North Tawton - The War Memorial

NORTH TAWTON - THE WAR MEMORIAL

The North Tawton War Memorial was moved to the cemetery in Exeter Street in 1948. It stood originally in the park in Barton Lane, which, like the Memorial, was bequeathed to the town by Frank Gibbings. Local builder, Samuel Sampson, designed and built the Memorial. It consists of a granite obelisk mounted on an ornate square plinth with recessed panels of pink marble bearing inscriptions on each of the four sides.

The upper part of the first panel inscription reads:

In honoured memory of the men of this parish who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914 - 1918

and

The World War 1939 - 1945

The names of the men killed in World War 2 are below this inscription. The lower part of this face is inscribed:

Erected by the late Frank Henson Gibbings FRCVS

Frank Henson Gibbings was born in North Tawton in 1855

He died in Nottingham in 1918

The second panel inscription is headed 1914 - 1918 and contains 20 names. The third panel, headed 1914 - 1918 contains a further 20 names. The final listing of 10 names appears on the fourth panel, followed by the following inscription:

"Their name liveth for evermore

Number who served 306

Number killed 52"

Fifty names from the 1914 - 1918 War are listed on the Memorial although 52 dead are referred to on panel 4.

The names listed below are grouped as they appear on the memorial:

PANEL 1 - MAIN INSCRIPTION AND 1939 - 1945 NAMES

ARSCOTT J AB Seaman	Able Seaman John Arscott of HMS Orion. Son of John and Annie Arscott of North Tawton. Born 1920. Died 29 May 1941 aged 21.
BROWN F Ist Class Stoker	Not yet confirmed
CHAPPELL A AB Seaman	Ordinary Seaman Allan Chappell of HMS Glorious. Son of Thomas and Laura Chappell of North Tawton. Born 1922 in North Tawton. Died 9 June 1940 aged 18.
COLE S M Private	Private Sidney Maurice Cole of the 1st Battalion, the Oxford and Bucks Light infantry. Son of Harry and Emily Cole and husband of Edith, all of North Tawton. Born 1919 in North Tawton. Died 15 October 1944 aged 25.
HOCKEY R T Corpl RAF	Corporal Frederick Thomas Hockey of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Frederick and Maria Hockey and husband of Flora. Born 1913. Died 7 November 1944 aged 31. Resting place not known. His family had a butcher's shop in Market Street, North Tawton.
HOLLANDS R J Corpl	Not yet confirmed but possibly Lance Corporal Reginald James Hollands of 12th Airborne Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Died 5 February 1945 aged 25.
LEE H C Sergt. RAF	Sergeant Herbert Conroy Lee of 58 Squadron, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Herbert and Ethel Lee of North Tawton. Born 1916 in North Tawton. Died 13 October 1941 aged 25. Buried in North Tawton Cemetery - grave no. C 148. His family ran a cycle, motor cycle and engineering business in North Tawton.
POPE S J Chief PO	Chief Petty Officer Stoker Sydney Henry James Pope of HMS Prince of Wales. Son of James and Ellen Pope and husband of Gladys. Born 1905 June Quarter in North Tawton. Died 10 December 1941 aged 36.
SAMPSON R W Private	Private Robert William Sampson of the 1st/5th Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Son of Robert and Alice Samspon and husband of Cecilia. Born 1916. Died 26 April 1943 aged 27. Link with North Tawton not yet confirmed.
SANDERCOCK M A Coy Sergt. Maj	Company Sergeant Major Maurice Aubrey Hart Sandercock of the 10th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusilliers. Son of Albert and Louisa Sandercock of North Tawton and husband of Lloydia. Born 1911. Died 4 August 1942 aged 30.
TAVENER J R D Capt. RA	Captain James Roger Durant Tavener of 23 Field Regiment, the Royal Artillery. Son of James Gibbings and Mabel Tavener of Melhuishes, North Tawton. Born 1912 in North Tawton. Died 2 June 1940 aged 28. His father owned Newland Mills in North Tawton.

PANEL 2 - 1914 TO 1918

ALFORD S Private	Private Stanley George Alford of the 4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Ellen Alford of Essworthy Farm, Hatherleigh. Born 1896 June Quarter. Died 2 March 1917 aged 20. Buried in Hatherleigh Churchyard.
ANSTEY F Private	Private Frank Gerald Anstey of the 17th Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment. Son of Harry and Mary Jane Anstey of Mill Lane, North Tawton. Born 1889 June Quarter in Exeter. Died 18 September 1916 aged 27.
ARSCOTT W Private	Private William Samuel Arscott of the 52 Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Robert and Alice Arscott of North Tawton. Born 1900 September Quarter in North Tawton. Died 23 March 1919 aged 18.
ATTWELL M Private	Private Montague Frank Attwell of the 5th Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry. Son of Frank and Mary Ann Attwell of Fore Street, North Tawton. Born 1898. Died 23 August 1917 aged 19.
AVERY H Private	Possibly Private Harry Avery born in North Tawton in 1900.
AYSH W Private	Private William Aysh of the 2nd/6th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Bastable and Maria Aysh of Halse Cottages, North Tawton. Born 1895 June Quarter in South Tawton. Died 18 December 1916 aged 21.
BARRATT W Gunner	Not yet confirmed.
BOLT N Private	Private Norman Frederick Bolt of the 4th Battalion, the Machine Gun Corps. Son of William and Joanna Bolt of Lake Way, North Tawton. Born 1899 June Quarter in North Tawton. Died 25 November 1918 aged 20.
BOLT R Private	Private Richard Bolt of the 1st/6th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Francis and Ellen Bolt of Essington Road, North Tawton. Born 1886 March Quarter. Died 25 August 1918 aged 32. Buried in North Tawton Cemetery - grave no. A 171.
BOLT W Private	Possibly Private William Bolt born in North Tawton in 1896.
BOVEY J C Private	Private James C. Bovey of the 2nd/6th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of James C and Ann Bovey and husband of Louisa. Born 1884 September Quarter in Horrabridge. Died 19 September 1919 aged 35. Link with North Tawton not yet known.
BREALEY E Private	Private Ernest Brealey of the 1st/5th Battalion, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Stepson of Thomas Brealey and son of Ellen Brealey of Oak House, Hillerton, Bow and husband of Bessie. Born in 1891 in North Tawton. Died 15 April 1918 aged 27. His step father was a regular soldier in the Devonshire Regiment.
BREALEY J Private	Not yet confirmed
BROCK W Gunner	Gunner William Brock of the 120th Siege Battery, the Royal Garrison Artillery. Son of William Henry and Mary Jane Brock of Hittisleigh. Born 1896 March Quarter in North Tawton. Died 20 December 1918 aged 22.
FACEY C H Private	Private Cecil Herbert Facey of the 2nd Battalion, the Coldstream Guards. Son of Herbert and Betsy Ann Facey. Born 1896 March Quarter in Newton Abbot. Died 6 November 1914 aged 19. Link with North Tawton not yet known.
FACEY W R E Private	Private Wilfred Richard Facey of the 1st Battlaion, the Coldstream Guards. Son of Herbert and Betsy Ann Facey. Birth registered in Axminster in December Quarter of 1894. Died 25 January 1915 aged 21. Link with North Tawton not yet known.
FEWINGS P Gunner	Gunner Percy Fewings of the 3rd (Devon) Battery, the Royal Field Artillery. Son of Charles and Catherine Fewings of Rosebery Cottage, North Tawton. Born 1893 December Quarter. Killed 7 November 1916 aged 23.
GREGORY E M Private	Possibly Private Ernest Gregory born in North Tawton in 1893.
HEARN C Sergt. Maj.	Company Sergeant Major Charles Hearn MM of the 3rd Battalion, the Grenadier Guards. Born in North Tawton in 1882. Died between 14 and 17 September 1916 aged 34. Resting place not known.
HUNT A Driver	Not yet confirmed

PANEL 3 - 1914 - 1918

JONES A H Private	Private Alfred Henry Jones of the 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Son of William and Louisa Jones of The Square, North Tawton. Born 1899 in North Tawton. Died 7 August 1918 aged 19.
KEENOR R Sapper	Sapper Robert Keenor of the 479th Field Coy, the Royal Engineers. Born 1883 in Ashreigny. Died 11 August 1918. Link with North Tawton not yet confirmed.
LEE P R Private	Not yet confirmed.
MANN E Private	Not yet confirmed
MARTIN J Private	Private John Martin of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of John and Emma Martin of Bow. Born 1897 in Spreyton. Died 24 April 1916 aged 19.
METHERELL C Private	Private Charles Metherell of the 1st/4th Battalion, the London Scottish Regiment. Son of Joseph Metherell, the relieving officer for North Tawton District and his wife Susanna. Died 1 July 1916 aged 34.
MOORE J 1st Class Boy	Boy 1st Class John Moore of HMS Invincible. Son of John and Harriet Moore. Born 1900 in North Tawton. Died 31 May 1916 aged 16.
MOORE W J Private	Private William James Moore of the 2nd Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Mary Moore of High Street, North Tawton. Born 1895 December Quarter - birth registered in Crediton. Killed 18 December 1914 aged 19. Resting place not known.
NORTHCOTT G Private	Private George Northcott of the 1st Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. Son of Frederick and Thirza Northcott of Exeter Street, North Tawton and husband of Florence Mary Northcott of Crediton. Born 1883. Killed 19 April 1918 aged 35.
PENWARDEN L E Sapper	Sapper Leslie Edwin Penwarden of the 8th Signal Coy, the Royal Engineers. Son of Francis and Charlotte Penwarden of Barton Hill, North Tawton. Born 1895 September Quarter in North Tawton. Killed 3 July 1917 aged 22.
PIERCE A G Corpl	Corporal Arthur George Pierce of the 2nd/4th Battalion, the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Son of J and S Pierce of Holly House, North Tawton. Born 1889 Septmeber Quarter. Died 29 March 1916 aged 26.
PIZZEY H Private	Private Harry Pizzey of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Fusilliers. Born 1885 March Quarter at North Tawton. Died 24 September 1918 aged 30. Buried in North Tawton Cemetery - grave no. B 136.
REDDAWAY F Lce-Corpl	Lance Corporal Frederick Reddaway of the 3rd Battalion, the Coldstream Guards. Son of William and Elizabeth Reddaway of High Street, North Tawton. Born. Killed 15 September 1916 aged 25. Resting place not known.
SKINNER W Private	Private William Skinner of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Sarah Ann Skinner of Fore Street, North Tawton. Born. Killed 20 July 1916 aged 22. Resting place not known.
STENTIFORD H S Driver	Driver Herbert Samuel Stentiford of the Army Service Corps, the 3rd Devon Regiment. Son of James and Mehala Stentiford of Zeal Monachorum and husband of Rosa Lake. Born 1875 September Quarter in Zeal Monachorum. Died 3 March 1919 aged 43.
TAYLOR F G Corpl	Sapper Frank Gibbings Taylor of the 2nd/1st Wessex Div. Signal Coy., the Royal Engineers. Son of George and Mary Jane Taylor of The Square, North Tawton. Born 1897 December Quarter in North Tawton. Died 28 March 1915 aged 18. Buried in North Tawton Cemetery - grave no. B 182.
TILLER F Private	Private Frederick Thomas Tiller of the 1st/4th Battalion, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of George and Elizabeth Tiller of Barton Street, North Tawton. Died 30 March 1919.
TOLLEY W Cook's mate	Cook's Mate 2nd Class William Tolley of HMS Vivid. Died 20 September 1915. Buried in Spreyton Churchyard. Also remembered on Spreyton War Memorial.
TRICKEY W Private	Private William Trickey of the 1st battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Born. Son of John Trickey of Broadwood Kelly and husband. Died 25 September 1916. Resting place not known.
WEEKS H Lce-Corpl	S/8252 Lance Corporal Harry Weekes of the 1st Battalion , the Rifle Brigade. Husband of Alice (née Everett) of Yeovil. Born in North Tawton. Died 18th October 1916.

PANEL 4 - 1914 - 1918

WACHER G Sergt.	Sergeant Geoffrey Gibbings Wacher of the 16th Battalion, the London Regiment. Son of Alfred and Lucy Wacher. Born 1891 June Quarter in London - his father died aged 30 in the same Quarter. Died 9 August 1915 aged 24. His mother was formerly Lucy Durant Gibbings of North Tawton.
WACHER R Captain	Additional information has been added to this entry thank to Jeremy Hamilton-Miller who is researching the Twickenham Memorial on which this man is named also: Captain Walter Ronald Wacher of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, who died on12 October 1917 was the second son (born of Alfred and Lucy Wacher (who was born in North Tawton) described above. Captain Wacher was the brother of Geoffrey Wacher (see above).
WHITE A E Private	Private Archibald Ellis White of the 16th Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment. Son of James and Emma White of Exeter Street, North Tawton. Born 1891 June Quarter in Zeal Monachorum. Died 6 November 1917 aged 26.
WILLCOCKS W Private	Private William Willcocks of the 9th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Born in North Tawton in 1883 September Quarter. Died 8 June 1917 aged 34. Resting place not known.
WILLIAMS C J Lieut.	Lieutenant Charles James Williams of the 8th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of Henry and Mary Williams of Exmouth and brother of Robert (see below). Born at Ashridge House, North Tawton, in the June Quarter of 1887. Died 19 December 1915 aged 28.
WILLIAMS R L Lieut.	Lieutenant Robert Lukyn Williams of the 23rd Indian Cavalry. Son of Henry and Mary Williams and brother of Charles (see above). Born at Ashridge House, North Tawton, in the June Quarter of 1892. Died 27 October 1918 aged 24.
WOOD A E Private	Private Alfred Ernest Wood of the 6th Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry. Son of Mrs Charity Wood of Fore Street, North Tawton. Born 1898 June Quarter in north Tawton. Died 19 October 1917 aged 19. Resting place not known.
WOOLACOTT E J Private	Private Ernest John Woolacott of the 8th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Eliza Woolacott of Lakeway, North Tawton. Born 1891 June Quarter in North Tawton. Died 2 April 1917 aged 26. Resting place not known.
WOOLACOTT W Sergt.	Not yet confirmed
WRIGHT F A C Petty Officer	Not yet confirmed