was the local District Nurse for many years.

3rd Radio Officer Dennis William Butchers of the Merchant Navy, SS Newbury (London). Died 15 September 1941 aged 19. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Able Seaman Lester Thomas Cawley of the Royal Navy, HMS Kite. Son of Thomas and Nellie Cawley of Beer. Died 21 August 1944 aged 24.

Petty Officer David Chapple of the Royal Naval Patrol Service, HM Trawler Birdlip. Son of William Henry and Julia Fanny Chapple of Beer. Died 13 June 1944 aged 24. Commemorated on Lowestoft Naval Memorial.

Chief Steward Norman James Chapple of the Merchant Navy, SS Swiftpool (West Hartlepool). Son of Robert James and Elizabeth Chapple and husband of Dorothea Helen Chapple of Beer. Born in Beer in the June Quarter of 1901. Died 5 August 1941 aged 40. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.

Not yet confirmed

Not yet confirmed

Captain William Tofield Makeig - Jones of the Royal Navy, HMS Courageous. Son of William and Ann Tofield Makeig-Jones and husband of Dorothy Maud Makeig-Jones of Torquay. Died 17 September 1939 aged 49. 

Civilian. Winifred Mary Medlycott (British Red Cross Society member) of 23 Gwendwr Road, Fulham. Widow of Frederick Albert Medlycott. Injured 20 February 1944 at 23 Gwendwr Road. Died at Fulham Hospital 21 February 1944 as a result of enemy action.

Stoker 1st Class Arthur Samuel Moulding of the Royal Navy, HMS Lanka. Died 12 February 1944.

Serjeant Lawrence Arthur White of the Worcestershire Regiment on attachment to the Nigerian Regiment. Son of John and Rosetta White. Born in Branscombe in 1897. Died 11 June 1941 aged 43.

Leading Seaman Victor Alfred Jarvis Wilkins of the Royal Navy, HMS Defiance. Son of Alfred and Harriet Wilkins and husband of Mary Hannah Wilkins of Beer. Died 26 January 1943 aged 44. Buried in Beer Church Cemetery.