Exton, Somerset
WW1 1914 - 1918
SERGEANT John Baker (1874 - Death date unknown)
He resided at The Forge, Bridgetown, Exton, and in WW1 served as Sergeant 509 in the 6th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment.
The 6th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment was raised in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's New Army. They served with 29th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division and saw action at Gallipoli, in Salonika and Palestine. In May 1918 they transferred to 198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on the Western Front and were disbanded in September 1918.
The 6th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment was raised in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's New Army. They served with 29th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division and saw action at Gallipoli, in Salonika and Palestine. In May 1918 they transferred to 198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on the Western Front and were disbanded in September 1918.
PRIVATE Sidney George Bellamy (1879-1944)
He was born at Exton in 1879 and was the son of George Bellamy (1847-1902) of Bishops Lydeard and Elizabeth Bellamy nee Court (1853-1902) of Winsford, who resided at Hone Cottage, Exton.
His siblings were:
1. Elizabeth Ann Bellamy (b.1875)
2. Walter John Bellamy (1876-1948) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Army Service Corps.
3. Ida Mary Bellamy (1881-1961)
4. Mary Bellamy (b.1884)
5. Alice Bertha Bellamy (1885-1965)
6. Emily Bessie Bellamy (1887-1967) - who married Thomas Godfrey (b.1887) of Brill, Buckinghamshire. Their son was Walter George Godfrey
(1910 - 2001). She died at Aylesbury in 1967.
7. Beatrice Lily Bellamy (1889-1970) - who married George Horn (1881-1918), a professional golfer and trainer in Bristol. Her husband was killed in Belgium during WW1 whilst serving as a Bombardier with 124th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
In WW1 Sidney served as Private 2046 (later renumbered to 200420) in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
He died at Reading, Berkshire, in 1944 at age 64.
His siblings were:
1. Elizabeth Ann Bellamy (b.1875)
2. Walter John Bellamy (1876-1948) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Army Service Corps.
3. Ida Mary Bellamy (1881-1961)
4. Mary Bellamy (b.1884)
5. Alice Bertha Bellamy (1885-1965)
6. Emily Bessie Bellamy (1887-1967) - who married Thomas Godfrey (b.1887) of Brill, Buckinghamshire. Their son was Walter George Godfrey
(1910 - 2001). She died at Aylesbury in 1967.
7. Beatrice Lily Bellamy (1889-1970) - who married George Horn (1881-1918), a professional golfer and trainer in Bristol. Her husband was killed in Belgium during WW1 whilst serving as a Bombardier with 124th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
In WW1 Sidney served as Private 2046 (later renumbered to 200420) in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
He died at Reading, Berkshire, in 1944 at age 64.
PRIVATE Walter John Bellamy (1876-1948)
He was born at Exton in 1876 and was the son of George Bellamy (1847-1902) of Bishops Lydeard and Elizabeth Bellamy nee Court (1853-1902) of Winsford, who resided at Hone Cottage, Exton.
His siblings were:
1. Elizabeth Ann Bellamy (b.1875)
2. Sidney George Bellamy (1879-1944) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
3. Ida Mary Bellamy (1881-1961)
4. Mary Bellamy (b.1884)
5. Alice Bertha Bellamy (1885-1965)
6. Emily Bessie Bellamy (1887-1967) - who married Thomas Godfrey (b.1887) of Brill, Buckinghamshire. Their son was Walter George Godfrey
(1910 - 2001). She died at Aylesbury in 1967.
7. Beatrice Lily Bellamy (1889-1970) - who married George Horn (1881-1918), a professional golfer and trainer in Bristol. Her husband was killed in Belgium during WW1 whilst serving as a Bombardier with 124th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
In WW1 he served as Private DM2/179846 in the Army Service Corps.
He died on the 26th of September 1948, aged 71.
His siblings were:
1. Elizabeth Ann Bellamy (b.1875)
2. Sidney George Bellamy (1879-1944) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
3. Ida Mary Bellamy (1881-1961)
4. Mary Bellamy (b.1884)
5. Alice Bertha Bellamy (1885-1965)
6. Emily Bessie Bellamy (1887-1967) - who married Thomas Godfrey (b.1887) of Brill, Buckinghamshire. Their son was Walter George Godfrey
(1910 - 2001). She died at Aylesbury in 1967.
7. Beatrice Lily Bellamy (1889-1970) - who married George Horn (1881-1918), a professional golfer and trainer in Bristol. Her husband was killed in Belgium during WW1 whilst serving as a Bombardier with 124th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
In WW1 he served as Private DM2/179846 in the Army Service Corps.
He died on the 26th of September 1948, aged 71.
PRIVATE Albert Boaden (1896-1974)
He was born at Bridgetown, Exton, in 1896 and was the son of George Boaden (1855–1929) and Elizabeth Ann Boaden nee Wensley (1855–1932).
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
6. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
7. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
In WW1 Albert served firstly as Private 512 in the 6th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment and secondly as Private 41093 in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In 1924, at Dulverton, he married Rosalie Alice Down (1900-1984).
He died in 1970 aged 74 and was buried at St Peter's Church, Exton.
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
6. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
7. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
In WW1 Albert served firstly as Private 512 in the 6th Battalion of the Leinster Regiment and secondly as Private 41093 in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In 1924, at Dulverton, he married Rosalie Alice Down (1900-1984).
He died in 1970 aged 74 and was buried at St Peter's Church, Exton.
SERGEANT Charles Boaden (1888-1953)
He was born at Bridgetown, Exton, in 1888 and was the son of George Boaden (1855–1929) and Elizabeth Ann Boaden nee Wensley (1855–1932).
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
6. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In WW1 he served in the British Army as a Sergeant.
He died on the 7th of March 1953, aged 65, at Fulham, London.
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
6. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In WW1 he served in the British Army as a Sergeant.
He died on the 7th of March 1953, aged 65, at Fulham, London.
CORPORAL George Boaden (1884-1948)
He was born at Bridgetown, Exton, in 1884 and was the son of George Boaden (1855–1929) and Elizabeth Ann Boaden nee Wensley (1855–1932).
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
4. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
5. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
6. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In WW1 he served in the British Army as a Corporal.
He died in 1948 aged 64.
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
4. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
5. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
6. Frederick John Boaden (1891–1969) - who in WW1served as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
In WW1 he served in the British Army as a Corporal.
He died in 1948 aged 64.
PRIVATE Frederick John Boaden (1891-1969)
He was born at Bridgetown, Exton, in 1891 and was the son of George Boaden (1855–1929) and Elizabeth Ann Boaden nee Wensley (1855–1932).
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
6. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
Prior to WW1 he worked as a Groom, and in WW1 he served as Private 13088 in the Lincolnshire Regiment.
He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire.
He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
His siblings were:
1. William Edwin Boaden (1880–1950) - who in 1905, at Dulverton, married Rhoda Radley (1865-1928). In 1911 he resided at Withypool. He died on the 3rd of August 1950 at the age of 71.
2. David James Boaden (1881–1896)
3. George Boaden (1884–1948) - who in WW1 served as a Corporal in the Army.
4. Arthur Boaden (1886–1966)
5. Charles Boaden (1888-1953) - who in WW1 served as a Sergeant in the Army.
6. Henry Jesse Boaden (b.1890)
7. Albert Boaden (1896-1974) - who in WW1 served as a Private in the Leinster Regiment, and later in the Gloucestershire Regiment.
Prior to WW1 he worked as a Groom, and in WW1 he served as Private 13088 in the Lincolnshire Regiment.
He married Annie Elizabeth Broughton (1894-1973) on the 17th of January 1918, in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire.
He died in December 1969, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the age of 78.
PRIVATE Frederick Charles Dunn (1899-1993)
He was born on the 23rd of April 1899 at Kingsbrompton (From 1952 renamed as Brompton Regis) and in adulthood resided at Mill Cottage, Exton.
During WW1 he served as Private 5333 in the Somerset Light Infantry.
Frederick died on the 5th of April 1993 aged 93 years. His funeral took place at Taunton Deane Crematorium, Taunton, on the 8th of April 1993.
During WW1 he served as Private 5333 in the Somerset Light Infantry.
Frederick died on the 5th of April 1993 aged 93 years. His funeral took place at Taunton Deane Crematorium, Taunton, on the 8th of April 1993.
CAPTAIN Christopher Philip Everard (1890-1917)
He was born on July the 26th 1890 and was the eldest son of Philip and Frances Catherine Everard of 'Miltons', Exton, and Brother to John Guy Everard (1892-1915). He was educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, between 1904 and 1908, where he was Head of his House. After leaving, he went out rubber planting at the Paradise Estate Selangor, Malaysia, and was made a manager before he was twenty. He was at home for his first holiday when WW1 started and he enlisted with his brother, Guy, as a Trooper (Service No. 1021) in the Royal North Devon Hussars. But the Colonel of the 3rd Highland Light Infantry asked for the brothers as Officers, and they were transferred on September the 4th1914.
In December 1914 he was deployed to France, and at Festubert he led a Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders, to which he was then attached, into action and was severely injured. He recovered in time to be sent out to Mesopotamia (Iraq) in June 1916. On January the 11th 1917 he was killed in action leading his Company of the 1st Highland Light Infantry in a victorious advance against the Turks at Kut-al-Amara. He was 26 years old. His body was never identified/recovered, and he is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq, Panel 35 and 64. |
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LIEUTENANT John Guy Everard (1892-1915)
He was born on the 14th of December 1892 at Exton and was the youngest son of Philip and Frances Catherine Everard of 'Miltons', Exton, and Brother to Christopher Philip Everard (1890-1917). He was educated at St Christopher's, Bath, and Marlborough College, Wiltshire, where after leaving he went out rubber planting at the Sungei Taukas Estate, Selangor, Malaysia, between 1910 and 1914. He had returned home from Malaysia to Exton with his brother when WW1 started and he enlisted, together with his brother, Guy, as a Trooper (Service No. 1024) in the Royal North Devon Hussars. But the Colonel of the 3rd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, asked for the brothers as Officers. They were transferred on September the 4th1914 and John was Gazetted as Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. He was appointed as Lieutenant in February 1915, attached to the 1st Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry.
He was deployed to France with his Regiment and was at Neuve Chapelle. "On the 10th of March 1915 the Germans attacked, and the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, charged them. There was a race for an occupied trench between the forces, and our men on the way there got stuck in a deep trench and some could not get out. Lieutenant Everard got a good lead of his men over that and reached the trench well in advance of his men. The Germans were then quite close, but the Highland Light Infantry killed or wounded the whole lot. During Friday, the 12th of March, Lieutenant Everard's company (he had taken over command from his Captain, who had been killed) had to take up trenches on the right, and in moving past a loophole he was shot through the head. Shortly before this he went over the parapet and brought in on his back a German, whose clothing was on fire, and who he thought was wounded, but who proved not to be so," Lieutenant John Guy Everard, aged 22 years, was buried at: Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France. Plot Sp. Mem. 17. He is remembered on the Exton WW1 War Memorial plaque, the Otterhampton War Memorial plaque, and on a brass war memorial plaque at the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Kuala Lumpur. |
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PRIVATE A.J. Gale
Killed in WW1 - Details Unknown.
PRIVATE Sam Gardner (1896-1916)
He was born at Exton in January 1896 and was the son of Samuel Gardiner
(b.1860) of Old Cleeve, and Eliza Lyddon (1863-1893) of Skilgate, who resided at Bridgetown, Exton. In WW1 he served as Private 65798 in the 202nd Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was Killed in Action in France, aged 21, on the 3rd of May 1917, and was buried at the Gorre British And Indian Cemetery, Gorre, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, France. Plot IV. B. 6. The personal Inscription on his gravestone reads:"GOD BE WITH YOU. TILL WE MEET AGAIN. FOR HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST". |
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STOKER 1st CLASS Henry Quartley (1889-1916)
He was born at Exton on the 14th of January 1888. He joined the Royal Navy on the 27th of April 1915 and served as K/8953, Stoker 1st Class aboard HMS Indefatigable.
The Indefatigable was a British Battlecruiser, lost at the Battle of Jutland on the 31st of May 1916. Around 16:00, Indefatigable was hit around the rear turret by two or three shells from the German Battlecruiser 'Von der Tann'. She fell out of formation to starboard and started sinking towards the stern and listing to port. Her magazines exploded at 16:03 after more hits, one on the forecastle and another on the forward turret. Smoke and flames gushed from the forward part of the ship and large pieces were thrown 200 feet into the air. It has been thought that the most likely cause of her loss was a deflagration or low-order explosion in 'X' magazine that blew out her bottom and severed the steering control shafts, followed by the explosion of her forward magazines from the second volley. More recent archaeological evidence shows that the ship was actually blown in half. Of her crew of 1,019, only three survived. In addition to the Exton War Memorial plaque, Henry Quartley is also remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 16) at Plymouth Hoe. |
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PRIVATE William John Takle (1893-1916)
He was born in 1893 and was the son of William Henry and Harriet Takle, of 'Biddisham', Axbridge, Somerset.
He served as Private 17444 in the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, and was killed in action on the 15th of September 1916, aged 23 years. His body was never identified/recovered, and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial,France. Pier and Face 2 A. |
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PRIVATE George Tarr (1880-1916)
He was born in 1880 and was the son of James and Mary Tarr, of Goosemoor Cottages, Luxborough.
He served as Private 16048 in the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, and was killed in action on the 3rd of July 1916, aged 36 years. He was buried at the Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. Plot I. R. 19. |
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CAPTAIN Charles Herbert Thomas (1880-1914)
He was born at Charlton near Bristol, Gloucestershire, in April 1880 and was the son of Mr & Mrs Howard Thomas of 10, Westminster Palace Gardens, London. He was educated at Clifton School in Bristol, Abbotsholme School, Staffordshire, and at Edinburgh University.
Having served time in the local Malita he joined the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment in 1900 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1901. He took part in the South African (Boer) War and was present at operations in the Cape Colony, South of the Orange River, for which he received the Queen's Medal with clasp. He obtained his Captaincy in 1909. On the 4th of June 1912, at St. Peter's Church, Exton, Somerset, he married Dorothy Catherine Everard, only Daughter of Philip and Frances Catherine Everard of 'Miltons', Exton, and on the 15th of June 1913 they had a son: Charles Richard Thomas (1913-1944). With the arrival of WW1, the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment was one of the first units to land in France in 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw action on the Western Front. Captain Thomas was severely wounded during the first battle of Ypres on the 27th of October 1914. He was taken to the 13th General (Allies) Hospital in Boulogne where he died of his wounds on the 5th of November 1914, aged 34 years. He was buried at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. B. 7 |
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PRIVATE Frederick James Weetch (1889-1918)
WW2
MAJOR Charles Richard Thomas (1913-1944)
He was born at Exton on the 15th of June 1913 and was the son of Capt. Charles Herbert Thomas (1880-1914) and Dorothy Catherine Thomas nee Everard. He was educated at Oxford University, where he gained his M.A.
He married Prunella Peel Bentley of Dulverton, Somerset. During WW2 he served as Service Number: 56041 Major, 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. The 4th Battalion landed in Normandy two weeks after D-Day (June 1944) and fought their way through France with the 43rd (Wessex) Division. Major Thomas was killed in action, aged 31 years, on August the 6th 1944, whilst leading his men in an attack on Mont Pincon, Normandy. Mont Pincon is the highest hill in Normandy and was a formidable obstacle as well as magnificent observation post. The Germans saw it as essential to their defensive plans for Normandy. He was buried at Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery Banneville-la-Campagne, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. Plot XVI. E. 29. |
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LIEUTENANT Richard Vivian Warren (1914-1939)
He was born on the 20th of October 1914 and was the son of George Bodley Warren and Edith Florence Catherine Warren, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon. He was educated at Charterhouse School between 1928 and 1933.
Richard's connection to Exton (and almost certainly why a memorial for him is located within St Peter's Church) was that his great-grandfather, the Rev George Bodley Warren, and grandfather, the Rev Frederick King Warren, had both been Rectors of Exton, in Somerset. The east window in the village’s St Peter’s Church, is a memorial to Richard’s uncle, the Rev William Meade King Warren, who had served as a curate in Bridgwater, Somerset. At the outbreak of WW1 he was serving with the 1st/15th Punjab Regiment and whilst undertaking a forced march to Gyantse hewas taken ill at Yatung, Tibet. He died on the 10th of September 1939, aged 24 years, with the cause of his death being suspected as pneumonia. He was buried at Yatung (Regretfully, no exact location is currently known). He is remembered by 4 memorials:
IN MEMORY OF RICHARD VIVIAN WARREN
20TH OCTOBER 1914 - 10TH SEPTEMBER 1939 LIEUTENANT 1ST/15TH PUNJAB REGIMENT WHO DIED AT YATUNG, THIBET WHEN ON THE MARCH TO GYANTSE |
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RAF Aircraft Crash at Exton Hill 1944
At 21.40 hours on the 26th of January 1944 a Short Stirling Mk.III Bomber (serial number EH933) of the 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit, took off from its base at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire on a navigational cross-country training exercise. Its crew comprised eight men (the Stirling’s usual complement was seven, but on this occasion an additional flight engineer was on board):
1. Sgt. Ronald Anthony Partridge (Service No. 1395024) – pilot
2. Sgt. Claude Vernon Tomkinson (Service No. 811121) – navigator
3. Sgt. Thomas Henry Jones (Service No. 1521627) – bomb aimer
4. Sgt. Ben Ackroyd (Service No. 1537792) – wireless operator/air gunner
5. Sgt. Alfred Thursby (Service No. 1818773) – flight engineer
6. Sgt. Herbert Hewitt (Service No. 1286775) – flight engineer
7. Sgt. John Kerry (Service No. 2221041) – mid-upper gunner
8. Sgt. Richard Street (Service No. 1638635) – rear gunner
They were all members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve – except for Sgt. Tomkinson, who had joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1938.
On the fourth leg of the flight (Sidmouth to Ilfracombe) disaster struck. The circumstances which led to the catastrophe can never be known with complete certainty, although it should be noted that the weather was bad and the pilot’s previous experience of flying Stirling's at night amounted to no more than six hours. At 23.50 hours the aircraft was heard in the vicinity of Winsford, Somerset, flying Westward (ten miles east off of the planned track). Visibility was bad and no sign of the aircraft was apparent from the ground. It was next heard to turn to the south east, with engines spluttering, taking it towards the aerial beacon at Brompton Regis, Somerset. The aircraft then entered a steep dive, causing stress on the airframe. Eventually the complete tail section broke away, followed by other smaller parts, and at four minutes past midnight the main body of the Stirling crashed onto Exton Hill near Coppleham Cross, just above the hamlet of Bridgetown, and close to the Exmoor village of Exton.
Locals reported that the wreckage had burst into flames on impact, whilst other parts were scattered up to three and a half miles away. At the time, 50-year-old Marjorie Nesfield told of hearing an aircraft in trouble over ‘The Wickets’, her home across the River Exe opposite the Badgers Holt, before the crash. Some of those quickly at the scene included members of the Home Guard as well as ARP Warden Fred Partridge, who lived at nearby Hone Farm with his wife; Joan, and 4-year-old son; Richard. They found the main fuselage was lying on its back, ablaze, and ammunition could be heard ricocheting around the interior. Despite the danger the men did all they could to rescue the airman, pulling their bodies clear of the wreckage, but sadly nothing could be done as they were found to have all perished in the crash. On arrival of the Dulverton Fire Brigade much of their water was expended in extinguishing a blazing tyre from the aircraft that had landed part-way up the hill.
David Lungley, a member of the Home Guard, helped carry the bodies of the airmen down the hill by the path which leads to the Badgers Holt, before, eventually, service personnel from RAF Culmhead in South Somerset (previously called RAF Churchstanton) arrived to take charge of the scene. However, it was not until later in the day that the final body was recovered. Edwin Howe of Howetown Farm found the body of Sgt. Richard Street (rear gunner) lying without a mark on his body, in a turnip field over ½ a mile from the main crash site. The bodies of the airmen were taken to RAF Culmhead, where an entry in the Station’s log stated: “Unsettled weather continued. Bad weather again prevented flying. A Stirling aircraft crashed during the night at Exton, south of Minehead. The crew (8) from No. 1660 C.U. R.A.F. Swinderby were killed and the bodies brought into the Station.”
On the 31st of January 1944 the crew of EH933 began their final journeys. The coffins left RAF Culmhead and travelled by rail to destinations up and down the land, where families were waiting to say farewell to sons, brothers, husbands, fathers. The RAF Station’s log recalls: “Seven coffins were despatched by rail to different parts of the country for private funerals following the Stirling crash on 26.1.44.” (The eighth, that of Sgt. Partridge not being part of the despatch because he was buried locally at Taunton, Somerset).
1. Sgt. Ronald Partridge was buried at St Mary’s Cemetery, Taunton, Somerset. 2. Sgt. Claude Tomkinson was buried at St Mark Churchyard, Dolphinholme, City of Lancaster. 3. Sgt. Thomas Jones was buried at Runcorn Cemetery, Cheshire. 4. Sgt. Ben Ackroyd was buried at St. Thomas the Apostle Churchyard, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire. 5. Sgt. Alfred Thursby was buried at London Road Cemetery, Coventry, West Midlands. 6. Sgt. Herbert Hewitt was buried at St James Churchyard, Staveley, Cumbria 7. Sgt. John Kerry was buried at Redhill Cemetery, Arnold, Nottingham, East Midlands. 8. Sgt. Richard Street was buried at Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Air Accident Investigation Branch specialists later concluded that the rear fuselage had probably detached at around 14,000 ft followed at about 11,000 ft by the elevators and rear turret. Today, a memorial stands close to the main crash site, and next to a deformed tree that was hit by the wreckage. |
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