DevonMMAtoC

In a war in which every man was a hero, the men named below did some deed which raised them above the rest. Many repeated their heroism hence the awarding of a Bar to their original medal - some men acquired two Bars but only one - an Australian - ever earned three Bars. Only when the award had been personally approved by the King and announced in the London Gazette (i.e."gazetted") did an award become official and this could take several months. This was generally linked to other rewards such as promotion or additional pay.

Most citations have been lost and we shall never know what the majority of these Devon men did. In various parts of the country however, a few citations survive. We include a random selection in pages of the index so that searchers may judge for themselves the special qualities of the men listed on these pages:

Award to a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery

"For bravery and devotion to duty on the afternoon of 4th December 1917, near St. Julien, when, after the control hut had been practically destroyed by a direct hit, Gunner Brough, although himself slightly wounded, persisted in helping to save his comrades from the wreckage, after which he repaired the telephone wires and re- established communication."

DEVON'S MILITARY MEDAL RECIPIENTS 1916 - 1920

A - C

ABBOTT, C	345169 "A" Company Sergeant Major Cyril William Abbot of the 16th battalion, the Devonshire regiment. Son of William and Gertrude Abbott. Born in Cardiff in the June Quarter of 1895 - the family later moved to Woodbury in Devon. Military Medal gazetted 13 May 1919.
AGER, W	207634 Corporal Walter Vivian Ager of the 63rd DS (Detached Service) Coy, the Royal Engineers. Son of Walter and Ada Mary Jane Ager (née Hopgood). Born in Chiswick in the September Quarter of 18997 but moved to Buckland Monachorum as a baby. Military Medal gazetted 20 August 1919.
AGGETT, S	240473 Sergeant Sydney Aggett of "D" Company, the 1st/5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Emma Aggett of 3, Mardon Terrace, Moretonhampstead. Born in Moretonhampstead in the June Quarter of 1886. Killed in action 30 September 1918 aged 32. Military Medal gazetted 11 March 1919.
AMISS, E	51076 Corporal Edward Allison Amiss of the Royal Engineers. Son of William Edward Amiss. Born in Paignton in the December Quarter of 1885. Military Medal gazetted 12 December 1917.
ANSTEY, R	510250 Sapper Robert Warwick Anstey of the Royal Engineers. Son of Sam and Emma Anstey. Born in Topsham in the June Quarter of 1893. Military Medal gazetted 27 June 1918.
ANTELL, A	17896 Private Arthur Antell of the 2nd Battalion, the Coldstream Guards. Son of Thomas and Susan Antell (née Tamlyn). Born in Challacombe in the March Quarter of 1895. Military Medal gazetted 13 June 1919.
APPS, C	22280 Private Charles Apps of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Charles and Jessie.. Born in Bishopsteignton in the December Quarter of 1900. Military Medal gazetted 28 Aug 1918.
ASTON, A	240468 Private Albert Colley Aston of the 5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Aston (née Morcom). Born in Plymouth in the December Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 10 December 1918.
AXWORTHY, C	9470 Lance Corporal Charles ("Charlie") T. Axworthy of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Mary Jane Axworthy. Born in Newton Ferrers in 1889. Military Medal gazetted 27 October 1916.
AYRES, A	G/6884 Sergeant Arthur James Ayres of the 1st Battalion, the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs). Son of Frederick and Maria Ayres. Born in Talaton in the December Quarter of 1890. Killed in action 18 September 1918 aged 27. Held the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Military Medal gazetted 20 August 1919.
BAKER, H	28346 Lance Corporal Herbert Charles Baker of the Somerset Light Infantry. Son of Charles and Beatrice Baker. Born in Bristol in the September Quarter of 1883 - later came to live in Exeter. Military Medal gazetted 21 January 1919.
BALL, W	G/211 Sergeant Walter Harold Ball of the 9th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Son of William John and Bertha Ball of 2 Brooke Cottage, Kingsbridge, and brother of Eli Bal lwho also died. Born in Kingsbridge in the September Quarter of 1895. Died 3 May 1917 aged 22. Military Medal gazetted 6 July 1917.
BARONS, G	10916 Gunner Gerald J. Barons of the Royal Field Artillery. Son of Samuel and Mary Barons. Born in Kingsbridge in the September Quarter of 1893 - later moved to Zeal Monachorum. Military Medal gazetted 16 October 1917.
BARRATT, J	9?4963 Lance Corporal John Edwin Barratt of the Military Foot Police. Son of John and Mary Jane Barratt. Born in Exeter St. Sidwells in the December Quarter of 1886. Military Medal gazetted 12 November 1918.
BARTLETT, L	M2/222215 Private Leonard Owen Bartlett of the Royal Army Supply Corps. Son of David and Eliza Bartlett. Born in Kelly, nr. Tavistock in the September Quarter of 1895. Military Medal gazetted 21 October 1918.
BASTIN, W	514509 Sapper Wallace Hubert Bastin of the Royal Engineers. Son of George and Caroline Bastin of 262 Pinhoe Rd., Exeter. Born in Exeter in the March Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 25 January 1918. Awarded for bridge building under continuous fire.
BATER, R	Private Richard Bater of the 4th Field Ambulance, the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Son of Samuel and Diana Bater and brother of Samuel (see below). Born in Chulmleigh in the March Quarter of 1891. Emigrated and became a Canadian citizen. Killed in action 16 August 1918 aged 27. Military Medal gazetted in 1919.
BATER, S	20007 Private Samuel Bater of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Diana Bater and brother of Richard Bater. Born in Chittlehamholt nr. Chulmleigh in the December Quarter of 1899. Killed in action 6 September 1916 aged 16. (Samuel was under-age when he volunteered). Military Medal gazetted 1919.
BAULKER, W	129230 Sergeant William Baulker of the 45th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Grandson of William and Mary Baulker. Born in Exeter in the December Quarter of 1885. Military Medal gazetted 20 January 1920.
BEER, S	12025 Private Stanley Frank Beer of the 10th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Maria Beer. Born in Torquay in 1895. Military Medal (for conduct in the Black Sea area) gazetted 16 December 1919.
BELL, R	47092 Sergeant Richard John H. Bell of the Royal Field Artillery. Son of Richard and Elizabeth Bell. Born in Topsham, nr. Exeter, in the June Quarter of 1885. Military Medal gazetted 4 October 1918.
BERRIBALL, S	185L Lance Corporal Sidney Berriball of the 1st Battalion, the Dragoon Guards. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Berriball. Born in Plymouth in the December Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 12 December 1917.
BEWES, J	62903 Sapper John Thomas Bewes of the 38th Division Signal Company, the Royal Engineers. Son of Elizabeth Bewes; married in 1907. Born in Northam in 1888. Military Medal gazetted 13 June 1916.
BICKFORD, A	3/7184 Private Arscott Fitz William Bickford of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John Fitz William Bickford and his wife Emma. Born in Bickington in the December Quarter of 1876. Military Medal gazetted 10 November 1916.
BIDDLE, W	12507 William Arthur Biddle of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Mary Biddle. Born in Plymouth in the September Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 8 December 1916.
BISHOP, R	D/8761 Corporal Reginald John Bishop (promoted to Sergeant) of the 6th Battalion, the Dragoon Guards. Next of kin not yet known. Born in Exeter in the December Quarter of 1893. Died of wounds 8 May 1920. Military Medal gazetted 21 January 1919.
BLACKMORE, P	49627 Private Percival George Blackmore of the 74th Battalion, the Machine Gune Corps. Son of Frederick and Grace Blackmore (née Wackley as in GRO). Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1896. Military Medal gazetted 13 May 1919.
BOARD, E	21072 Sergeant Ernest Victor Board of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Son of William and Elizabeth Board. Born in Axminster in 1899. Military Medal gazetted 21 August 1917; Bar gazetted 30 October 1917
BOLT, W	203136 Lance Corporal William Maurice Bolt of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Maurice and the late Mary Ann Bolt (née Crook). Born in Dawlish in the March Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 4 February 1918.
BOND, W	41707 Sapper Wallace William Bond of the Royal Engineers. Son of Joseph and Selina Bond. Born in Okehampton in the September Quarter of 1889. Military Medal gazetted 13 March 1918.
BOND, M	8876 Private Mark Bond of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Alice Bond. Born in Holcombe Rogus in the September Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 20 October 1917.
BOTTERELL, G	240034 Corporal George Botterell of the 5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Jessie Botterell. Born in Plymouth in the December Quarter of 1885. Military Medal gazetted 11 March 1919.
BOWDEN, F	498272 Private Frederick W. Bowden of the Royal Engineers. Son of James and Elizabeth Bowden. Born in Dawlish in 1885. Military Medal gazetted 16 November 1917.
BOYER, F	8691 Private Frank Francis Harry Boyer of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Robert and Mary Ann Boyer (née Pearce). Born in Newton Abbot in the March Quarter of 1886. Military Medal gazetted 25 January 1918.
BREALEY, E	510221 Sapper (promoted to Lance Corporal) Ernest Stanley Brealey of the 58th Company (Territorial Force), the Royal Engineers. Next of kin not yet known. Born in Exeter, St. Thomas in the June Quarter of 1894. Military Medal gazetted 10 December 1918.
BRIMICOMBE, P	48549 Private Percy Wilfred Brimicombe of the 5th Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Son of Philip and Phyllis Brimicombe (née Jennings). Born in Exeter in the June Quarter of 1899. Military Medal gazetted 22 July 1919.
BRITTON, T	8996 Corporal Thomas Henry Britton of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Emma Britton of 9 Granby St., Plymouth. Born in Plymouth in the March Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 21 February 1917.
BROOM, C	102756 Private Charles Broom of the 1st Battalion, the Machine Gun Corps. Son of Charles and Jemima Brown of Tiverton. Born in Tiverton in the June Quarter of 1898. Military Medal gazetted 11 March 1918.
BROOM, J	8824 Sergeant James Broom of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Broom. Born in Cullompton in the September Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 21 January 1919.
BROWNING, J	11319 Private James G. Browning of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of James and Fanny Browning. Born in Teignmouth in the September Quarter of 1894. Military Medal gazetted 23 February 1918.
BUCKLAND, B	29723 Sergeant Basil George Buckland of 65 Company, the Machine Gun Corps Infantry. Son of George and Bessie Buckland of Rougemont House, Exeter. Born in Hadenbridge, Surrey in the September Quarter of 1897. Killed in action 8 October 1918 aged 21. Awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palms by France. Won his Military Medal in Salonica. Military Medal gazetted 11 March 1919.
BURGE, G	Spts/2656 Private George Joseph Burge of the 24th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. Son of George Alick and Elizabeth Burge of 11 Brunswick Road, Plymouth. Born in Plymouth in the June Quarter of 1895. Killed in action 3 October 1918 aged 24. Military Medal gazetted 12 July 1918.
BURGOYNE, W	50355 Private William Percy Burgoyne of the 2nd/6th Battalion, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TF. Son of William and Florence Burgoyne. Born in Torquay in the December Quarter of 1899. Military Medal gazetted 10 December 1918.
BURNELL, H	63704 Sergeant Harold Adams Burnell of the Royal Engineers. Son of George and Maud Burnell. Born in Paignton in the June Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 2 August 1918.
BURRIDGE, S	74885 Private Samuel Burridge of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Samuel and Jane Burridge. Born at Matford, nr. Alphington in the June Quarter of 1893. Military Medal gazetted 29 August 1918.
BURSTON, F	6/17458 Private Frank Burston of the South Wales Borderers. Son of David and Mary Burston. Born in Morebath in the March Quarter of 1894 - the family later moved to Bampton. Military Medal gazetted 12 June 1918.
BURT, T	656752 Gunner Thomas Avent Burt of the 421st Battery, the Royal Field Artillery. Next of kin not yet identified. Born in Plymouth in the June Quarter of 1898. Military Medal gazetted 20 January 1920.
CALLARD, E	74440 Private Edmond Charles Callard of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of George and Emma Callard. Born in Combe-in-Teignhead in the March Quarter of 1893. Military Medal gazetted 13 March 1918.
CATER, W	6500 Sergeant William H. Cater of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of James and Harriet Cater. Born in Lydford in the September Quarter of 1894. Military Medal gazetted 8 August 1916.
CHAFFE, R	78595 Reginald Robert Chaffe of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Son of William and Elizabeth Jane Chaffe. Born in Dawlish in the September Quarter of 1885. Military Medal gazetted 10 April 1918.
CHAPMAN, T	9548 Sergeant Thomas John Chapman of the 10th Battalion, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of Thomas and Selina Chapman. Born in Mothecombe in the March Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 7 February 1919.
CHAPPLE, H	44223 Private Herbert Philip Chapple of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of William and Frances Chapple. Born in Torquay in the December Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 12 December 1917.
CLAPP, E	153806 2nd Corporal (promoted to Corporal) Edward Clapp of the Royal Engineers. Next of kin appear to be his aunt and uncle, Lucy and Alfred Martyn. Born in Barnstaple in the March Quarter of 1889. Military Medal gazetted 21 October 1918.
CLAPP, W	35764 Private William Clapp of the 15th Field Ambulance, the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Clapp of 3, Blundell's Crescent, Tiverton. Born in Tiverton in the March Quarter of 1884. Died of his wounds 29 June 1918 aged 34. Military Medal gazetted 12 November 1918.
CLARKE, A	11020 Lance Corporal Alfred Clarke of the 5th battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs A. Clarke of Bude Terrace, Windsor. Born in Newton Abbot in 1894. Died 27 June 1917 aged 23. Awarded the Military Medal.
CLARKE, C	51489 Corporal Charles Elon Clarke of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Next of kin not yet known. Born in Torre, Torquay in the December Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 10 August 1916; Bar gazetted 12 July 1918.
CLEMENTS, J	312469 Sapper John Henry Clements of the Royal Engineers - attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery as 51349 Sapper Clements. Son of Samuel and Catherine Clements. Born in Plymouth in the March Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 21 August 1917; Bar gazetted 13 September 1918..
CLIFF, N	22360 Private Norinan Down Cliff of the Grenadier Guards. Son of Thomas and Mary Cliff (see above). Born in Torquay in the March Quarter of 1894. Military Medal gazetted 23 February 1918.
CLIFF, H	459473 Sergeant Howard Stephens Cliff of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force). Son of Thomas and Mary Cliff (see above). Born in Torquay in the September Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 4 February 1918.
CLIFTON, G	24688 Private Gilbert Clifton of the 6th Battalion, the Royal West Kent (the Queen's Own) Regiment. Son of William and Ellen Clifton. Born in Holsworthy in the September Quarter of 1893. Killed in action 3 December 1917 aged 24. Military Medal gazetted 25 January 1918.
CLOW, E	203262 Private Ernest Alfred Clow of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Albert and Selina Clow and husband of Elsie Beatrice Clow of 11 Politmore Square, Exeter. Born in Exeter in the September Quarter of 1886. Killed in action 10 October 1917 aged 31. Military Medal gazetted 21 November 1918.
COBLEY, W	25471 Sapper Walter Frederick Cobley of the 2nd Divisional Signal Company, the Royal Engineers. Son of Walter and Emily Cobley. Born in Washford Pyne in the December Quarter of 1895. Military Medal gazetted 13 June 1919.
COLES, F	2626 Sergeant Frederick ("Fred") Coles of the Royal Engineers, the 8th Railway Company. Son of Noah and Grace Coles. Born in Hatherleigh in the March Quarter of 1881. Military Medal gazetted 2 June 1916. Also decorated in the Boer War.
COLERIDGE, R	457013 Sergeant Reginald Goss Coleridge of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Arthur and Celia Coleridge (née Goss). Born in Teignmouth in the December Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 25 September 1917.
COLES, W	5255 Sergeant William Coles of the Devonshire Regiment. Military Medal gazetted 16 November 1916. Extract from The Crediton Chronicle 18 Nov 1916: "Sergeant Coles made the acquaintance of Crediton as a wounded soldier, being amongst the first to be quartered here. He stayed for some time and his genial manner won him many friends who are greatly pleased at his being awarded this decoration. After several months in Flanders, he returned home as Corporal before going again to the front promoted to Sergeant."
COLLIER, G	240863 Private George Henry Collier of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William James and Jessie Collier (née Cockram). Born in Plymouth in the March Quarter of 1896. Military Medal gazetted 9 April 1918.
COLLINGS, A	9696 Private Arthur Edred Collings of the 1st Battalion, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of Harry and Mary Collings. Born in Exeter in the september Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 7 February 1919.
COLLINS, H	8595 Acting Corporal Henry Richard Collins of the 2nd Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Henry Richard and Mary Jane Collins (later to become Skerry). Born in St Ives, Cornwall in 1892 - later moved to Barnstaple. Held the DCM as well as the MM. Killed in action 4 September 1917 aged 25. Military Medal gazetted 25 September 1917.
COLLMAN, E	240755 Private Ernest Collman of the 5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Reginald and Emma Collman. Born in Newton Abbot in the December Quarter of 1898. Military Medal gazetted 22 July 1919.
COOK, W	24283 Corporal William Walters Cook of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Grace Cook (his father is believed to have been in the army). Born in Plymouth in the December Quarter of 1880. Military Medal gazetted 29 August 1918.
COOPER, C	80401 Private Cecil Harry Cooper of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Son of Harry and Matilda Cooper. Born in Exmouth in the March Quarter of 1886. Military Medal gazetted 19 March 1918.
COOPER, J	240990 Private John Henry Hellier Cooper of the 5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment (TF). Son of John and Bessie Cooper. Born in Plymouth in the June Quarter of 1892. Military Medal gazetted 10 December 1918.
COOPER, W	351605 Private William Cooper of the 9th Battalion, the Royal Scots Regiment. Son of John and Jeanie Cooper of 40 Union Street, Plymouth. Born in Plymouth in 1897. Killed in action 20 September 1917. Military Medal gazetted 16 November 1917.
CORNISH, S	R5092 Company Sergeant Major Samuel Alfred Cornish of the 15th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Son of Samuel Cornish. Born nr. Newton Abbot in the December Quarter of 1891 - later moved to Plymouth. Military Medal gazetted 24 January 1919; Bar gazetted 13 June 1919.
COUNTER, J	11754 John Henry Counter of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Edwin and Mary Counter; husband of Annie. Born in Christow in the December Quarter of 1883. Military Medal gazetted 14 November 1916.
COWL, A	24102 Private Alfred George W. Cowl of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Ada Cowl. Born in Plymouth in the December Quarter of 1897. Military Medal gazetted 23 February 1918.
COWLES, F	240601 Corporal Frederick William Cowles of the 1st/5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment (TF). Son of Frederick and Lavinia Cowles. Born in Plymouth in the March Quarter of 1884. Military Medal gazetted 10 December 1918.
CRESSWELL, S	46334 Corporal Arthur Sidney Cresswell of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Son of Alexander and Emma Cresswell. Born in Devonport in the September Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 2 August 1918.
CRISPIN, E	240113 Sergeant Ernest John Crispin of the 5th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Jessie Crispin (née Stanbury). Born in Starcross in the September Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 11 December 1918; Bar gazetted 7 February 1919.
CRISPIN, L	8826 Sergeant Lewis Crispin of the 2nd Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of James and Sarah Jane Crispin. Born in South Pool nr. Kingsbridge in the June Quarter of 1888. Military Medal gazetted 27th October 1916; DCM awarded 1917.
CROKE, W	13042 Sergeant William Dymond Croke of the Royal Marines Light Infantry. Son of Thomas and Eliza Croke. Born in Plymouth in the March Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 2 August 1918.
CROUCH, A	302522 Private Arthur Edmund Crouch of the Durham Light Infantry. Son of Charles and Ellen Crouch (née Duckham). Born in Exeter in the December Quarter of 1891. Military Medal gazetted 11 December 1917.
CROYDON, F	9254 Private Fred Croydon of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Harriet Croydon. Born in Ottery St. Mary in the June Quarter of 1890. Military Medal gazetted 6 July 1917.
CUMES, A	89186 Gunner Alfred Wreford Cumes of the Royal Field Artillery. Son of Henry and Ellen Cumes of Kenton. Born in Starcross in the December Quarter of 1887. Military Medal gazetted 23 February 1918.