Crowcombe
WW1 1914-1918
PRIVATE Walter Frank Baker (1893-1916)
He was born at Crowcombe, Somerset, in 1893, and prior to WW1 he worked as a Slate Quarryman at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales, together with his best friend, and fellow Crowcombe man; William Elias Bullock (1877-1918).
When war came he enlisted as Private 6241 in the London Regiment. 1st/24th London Battalion. He was killed in action in France on the 18th of September 1916 and his body was never recovered/identified.
Walter is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D 9 C 13 C and 12 C. His name is also recorded on the Crowcombe War Memorial, the Memorial plaque inside Holy Ghost Church, Crowcombe, and the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital WW1 Plaque.
When war came he enlisted as Private 6241 in the London Regiment. 1st/24th London Battalion. He was killed in action in France on the 18th of September 1916 and his body was never recovered/identified.
Walter is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D 9 C 13 C and 12 C. His name is also recorded on the Crowcombe War Memorial, the Memorial plaque inside Holy Ghost Church, Crowcombe, and the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital WW1 Plaque.
PRIVATE William Elias Bullock (1877-1918)
He was born in 1877 at Stogursey, Somerset, and was the son of Elias Bullock of Beaminster, Dorset (1847-1909) and Martha Bullock nee Taylor of Corscombe, Dorset (1846-1925).
Prior to WW1 he worked as a Slate Quarryman at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales, with his best fried and fellow Crowcombe man; Walter Frank Baker (1893-1916). When not away working in Wales William lived at his parent's address at Flaxpool near Crowcombe. During WW1 he enlisted into the Army, becoming Private 2730 London Regiment 8th London Battalion, 25th Rifle Brigade, and later as Private 435887 in the Labour Corps. However, he was discharged in 1917 having contracted Tuberculosis (TB), and was awarded the Silver War Badge. The badge was designed to be worn on civilian clothes to denote that the recipient had been honourably discharged due to injury or sickness, and was no longer fit enough to serve. Its primary purpose was to show an opinionated public that the recipient was not a coward, and had served his country. William died from TB on the 6th of April 1918, aged 40 years, at the Cheddon Road Isolation Hospital in Taunton. He was buried at The Holy Ghost Churchyard Crowcombe. He is commemorated on the Crowcombe War Memorial, the Memorial plaque inside Holy Ghost Church, Crowcombe, and the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital WW1 Plaque. |
Click on Gallery Image/s (above) to view in large format
|
PRIVATE Thomas Coles (1898-1917)
BIRTH 1898
Son of W. J. and Sarah Coles, of Flaxpool, nr Crowcombe,
Private 19970 Dorsetshire Regiment 5th Bn.
DEATH 27TH OCTOBER 1917 Age 19 years old
BURIAL Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XX. C. 5.
Personal Inscription SADLY MISSED BY ALL
Son of W. J. and Sarah Coles, of Flaxpool, nr Crowcombe,
Private 19970 Dorsetshire Regiment 5th Bn.
DEATH 27TH OCTOBER 1917 Age 19 years old
BURIAL Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XX. C. 5.
Personal Inscription SADLY MISSED BY ALL
CORPORAL Leonard Arthur Dinwiddy (1894-1915)
BIRTH Thornbury, Gloucestershire 1894
Son of Thomas and Annie Dinwiddy, of Crowcombe
Private 11631(later Lance Corporal) Coldstream Guards 3rd Battalion. Later 1st Batt Coldstream Guards Corporal. Enlisted 25TH APRIL 1915
Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
DEATH 8TH OCTOBER 1915 Age 20 years
BURIAL Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 7 and 8.
Son of Thomas and Annie Dinwiddy, of Crowcombe
Private 11631(later Lance Corporal) Coldstream Guards 3rd Battalion. Later 1st Batt Coldstream Guards Corporal. Enlisted 25TH APRIL 1915
Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
DEATH 8TH OCTOBER 1915 Age 20 years
BURIAL Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 7 and 8.
LANCE CORPORAL Herbert Griffith (1883-1916)
GRIFFITH, HERBERT Private
BIRTH Crowcombe, Somerset 1883
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps Private 29504 later Lance Corporal
DEATH 22ND FEBRUARY 1916 Age: 32
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Griffith, of Crowcombe; husband of S.M. Griffith, of 65, High Street, Crowcombe
BURIAL Crowcombe (holy Ghost) Churchyard
BIRTH Crowcombe, Somerset 1883
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps Private 29504 later Lance Corporal
DEATH 22ND FEBRUARY 1916 Age: 32
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Griffith, of Crowcombe; husband of S.M. Griffith, of 65, High Street, Crowcombe
BURIAL Crowcombe (holy Ghost) Churchyard
PRIVATE Frederick Charles Merson MM (1898-1918)
BIRTH Crowcombe, Somerset 1898
Son of John and Ellen Merson, of Lawford, Crowcombe
Younger brother of Private William Merson (1890-1917) of Private 26419 Somerset Light Infantry 8th Bn. died in France.
ENLISTMENT Taunton, Somerset
Private 356839 Hampshire Regiment 2nd/4th Bn.
Recipient of the MM
DEATH Died of wounds France 12TH SEPTEMBER 1918 Age 20 years
BURIAL Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot K. 7.
Son of John and Ellen Merson, of Lawford, Crowcombe
Younger brother of Private William Merson (1890-1917) of Private 26419 Somerset Light Infantry 8th Bn. died in France.
ENLISTMENT Taunton, Somerset
Private 356839 Hampshire Regiment 2nd/4th Bn.
Recipient of the MM
DEATH Died of wounds France 12TH SEPTEMBER 1918 Age 20 years
BURIAL Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot K. 7.
PRIVATE William Merson (1890-1917)
BIRTH Crowcombe, Somerset 1890
Son of John and Ellen Merson, of Lawford, Crowcombe, Taunton;
Elder brother of Frederick Charles Merson MM (1898-1918) of Private 356839 Hampshire Regiment 2nd/4th Bn. Died in France
husband of Eliza Merson, of Huntworth Gate, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Private 26419 Somerset Light Infantry 8th Bn.
DEATH 10TH APRIL 1917 Age 26 years old
BURIAL Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.
Son of John and Ellen Merson, of Lawford, Crowcombe, Taunton;
Elder brother of Frederick Charles Merson MM (1898-1918) of Private 356839 Hampshire Regiment 2nd/4th Bn. Died in France
husband of Eliza Merson, of Huntworth Gate, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Private 26419 Somerset Light Infantry 8th Bn.
DEATH 10TH APRIL 1917 Age 26 years old
BURIAL Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.
PRIVATE John Stark (1896-1918)
BIRTH Selworthy, Somerset 1896 Son of Eliza Stark, of 3, Banks St., Minehead, Somerset, and the late Frederick Stark1868-1923
ENLISTMENT Minehead, Somerset Private 10932 Somerset Light Infantry 6th Bn. Killed in Action in France 21ST MARCH 1918 Age 22 BURIAL Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France Panel 25 and 26. Memorialised on his father's grave at Minehead cemetery |
PRIVATE Stanley John Tancock (1894-1916)
BIRTH Wellington, Somerset 1894
Private 3372 Somerset Light Infantry 2nd/5th Bn. and 1st Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
DEATH 8TH MARCH 1916
BURIAL Kut War Cemetery, Iraq. Plot J. 7.
Private 3372 Somerset Light Infantry 2nd/5th Bn. and 1st Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
DEATH 8TH MARCH 1916
BURIAL Kut War Cemetery, Iraq. Plot J. 7.
CAPTAIN Sir Thomas Carew Trollope, 3rd Baron Kesteven (1891-1915)
BIRTH 1891
Captain 1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry attached Jacobs Horse DEATH 5TH NOVEMBER 1915 aged 24 BURIAL Crowcombe (holy Ghost) Churchyard Sir Thomas Carew Trollope,9th Bt. and 3rd Baron Kesteven of Casewick, Son of the late Major Hon. Robert Cranmer Trollope and Mrs. Trollope, of Crowcombe Court, Taunton. Thomas Carew Trollope, 3rd Baron Kesteven was born on 1 May 1891. He was the son of Major Hon. Robert Cranmer Trollope and Ethel Mary Carew. He died on 5 November 1915 at age 24, from wounds received in action on a transport off the Algerian coast, unmarried. He gained the rank of Captain in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. He fought in the First World War. He succeeded as the 3rd Baron Kesteven, of Casewick, co. Lincoln [U.K., 1868] on 23 July 1915. He succeeded as the 9th Baronet Trollope, of Casewick, co. Lincoln on 23 July 1915.3 On his death, his barony became extinct. |
Click on Gallery Image/s (above) to view in large format
|
WW2 1939-1945
LEADING AIRMAN Edward Cullen “Eddie” Crouch (1912-1941)
He was born on the 8th of November 1912 in the Chesterton area of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, and was the son of Thomas Arthur Cullen Crouch (b.1882) and Nellie May Crouch nee Phillips (b.1881) of 8 Broomhill Road, Ipswich. His father was a Bank Cashier.
He was educated at Ipswich School, where he was a keen Cricketer and played for the school team. He finished school at Ipswich in 1930, after which he worked for R&W Paul Ltd. Grain Merchants of Ipswich, becoming their Taunton based representative in 1936. In October 1939 at St Mary’s Church, Taunton, he married Mildred Mary Jordon (b.1918) of Crowcombe, Somerset, and the couple made their home at 31 Manor Road, Taunton. On the 11th of April 1941 he joined the Fleet Air Arm, becoming Leading Airman FX/87410 of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (A) and was attached to HMS Daedalus, the Royal Naval Air Establishment at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. He was posted to No.1 Service Flying Training School at Neatheravon Aerodrome, Wiltshire, and was undergoing training to become a Pilot. On the 11th of October 1941 Edward, together with his instructor (Pilot Officer Basil Arthur Herdman Newton RAFVR) were killed when their aircraft, a Miles Master III (Serial No. W8502) crashed in an aircraft accident at Neatheravon Aerodrome, Wiltshire. He was aged 28 years and 11 Months. His funeral took place at St Mary’s Church, Taunton, on Thursday the 16th of October 1941 and he was buried at Plot 2/1822 of St Mary’s Cemetery, Taunton. He is commemorated on the Ipswich War Memorial, the Crowcombe Roll of Honour, and the Ipswich School Chapel War Memorial. A report appeared in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser dated the 18th of October 1941: E.C. CROUCH, OF TAUNTON – POPULAR CRICKETER Much sympathy has been expressed with Mrs M. Crouch, of Crowcombe, near Taunton, on the death on Saturday, whilst on active service, of her husband, Naval Airman Edward Cullen Crouch, aged 28. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. T.A.C. Crouch of 8, Broomhill Road, Ipswich. Acting Naval Airman Crouch was very well known in Taunton where in civilian life he had represented the firm of R&W. Paul, Ltd. grain merchants, Ipswich. He had lived in Taunton for the past five years, and he joined the Fleet Air Arm on April 11th exactly six months before the day of his death. During all the years he had lived in Taunton, he played regularly as wicket-keeper for the Taunton Cricket XI. He was also a sound batsman, and many thought him of County Cricket standard. While on leave this season he played for the Taunton side. In local football circles he was also well known, as for many seasons he had been the right half back of the Staplegrove Soccer XI. He was also a member of the Staplegrove Men’s Club. Of a very cheerful disposition he was popular with all. In October of last year, at St Mary’s Church, Taunton, he was married to Miss Mildred Jordon, of Crowcombe, and until he joined the Fleet Air Arm lived with his wife at 31, Manor Road, Taunton. AIRMAN’S FUNERAL TRIBUTE It was at St. Mary’s Church, Taunton, on Thursday that the funeral service was held. The Vicar, Preb. W.H. Heaton Renshaw, assisted by the Curate, Rev. Donald Shiels, officiated. Many local sportsmen friends formed a guard of honour outside the church. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and the cortège included six fellow airmen of the Fleet Air Arm. The family mourners were:- Mrs. M. Crouch (wife), Mr. and Mrs. T.A.C. Crouch, Ipswich (parents), Mr. M. Jordan, Crowcombe (father-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Jordan, (brother-in-law and sister-in-law). CONTINUED........ |
Click on Gallery Image/s (above) to view in large format
Among the general mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Smart (friend), Mrs. A. Fieldgate, also representing her son, Mr. Stanley Fieldgate, R.A.F., Miss N. Fieldgate, Mrs. I.G. Punter, Mrs. R.W.J. Cole, Mr. F.W.M. Gladwyn, and Mr. H.G. Stafford, representing directors and staff of Messrs. R. & W. Paul, Ltd., Ipswich, Mr. A.V. Betty, Mr. Lock and son, seedsmen, Yeovil, Mr. E.D. West, Miss L.F. Nott, lady worker of St. Mary’s Church, Taunton, Mr. H.J. Stinchcomb (friend), Mr. C.P. Ewens, also representing Taunton Amateurs Football Club, Mr. Tom Day, also representing the old Taunton Football Club. The Taunton Cricket Club was, also represented by Messrs. H.P. Fear (Captain), H.J.C. Weaver, V.G. Robson, C.R.L. Hill, and A.T. Autton. The Staplegrove Sports Club was represented by Mr. L. Endicott and Mr. W.L. Summerhayes.
FLORAL TRIBUTES Floral tributes were received from the following:- “Till we meet again my dearest, all my love darling,” from your broken-hearted “Mills”; To our Dear Eddie, from his heart-broken Mother, Dad, and Doff, “Love’s greatest gift, Remembrance”; From Elsie and Tom, Wellesley Street; In loving memory of one of the best, from Mother, Dad, and Gran, Crowcombe; With deepest sympathy, from Gran Phillips, with love; In affectionate remembrance and with deepest regrets, from Dennis, Newberry; With deepest sympathy, from Robbie; With deepest sympathy, from Reg and Dick; In affectionate remembrance and with deepest regrets, from Auntie Ray and Uncle Ewan, Wandsworth; With deepest sympathy from Bert and Joyce; With deepest sympathy from the Commanding Officer; With deepest sympathy, the officers; With deepest sympathy, K Squad, R.A.F.; With deepest sympathy, the pupils; With deepest sympathy, the Sergeant; With deepest sympathy, the P.S.T.; With deepest sympathy, from the Taunton Cricket Club; In remembrance, from Mr. H.C. Smart, and Mrs, E. Sutton; With sincere regret and many pleasant memories, from the Staplegrove Sports Club; With deepest sympathy from Michael and Peter Bradford; In loving remembrance, from Stan, Mrs. Fieldgate, and Nora; With deepest sympathy, from the Directors, R. & W. Paul, Ltd., Avonmouth; In kind remembrance from the staff and travellers, R. & W. Paul, Ltd., With sincere sympathy from Mrs. Routley, Geoff, Mabel, and George. The funeral arrangements were made by Messrs. W. & A. Chapman, Ltd., Taunton. |
LIEUTENANT Anthony Froude Trollope-Bellew (1922-1942)
2nd Rifle Brigade
DEATH 2 Nov 1942 aged 20 BURIAL El Alamein War Cemetery, El Alamein, Maṭrūḥ, Egypt. PLOT VI. F. 22. Anthony Froude Trollope-Bellew, Lieutenant, 222332, Rifle Brigade. Anthony was the nephew of Lord Kesneven, and the son of Colonel Froude D. Trollope-Bellew, D.S.O., M.C., and the Hon. Mrs. Nesta Trollope-Bellew, of Crowcombe, Somerset. Anthony served as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, which moved to North Africa as part of the British 7th Motor Brigade. The Battalion fought with great distinction during the Second Battle of El Alamein at the end of 1942, which is where Anthony was killed on 2 November 1942. He was just 20 years old, and is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery, Tunisia. |
Click on Gallery Image/s (above) to view in large format
|
GERMAN AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN AT CROWCOMBE (1941)
"Saturday May 3/4th 1941,Staff flight III of KG26, Heinkel He111H-5 (No3620) Shot down by Flt.Lt. Speke in a Beaufighter of No.604 Squadron. Crashed at Rexton Gorse, Crowcombe, nr. Taunton, Somerset at 1am. Oberfw.R. Gemar, Fw. H. Kopp and Uffz. W. Ditz all killed. Uffz. H. Muller baled out and taken prisoner. Aircraft 1H+BD destroyed."
|
|
ROLL OF HONOUR - (Those who Survived)
WW1
PRIVATE Henry James Potter (1896-1964)
WW2
Reginald H. Adams
Frederick J. Ames
Cyril E. Ash
Ernest S. Ash
Margaret L. Bailey
Sidney Albert Bailey
Percy Baker
Joan M. Bevan
H. Bishop
Alfred Bliss
Leonard Checketts
Harold C. Chiles
Dorothy Crane
Leslie J. Culverwell
Glenys M. Conibeare
Angela Clement Davis
Bertie Dinwiddy
Edward Dinwiddy
Betty Durrant
Michael C. Godden
Alan D. Gordon
Edward Hunt
Francis Hardwicke
Leslie M. Jordan
Willie Kitts
Laurence H. Long
George H. Merson
Thomas R. MacDonald
Laurence Neyens
William Neyens
Edward Pike
Leslie Pike
Stanley Powe
Geoffrey J. Routley
Clifford Scott
Vernon Smith
Frederick Stark
Wilfred Stark
Ruth Strong
Dennis Tarr
Froude D. Trollope-Bellew
Thomas F. Trollope-Bellew
George Walford
George Webber
Kenneth Webber
Leonard Webber
Albert E. Welsher
Arthur Woodman
Dorothy Crane
Leslie J. Culverwell
Glenys M. Conibeare
Angela Clement Davis
Bertie Dinwiddy
Edward Dinwiddy
Betty Durrant
Michael C. Godden
Alan D. Gordon
Edward Hunt
Francis Hardwicke
Leslie M. Jordan
Willie Kitts
Laurence H. Long
George H. Merson
Thomas R. MacDonald
Laurence Neyens
William Neyens
Edward Pike
Leslie Pike
Stanley Powe
Geoffrey J. Routley
Clifford Scott
Vernon Smith
Frederick Stark
Wilfred Stark
Ruth Strong
Dennis Tarr
Froude D. Trollope-Bellew
Thomas F. Trollope-Bellew
George Walford
George Webber
Kenneth Webber
Leonard Webber
Albert E. Welsher
Arthur Woodman