FENITON MEN WHO DIED IN THE 1ST WORLD WAR

© Feniton History Group

©Feniton History Group

The village did not have the names of the men until the research was done recently

©Feniton History Group

HANSFORD, ROBERT GEORGE

Rank: Sergeant

Service No: 3/7548

Date of Death: 25/09/1915

Regiment/Service: Devonshire Regiment 8th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 35 to 37.

Memorial LOOS MEMORIAL

Pte. 4288, Robert was in the 8th Bn. Devonshire Regiment and mentioned twice in despatches for his bravery in the Second Boer War. He was also entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Belfast, Elandslaagte and the Defence of Ladysmith; Kings South Africa Medal with 2 clasps; 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals. Robert re-enlisted during WWI and died on the 25th September 1915 with the rank of Sergeant, and is remembered with Honour at Loos Memorial. Private Hansford earned his D.C.M. most likely for the Wagon Hill action.

During late 1899 and early 1900 the 1st Devon’s were engaged against the Boers in the Siege of Ladysmith, in South Africa. Ladysmith is surrounded by hills and the garrison units were tasked with keeping the Boers from taking the heights to prevent Ladysmith coming in range of their artillery. On the 6th January the Boers made a determined effort to assault Caesar’s Camp and the Devon’s were tasked with preventing its capture. Wagon Point formed part of Caesars Camp and it was successfully cleared by the Devon’s during a vicious thunderstorm. During the action a Lieutenant Masterson won a Victoria Cross.

HERRIDGE, REGINALD

Rank: Private

Service No: 241343

Date of Death: 22/03/1918

Age: 27

Regiment/Service: Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 7th Bn.

Grave Reference 8.

Cemetery SERY-LES-MEZIERES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of William and Mary Herridge, of Sidmouth Junction, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, husband of Ivy Blanch Herridge, of 8, Holland Rd, St. Thomas, Exeter, Devon.

He is buried behind German lines in an area that was never occupied by the British. The only explanation as to why he is buried where he is, is that he was a prisoner of war who was wounded during his capture and subsequently died of the wounds on the way to captivity – possibly at a German field hospital.

LOVERING, WILLIAM

Rank: Private

Service No: 2005

Date of Death: 16/09/1916

Age: 22

Regiment/Service: Devonshire Regiment 4th Bn.

Grave Reference XXI. W. 48.

Cemetery BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information:

Son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Lovering, of Kercombe, Gittisham, Honiton, Devon. Born at Broadhembury, Devon.

Research Notes:

He enlisted at Cullompton into 2/4th (Territorial) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (NOT the 4th Battalion). The Battalion was formed at Exeter on 16th Sept 1914 and was attached to the Devon & Cornwall Brigade of the 2nd Wessex Division on 2 Oct 1914. They embarked at Southampton for India on 12 Dec 1914 arriving there in early Jan 1915 when they moved to Wellington in the Madras area. The Battalion saw no action for 1916 and most of 1917.H he died of an illness and was not killed or wounded in battle. But if he did die of an illness when serving in India why is he buried in Baghdad? I can only think that as the CWGC site has him in the 4th Battalion, Devon’s on death that he had been sent from his own battalion to make up the strength of the 4th which was serving in Mesopotamia. (Although the Devonshire Regimental history lists him as dying in service with the 2/4th Battalion) According to the Regimental History the 4th and 6th Battalions in Mesopotamia were very badly affected by illness during the period May to August 1916 at times having half of the strength in hospital. [Researched by G. Broadhurst]

MARSHALL, TOM

Rank: Private

Service No: M2/133381

Date of Death: 12/04/1918

Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps

593rd M.T. Coy. attd. VIII Corps Heavy Artillery.

Grave Reference III. E. 23.

Cemetery YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY

In Feniton on the 1911 census, brother of William and Lillian Marshall born about 1871, farm worker.

OTTON, LIONEL A S

Rank: Gunner

Service No: 92567

Date of Death: 25/06/1917

Age: 28

Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery

49th Reserve Bty.

Grave Reference; North-west of the church.

Cemetery FENITON (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:

Son of Edith Jane Hunt (formerly Otton), of "Laurels," Colestock, Honiton, and the late George Otton.

ROSS, ROBERT WORKMAN

Rank: Schoolmaster 3rd Class

Date of Death: 11/12/1918

Age: 27

Regiment/Service: Corps of Army Schoolmasters

Grave Reference North-west of the church.

Cemetery FENITON (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD

Additional Information:

Son of Hugh Workman Ross of Christow, Sidmouth Junction. and his wife Christina Jessie Ross; brother of James (see below).

Discharged from the army suffering from TB and died at home 11th December 1918 aged 27. Buried in Feniton churchyard..

ROSS, JAMES

Rank: Rifleman

Service No: 54510

Date of Death: 09/10/1917

Age: 28

Regiment/Service: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1st/7th Bn.

Panel Reference Panel 42 to 47 and 162.

Memorial TYNE COT MEMORIAL

Additional Information:

Son of Hugh Ross, of Christow, Sidmouth Junction, Devon.

Robert and James were brothers, their father and stepmother came to live at Sidmouth Junction on retirement from the army. James was declared 'missing presumed dead'. Their father Hugh said he would never move again in case 'Jim' came home.

Lionel Otton is buried in Feniton churchyard

©Feniton History Group

The Ross family Memorial

©Feniton History Group