Timberscombe, Somerset.
I acknowledge the previous research of Harvey Grenville, together with that of the St. Petrock's History Group, whose information has been extremely valuable in the production of this page.
WW1
CAPTAIN Eric May Battersby (1884-1914)
He was born in Kensington, London, on the 18th of February 1884 and was the fifth of seven children to Worsley Battersby (1825-1896) and his wife; Jessie Battersby nee May (1847-1944). His father was a wealthy coal merchant and ship owner, who in 1887 purchased the manors of Well and Timberscombe, Knowle, and Bickham. Eric spent much of his childhood and youth at Knowle House.
He was educated at Sherborne College, Dorset, after which he worked as a manufacturer of Patent Issues. He joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), which was a part time reserve unit. He was granted a commission and served for three years as a Lieutenant between 1903 and 1906. He volunteered for military service on 8 August 1914, just four days after Britain declared war on Germany, and was reappointed as a Lieutenant on the 4th of September 1914. By the 26th of September 1914 he had been promoted to Captain. Shortly afterwards he was attached to 1st Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment, which had suffered heavy casualties after it had deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in August 1914. Lieutenant Battersby joined his Battalion in France on the 24th of October 1914 where they were positioned in trenches at Neuve Chapelle, holding a front of 450 yards. Under the command of Major Buckle the battalion made a stand here which ranks amongst the highest achievements of British troops in battle. They fought against the Germans at odds of roughly four to one and their trenches were subjected to heavy shelling by batteries of 6 inch German howitzers. On the 26th of October 1914 the shelling intensified and fell at the rate of a hundred an hour. Major Buckle was killed in the fighting on 27th of October 1914 and Lieutenant Battersby, who was by then the most senior officer remaining, took charge of the remnants of his battalion. He too was killed in action on the following day. |
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Eric Battersby died on the 28th of October 1914, aged 30 years. His body was never identified/recovered and he is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial at the Pas de Calais.
His name is recorded on the war memorial plaque at St Petrock's Church, Timerscombe. His name is also memorialised, together with that of his brother; Philip, on a side plinth of his father's gravestone, located in St Petrock's Churchyard. It reads: "also of his sons Eric & Philip, who fell in the Great War 1914-1918" |
LIEUTENANT Philip Worsley Battersby (1888-1917)
He was born at Knowle House, Timberscombe, Somerset, on the 8th of August 1888 and was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, in September 1888. He was the youngest of seven children to Worsley Battersby (1825-1896) and his wife; Jessie Battersby nee May (1847-1944). His father was a wealthy coal merchant and ship owner, who in 1887 purchased the manors of Well and Timberscombe, Knowle, and Bickham. Philip spent much of his early childhood at Knowle House but sadly his father died in 1896 and was buried at St Petrock's Churchyard, Timberscombe, when Philip was just eight years old. Shortly after the death of his father, his mother decided to relocate to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, taking with her the remaining children living at home. Knowle house was then rented-out to Ambrose and Violet Lethbridge, and later to Lord Justice Sir George Farwell and his family.
Whilst residing at Cheltenham Philip's sister Olive died at the early age of 17 years. She was buried in St. Petrock’s Churchyard in December 1899. After leaving school in 1906, Philip spent a year with a German family in Hanover before returning to attend the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester as a student. He was a keen horseman and sportsman and played in the Royal Agricultural College’s Rugby XV. Philip was no slouch on the academic side either, and finished 3rd in the Practical Agricultural Class in the Michaelmas Term of 1908. When war was declared in August 1914 Philip was working as a land agent. The following month Philip and his elder brother, Christopher, volunteered for service in the Army and enlisted on the 1st of September 1914. They were both posted to 14th Reserve Cavalry Regiment and given consecutive regimental service numbers. Their eldest brother, Charles, volunteered for the Army and was later commissioned as an officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and another brother, Eric, became a Captain in the Royal West Kent Regiment. Both Charles and Christopher survived the war. Philip was later posted to 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra’s Own). Both Philip and Christopher were selected for officer training in November 1914, and Philip was commissioned as an officer on the 9th of December 1914 and appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the West Somerset Yeomanry. He was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Temporary Lieutenant in May 1915. The following year, Philip qualified as a pilot after undertaking training at Beatty School in Hendon, obtaining his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate on the 11th of November 1916. On the 6th of December 1916 he was seconded for flying duties with the Royal Flying Corps and was eventually posted to 55 Squadron, who were equipped with the de Havilland designed DH4 twin seater bi-plane. |
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Initially based at Fienvillers, the squadron’s first operational bombing mission was on 5 April 1917, when it dropped bombs near St Amand. This was followed up with bombing raids on German forces at Valenciennes. 55 Sqn undertook bombing missions in support of Allied forces during April and May 1917, attacking ammunition dumps, railway lines, aerodromes and billets. In June 1917 the squadron relocated to Nancy.
Philip was shot down while undertaking a bombing mission on Ramegnies-Chin, Belgium, near the French boarder town of Lille, on the 7th of July 1917, aged 28 years. The Germans later dropped a message behind British lines to confirm the fact that he had been killed. The Germans later returned some of his personal effects through diplomatic channels, however, the exact location of his crash site was never revealed. No further information was forthcoming from the Germans in spite of Philip’s mother’s entreaties to the War Office up until 1920 to establish the location. Philip Battersby is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial at the Pas de Calais, and his name is also recorded on the war memorial plaque at St Petrock's Church, Timerscombe. His name is memorialised, together with that of his brother; Eric, on a side plinth of his father's gravestone, located in St Petrock's Churchyard. It reads: "also of his sons Eric & Philip, who fell in the Great War 1914-1918" |
PRIVATE Charles Edward Burnett (1899-1918)
He was born at Luxborough, Somerset, in 1899 and was the eighth of thirteen children of Thomas and Emma Burnett, both of whom were from Carhampton. His father worked as a carter on a farm in Luxborough and the family resided in a small cottage at Pooltown, Luxborough.
Sadly, Charles' mother died in 1907, when he was just eight years old. His father later moved to Beasley Cottages, near Timberscombe, to work on Beasley Farm. Charles was probably conscripted into the army shortly after his 18th birthday in late 1917, serving with one of the training reserve battalions before being posted to France around the 10th of October 1918 as a reinforcement in the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment. His service number was 42615. On the 30th of October the battalion marched to Saint Souplet to relieved the 2nd Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, south of the Sambre-Oise canal near Ors. Charles was killed in the trenches by German shellfire on the 2nd of November 1918, aged 19 years. He was buried at the Saint Souplet British Cemetery just a few miles south of Le Cateau. Hostilities ceased only nine days after Charles’ death. Charles’ elder brother, Sydney Burnett, was also in the army during WW1. He served with the Somerset Light Infantry and survived the war. |
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PRIVATE Herbert Carter (1891-1917)
He was born in Bawdip, near Bridgwater, Somerset, in 1891 and was one of nine children of Samuel Carter and his Wife; Agnes Beaumont Carter née Cottle, who were married in 1877 at Clutton, North Somerset. His Father was a Police Constable and became the Village 'Bobby' for Timberscombe sometime in the early 1900s. The 1911 census showed the family residing at the Timberscombe Police House, in fact his parents remained at Timberscombe in their retirement.
Herbert became an assistant grocer after leaving school and it seems likely that he moved to Herefordshire around 1913, as he enlisted at Leominster into the Herefordshire Regiment. He was in a draft of men transferred from the Herefordshire Regiment to the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment as Private 203598. They were deployed to Merelessart, south of Abbeville, France at the beginning of January 1917. On the 5th of April 1917 the battalion was part of 145 Brigade’s attack on the Germans at Lempire. Their next engagement with the Germans was at Tombois Farm (North East of Lempire) on the night of the 16th/17th April 1917.In stormy weather conditions the battalion overran the German positions, and also mounted an attack on nearby Priel Farm which. It was in April that Herbert was mortally wounded, although he did not finally succumb until early May. The most likely explanation is that he was wounded later in the month by shellfire while occupying defensive positions. He died of his wounds on the 9th of May 1917, aged 26 years, and was buried at the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot P. II. L. 13A. He is commemorated on the Watchet War Memorial, Somerset. |
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ACTING CORPORAL Francis 'Frank' Charles Chapman (1887-1914)
He was born at Timberscombe, Somerset, in 1887 and was the twin son of William Chapman (d.1910) and his wife; Sarah Chapman nee Bowering. His parents were both born in Luxborough, Somerset, and were married at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Cutcombe, Somerset, on the 28th of December 1867.
Frank, together with his twin brother; Robert, were baptised at at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, on the 21st of August 1887. The family resided at Pitt Cottage, Timberscombe, and his father worked as a farm labourer at West Harwood Farm, Timbersombe, for the Stevens family. After leaving school Frank also worked as a farm labourer (probably at West Harwood Farm) but following his father's death in July 1910 he enlisted into the Army to serve as Private D/3927 with the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards. When Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, Frank was stationed at Assaye Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, serving as a Lance Corporal. Eleven days later the Regiment embarked at Southampton aboard His Majesty's Troopship ' HMT Winifredian' as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), arriving in Boulogne, France, on the 16th of August 1914. On the 13th of September 1914 B and C Squadrons of 4th Dragoon Guards and a squadron from the 9th Lancers secured the river and canal crossings at Bourg to enable units of the BEF to traverse the River Aisne, during the First Battle of the Aisne. Frank was one of four members of the Regiment who were killed in the engagement. A further four were wounded. He died aged 27 years, and was buried at Bourg et Comin Communal Cemetery, south of Laone in France. Plot 6. Frank’s twin, Robert, only outlived him for eight years and died in 1922, aged 35 years. |
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PRIVATE Charles Henry Durman (1896-1916)
He was born in 1896 at Exford and was the son of James and Emily Durman, of Harwood Cottage, Timberscombe.
He served in the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as Private 19198, and was killed in action on the 29th of June 1916, aged 20 years. Charles was buried at Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Picardie, France. Plot I. A. 84. His details do not appear on the Timberscombe war memorial but he is commemorated on the Exford War Memorial. However, whilst his military records and gravestone tell that he died on the 29th of June 1916, the Exford War Memorial states the 28th of June 1916. |
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PRIVATE George William Elford (1877-1916)
He was born in 1877 at Brighton, Sussex, and was the son of Edward Elford and his wife; Sarah Elford née Thomas. In adult life he had a varied, sometimes rebellious, and an interesting, well-travelled military career, serving in both the Army and the Royal Navy.
He first enlisted with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Sussex Regiment in March 1897, a part-time territorial force. After training he was discharged from the Militia in July 1898 to seek a career in the Royal Navy. George signed-up for 12 years of service in the Royal Navy and served as a Stoker. A 'Stoker' was a Royal Naval rank, it did not necessarily imply stoking a boiler. Stokers were the primary mechanical grade aboard a ship and drew pay at almost twice the rate of an Able Seaman. George's service record notes that although he was of "good character" he was also prone to lapses in discipline. While serving ashore at Portsmouth in 1899 he was twice disciplined for fighting, and given custodial sentences of 5 days and 14 days. In 1903 he met and married Eva White, who had been born in Timberscombe, Somerset. The couple went on to have five children, with their first two children; George Elford (1903-1980) and Thomas Edward Elford (1905-1992), both being born at Portsmouth. George’s naval service continued on a number of different ships . In all, he served on 12 different warships, depot ships and shore based establishments, including three of the Royal Sovereign Class pre-dreadnought battleships; HMS Ramillies, HMS Hood, and HMS Royal Sovereign. In about 1905 the family relocated to Hole’s Square, Timberscombe, so that Eva could be closer to her own family while George was away at sea. In 1906, shortly after the birth of their third child; Ivy, George was reported as AWOL. He had travelled to Timberscome to see his family and, particularly his new daughter; Ivy. Once recovered he was given 14 days detention. On his release in November 1906 he was posted to HMS Drake, an armoured cruiser. The ship spent Christmas 1906 at Portsmouth before steaming to Portland in mid-January. In 1907 HMS Drake sailed to Lagos, in Nigeria, paid a visit to Vigo in Spain, and then patrolled the Irish coast. His daughter; Ivy was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, in April 1907 whilst George was away at sea. In August 1907 the ship was stationed at Gibraltar with the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet. The ship returned to Portsmouth for Christmas 1907, sailing back to Gibraltar in January 1908. The ship became part of the Home Fleet and in June 1908 patrolled parts of the Irish coast before moving to Milford Haven and taking part in manoeuvres. Thereafter, it sailed around the entire UK coastline spending periods at various locations around the country before anchoring at Portland in November 1908. After sailing down the channel to Torquay, HMS Drake returned to Portland for Christmas 1908. In June 1909 his sons; George and Thomas were both baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe. HMS Drake spent much of 1909 stationed at Portsmouth before sailing to New York on the 12th September 1909. The ship arrived 12 days later, remaining there until the 9th of October 1909 before embarking once more for Gibraltar. Once back in Gibraltar HMS Drake made several trips to Tetuan Bay, Morocco, and while anchored there on the 12th of November 1909, George’s and Eva’s fourth child, Clarence Leonard Elford, was born in Timberscombe. The ship eventually returned to Devonport, Plymouth, in early December 1909 and then sailed up the channel to spend Christmas 1909 in Dover. |
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George's new son; Clarence, was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, on the 31st of December 1909.
George was admitted to hospital in January 1910 (circumstances unknown). He was medically discharged from the Royal Navy in February, just a few months short of his 12 year term. On his return to Timberscombe, George worked as a farm labourer. Tragedy struck the family in March 1912 when Clarence died of Diphtheria at just 2 years of age. He was buried at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe. In early 1914, George and Eva’s fifth child; Elizabeth (known to the family as Joan), was born. She was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, on the 25th of February 1914. With the commencement of WW1 in August 1914 George again volunteered for military service. In September 1914, whilst aged 37, he enlisted at Taunton into the 2/4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. He served as Private 3755 in B Company of the 2/4th Battalion, which was initially billeted at Prior Park, Bath. The battalion was originally formed for home defence duties and was composed of men who were deemed unable to volunteer for overseas service. However, during an inspection on the 27th of November 1914 by General Carew, the men were advised that the battalion would be deployed to India if there were sufficient volunteers. Almost 800 men from the battalion, including George, volunteered and embarked at Southampton for India aboard the HMT Saturnia on the 12th of December 1914. After arrival in Bombay, the battalion were moved to Bangalore, where 'B' Company were split into two detachments and sent to stations at Malapurram and Calicut. While at Calicut, George was in trouble again. The actual charge is not known but battalion records show that he was given 7 days detention. He was then stationed at the Wellington Garrison, in the province of Tamil Nadu, some eighty miles south of Mysore in southern India. George was taken ill and died from 'Tropical Disease' (probably Malaria) on the 4th of March 1916, aged 38 years. He was buried at the Wellington Garrison cemetery, Plot W. Row H. Grave 4. His name is commemorated on face 10 of the Madras 1914-1918 War Memorial in India. His name also appears on the War Memorial plaque at St Petrock's Church, Timberscombe. |
LANCE CORPORAL Clifford Merson (1882-1916)
He was born on the 17th of August 1882 at Bickham Farm, Timberscombe, Somerset, and was the sixth of seven children of Francis 'Frank' Merson (1828-1886) and Sarah Merson née Hare (1845-1923). His father came from Wiveliscombe and had married Clifford's mother in 1865 at Old Church, St Pancras, London. The family farmed 320 acres at Bickham Farm, Timberscombe, employing 6 men and 3 boys.
Clifford was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, in October 1882. His siblings were:
By the time of the 1901 census Clifford and his widowed mother had left the farm and were residing at the 'Great House' in Timberscombe, leaving Clifford's elder brother; Lionel, to run and manage Bickham Farm with his wife; Kate. The Mersons were considered to be a wealthy and influential family. Sarah Merson (Clifford's mother) served on the Board Of Governors of Timberscombe School and in 1907 she donated the funds for a new treble bell for the tower at St. Petrock's Church. Around 1908 Clifford and his mother moved to 9 Bushcroft, The Avenue, Minehead, and at the same time were joined by his recently widowed brother; Lionel, and his two children; Derrick Merson (Born 1901) and Margaret Doreen Merson (Born 1908). The two brothers leased and ran a farm at Minehead for a few years until Clifford moved to Solihull in the West Midlands to become a Garage Manager. On the 25th of November 1915, Clifford, then aged 33 years, married Florence Eva JéBoult in Solihull. His wife had been born and brought up in Dunster and it would appear that they moved up to Solihull together. Clifford enlisted into the Army at Birmingham in 1915 and was placed into the Derby Scheme - A system in which men voluntarily registered for military service and were classified into groups for call up based on their age and marital status. The scheme was advantageous for older married men, who were only called-up once all single men registered in the scheme had been mobilised. Men who volunteered under the Derby Scheme were given a grey armband with a red crown as a sign that they were not cowards and had volunteered for service but were being held on the Army Reserve list until they were called-up. His call came in early 1916 and Clifford became Private 27740 in the Somerset Light Infantry. He was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, probably by June the same year, as part of a reinforcement draft. The battalion were deployed to France and in July 1916 were on the front line near Arras. Towards the end of July the battalion occupied trench positions near three large craters on the north-east side of Arras, known as Cuthbert, Clarence and Claude; these had been created by the detonation of German mines under trenches in the British front line in the previous month. |
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The battalion moved to the Somme district in August and spent most of the first half of the month in training at Le Meillard, and then Albert. On the 14th of August 1916 the battalion were at Montauban in a support role moving water and rations to the front line. The following morning at 08:00 hrs, Clifford’s battalion relieved the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry at Delville Wood, which was known to the troops as Devil’s Wood. A battle had been going on here for a month to gain a tactical artillery advantage during the Battles of the Somme.
On the 18th of August 1916 Clifford's battalion mounted an attack on the German positions. At 2.45pm they advanced across no-mans-land, supported by a rolling artillery barrage and was engaged in heavy fighting for the remainder of the day. Although the battalion captured some German trenches, it had suffered a high number of casualties from enemy machine gun fire. The following day it suffered additional casualties from German artillery bombardment while occupying their new positions. It was around this time that Clifford was promoted to Lance Corporal, probably replacing a man who had been killed in the engagement. On the morning of the 20th of August 1916 the battalion were relieved and moved to Fricourt for refitting. After a few days rest, they marched to Montauban on the 25th of August 1916 and were employed in a support role carrying water and rations to troops in the front line trenches. On the 30th of August 1916 the battalion were moved to Aumont, about 19 miles west of Amiens. On the night of the 15th/16th of September 1916 they were tasked with attacking German trench lines and capturing the village of Gueudecourt. This attack was part of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, in which another Timberscombe man; Sidney Thorne, had died in this battle on the 15th of September, during the Coldstream Guards’ assault on German positions at Lesboeufs. Clifford Merson was killed in action during the fighting around Gueudecourt on the16th of September 1916, aged 34 years. The battalion lost 309 men killed, wounded or missing out of around 570 men who took part that day. Clifford's body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France. Pier and Face 6 B His name appears on the Timberscombe War Memorial Plaque within St Petrock's church, Timberscombe, where his also has an personal brass memorial plaque that was place in the church by his family.. |
LANCE CORPORAL Lionel Chave Merson (1879-1919)
He was born in the summer of 1878 at Bickham Farm, Timberscombe, Somerset, and was the fifth of seven children of Francis 'Frank' Merson (1828-1886) and Sarah Merson née Hare (1845-1923). His father came from Wiveliscombe and had married Lionel's mother in 1865 at Old Church, St Pancras, London. The family farmed 320 acres at Bickham Farm, Timberscombe, employing 6 men and 3 boys.
Lionel was baptised at St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, in 1878. His siblings were:
Sadly, the family was blighted by a series of deaths in short succession. In January 1886 his sister Florence died, aged 16 years. At the beginning of March 1886 his newly born brother, Stanley, died aged only 1 day old. Two weeks later his disabled sister, Ethel, died aged 10 years, and in a further tragic twist of fate his father died later that year in November 1886. Eight years later Lionel’s eldest brother; Herbert, died in March 1894, aged 27 years. All five family members were buried in St Petrock’s Churchyard. He was working in London in his early twenties when he met Kate Evelyn Curry (1873-1908). Kate had been born in Taunton and brought up in Alma Street, she moved to London as a teenager when her widowed mother had remarried. Lionel and Kate were married in Kensington, London, in 1900 and returned to Timberscombe to take over the running of Bickham Farm. Around this time his mother and brother; Clifford, moved from the farm to reside at 'The Great House', Timberscombe. Lionel and Kate’s first child, Derrick, was born in the spring of 1901, and a daughter, Margaret Doreen , followed a few years later at the beginning of 1908. However, tragedy struck when Kate died later that year, at the age of 35 years. She was buried in St. Petrock’s Churchyard on the 16th of December 1908. After the death of his wife Lionel vacated Bickham Farm. He took with him his two children and joined his mother, and younger brother: Clifford, who by then were residing in a house at 9 Bushcroft, The Avenue, Minehead. After a short period of leasing a farm with his brother in Minehead, he gained a position as a Polo pony trainer with the Minehead Pony Stud Company. In 1909 he joined the West Somerset Yeomanry and served as a Private in the part-time territorial force between 1909 and 1914. Following the outbreak of WW1, Lionel enlisted into the Army in September 1914 and served with the Royal North Devon Hussars as Private 1045 (Later promoted to Lance Corporal). This placed no small burden on his mother who, at almost 70 years of age, became the full-time carer of his two children. |
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For the first 12 months Lionel’s regiment was stationed in the UK, but in September 1915 they were deployed to the Gallipoli campaign and Lionel and his regiment embarked aboard the HMT Olympic (a sister ship of the infamous RMS Titanic). The ship sailed from Liverpool to Alexandria in Egypt, where the troops were transferred to smaller ships for onward travel to the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. The Royal North Devon Hussars landed at Gallipoli on the 9th of October 1915 but with the failure of the campaign, they were withdrawn on the 9th of December 1915 and redeployed to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal. In September 1916 Lionel was notified that his brother; Clifford, had been killed in action in France whilst serving with the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
It was whilst serving in Egypt that Lionel contracted Tuberculosis and became very ill. He was medically discharged from the Army in November 1916. He was subsequently issued with a Silver War Badge and entitlement certificate. 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 shown an opinionated public back in England that the recipient was not a coward, and had served his country. While recuperating in Cambridgeshire, Lionel met and married Florence Tuffs in late 1916. He moved back to Minehead with his new wife to live at 5, Selbourne Place, and gained employment as a manager for a hunting stable. Sadly, Lionel never fully recovered and, following a relapse, he was admitted to the Cotford Asylum near Taunton where he died in 1919, aged 41 years. He was buried in St Petrock’s Churchyard in Timberscombe on the 25th of September 1919. His two children continued to live with their Grandmother, and relocated with her to St Leonard’s on Sea in Sussex in 1920. Lionel is commemorated on War Memorial Plaque at St Petrock's Church, Timberscombe, as well as on the Minehead Roll of Honour held at St Andrew's Church in Minehead. |
SERGEANT Reginald Stuart Stevens (1886-1917)
He was born at Old Berry Farm, Dulverton, Somerset, on the 1st of February 1886 and was always known as 'Stuart'. He was the eldest child of Robert Stevens (1856-1916) and his wife Mary 'Pollie' Stevens née Cording (1864-1935). His father was a farmer who originated from Winsford, Somerset, and his mother from Wootton Courtenay, Somerset. They had been married at Brompton Regis in 1885, and the 1891 census showed them farming at Old Berry Farm, Dulverton. However, they moved to West Harwood Farm, Timberscombe, around 1892/3, which at the time was a 212 acre sheep and arable farm.
Stuart's siblings were:
Stuart emigrated to Canada, and subsequently worked as a rancher at Appledale in British Columbia. In WW1 he enlisted in May 1915 and joined the 54th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. Back at home in England two of his brothers also enlisted; Leonard served as a Major in the Royal Field Artillery and Stanley served as Private 2777 in the Somerset Light Infantry. In September 1915 Stuart was promoted from the rank of Private to Corporal. He was placed in the 2nd reinforcement draft and released by the 54th battalion to support the Canadian Expeditionary Force deployed in France. He arrived in England on the 30th of October and on the following day Stuart was posted to 30th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry based at Shorncliffe, Kent. The 30th Battalion was a reserve unit which provided reinforcements to the Western Front. Stuart served with the unit as a physical training and battle fitness instructor. In June 1916, at his own request, he gave up his strip and reverted to the rank of Private. What prompted this is reduction in rank is unknown but within a couple of days he was posted to the 7th (British Columbia) Battalion in France, and joined the battalion at Ouderdom, Belgium, on the 17th of June 1916. Shortly afterwards the battalion marched to take over trench positions in the Mount Sorrel area. It spent the last two weeks of August 1916 at Eperlecques, France, for training and exercises and whilst there Stuart was promoted to Lance Corporal on 26th August 1916 shortly before the battalion were transported by train Bonneville. September 1916 saw the battalion deployed to trenches near the town of Albert, on the Somme. It later participated in the Battle of Thiepval Ridge, , on the 26th and 27th of September 1916. On October the 7th 1916 Stuart was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant, and the battalion continued on front line trench duties near Albert, before being moved to a rest area at Dieval on the 23rd of October 1916. During the cold weather of November 1916 the battalion moved to a new sector occupying trenches near Vimy Ridge. Whilst there Stuart was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 9th of December 1916. The trench conditions and weather took their toll on Stuart who developed bronchitis and was, subsequently, admitted to a field hospital on the 16th of December 1916 for a week. He returned to his unit on the 23rd of December at Bruay where the battalion celebrated Christmas Day 1916. On the 30th of December 1916, the lower parts of the village of Bruay flooded due to the severe wet weather. The battalion were detailed on humanitarian duties to help the French civilian population and by the evening of New Year’s Eve the flooding had receded. |
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On the night of the 16th/17th January 1917 the mild weather was replaced by a cold front and a heavy snowfall. The following day the battalion set off for ‘Fosse 10’, a group of ruined houses on the Arras-Bethune road, and shortly after moved off to front line trenches. The cold snap continued until mid-February. On two successive nights at the end of February the battalion sent raiding parties into the opposing German front line trenches, destroying dug outs and inflicting severe casualties. Immediately after these raids it was relieved and transferred to billets at Bully-les-Mines.
March 1917 was mostly spent in trench positions near Ecoivres. At the end of the month the battalion transferred to Camblain-l’Abbé where it practised infantry assault exercises in snowy conditions in preparation for the forthcoming battle at Vimy Ridge. On the 5th of April 1917 the battalion returned to the trenches near Vimy Ridge, north east of Arras. Vimy Ridge had been held by the Germans since 1914. The allied forces had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to take the escarpment and by 1917 it was heavily fortified. On the 9th of April 1917, Easter Monday, the battalion formed part of the Canadian Corps attack against German positions on Vimy Ridge. The engagement was known as the 'Battle of Arras' and was the first time the four divisions of the Canadian Corps were deployed together in battle. It was meticulously planned, with Stuart’s battalion forming the centre of the 2nd Canadian Infantry’s Brigade attack. Stuart’s battalion secured its first objective on the German trench system during the morning of the 9th of April. The Canadians took most of the ridge on the first morning, although it took several more days to capture the entire ridge. Work continued the next day with the battalion employed in collecting its dead and burying them in a battalion cemetery. April the 11th was spent re-equipment and re-organising. Late on the 13th of April the battalion resumed its advance, gaining more territory from the Germans. The most advanced company dug in along the road from Willervals to Mont Forêt Quarries. On the morning of the 14th of April 1917 they were ordered to advance further, but after only 300 yards the lead company came under heavy machine gun fire and shortly afterwards heavy German artillery fire was directed on the battalion. Stuart was killed in action on the 14th of April 1917, aged 31 years, and was buried at Plot III.F.7. of Boise-Carre British Cemetery, Thélus, a few miles north of Arras. |
PRIVATE Arthur Reginald Vellacott Thorne (1899-1917)
He was was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, on the 8th of January 1899 and was always known as 'Reginald' rather than Arthur. He was the son of Sidney Vellacott Thorne (1872-1908) of Exford, Somerset, and his wife; Bessie Thorne née Manning (1873-1958) of Lilstock, Somerset. His parents had been married at Clevedon in 1896.
Following their marriage in 1896 Reginald's parents initially went to live at Horsham in Sussex, before soon returning to Bridgwater in 1898. By 1901 they had relocated to Sussex for a second time (probably to be close to Sidney's parents - who by that time were running the White Swan Pub at Westhampnett, near Chichester). However, within a few years Reginald's parents had relocated back to Somerset to live at the Corner House, Timberscombe. Sidney went to work for his elder brother; William, at Beasley Farm, Timberscombe, whilst Reginald's mother; Bessie, found work as the caretaker for Timberscombe School. Reginald had five siblings:
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Like many young men of the time, Reginald was conscripted into the Army as soon as he'd turned 18 years of age. He enlisted at Minehead as Private TR8/17059 in the 9th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte Of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) and was sent for training with the 35th Training Reserve Battalion based at Bovington Army Camp at Wool in Dorset. However, whilst at Bovington he was taken seriously ill and was immediately admitted to the Salisbury and District Isolation Hospital at Stratford-sub-Castle, which treated infectious diseases such as diphtheria and scarlet fever.
He died in hospital on the 5th of June 1917, aged only 18 years. Reginald's funeral took place four days later on the 9th of June 1917, when he was buried in St Petrock’s Churchyard, Timberscombe. |
LANCE CORPORAL Sidney Richard Vellacott Thorne (1897-1916)
He was born in Horsham, Sussex, on the 26th of March 1897 and was the eldest child of Sidney Vellacott Thorne (1872-1908) of Exford, Somerset, and his wife; Bessie Thorne née Manning (1873-1958) of Lilstock, Somerset. His parents had been married at Clevedon in 1896.
Following their marriage in 1896 Sidney's parents initially went to live at Horsham in Sussex, before soon returning to Bridgwater in 1898. By 1901 they had relocated to Sussex for a second time (probably to be close to his father's parents - who by that time were running the White Swan Pub at Westhampnett, near Chichester). However, within a few years the family had relocated back to Somerset to live at the Corner House, Timberscombe. His father went to work for his elder brother; William, at Beasley Farm, Timberscombe, whilst his mother; Bessie, found work as the caretaker for Timberscombe School. Sidney had five siblings:
Sidney's father; died in 1908 at the young age of 36, and was buried in the churchyard at Timberscombe. The 1911 census shows that Sidney, aged 14, had moved to Taunton to become an apprentice butcher. Whilst there he resided with his uncle; Richard Nathaniel Vellacott Thorne and his wife; Helena, at 7 Trinity Street, Taunton. Richard was an 'Implement and Cake Agent' and was also Sidney's deceased father's eldest brother. At the end of March 1914, immediately following his 17th birthday, Sidney enlisted into the army. He lied about his age, claiming to be 18 in order to join the Coldstream Guards as Private 10660. Only a month after the commencement of WW1, in September 1914, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, and in October 1914 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The battalion were, by then, already part of the British Expeditionary Force in France, engaged in fighting at the First Battle of Ypres. Sidney arrived at the battalion’s front line positions on the 30th of October 1914, as part of a reinforcement draft of 90 men. From 1st to the 16th of November 1914 the battalion held front line trenches facing Reutel and Becelaire, in Belgium, east of Ypres. At midnight on the night of the 16th/17th November 1914 the battalion was relieved by French infantry. A night march followed and the battalion bivouacked one mile east of Ypres at 03.00 hrs in the morning to snatch a few hours sleep. After temporarily relieving the Grenadier Guards in trenches near Zillebeke and after a further march, the battalion was billeted near Ouderdom on the 21st of November 1914 for much needed rest and re-equipping. The following day, on the 22nd of November 1914, Sidney was ordered back to Chelsea Barracks in London, it having been discovered he was under the enlistment age of 18. Noticeably though he was not discharged from the Army, which was desperate to hang onto its ‘boy’ soldiers because of the critical shortfalls in manpower it was facing. He was transferred into the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Coldstream Guards and remained in England until after his 18th birthday. In April 1915 he was posted back to the 3rd Battalion in France, which was by that time occupying trenches in Givenchy. For the next 10 months the battalion continued on front line trench duty until it was transported by train to Calais on the 26th of February 1916. It returned to the Ypres sector on the 17th of March 1916. |
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The battalion's war diary records that between the 23rd of March and 30th of March 1916 their trenches experienced regular shelling and sniper fire from the Germans, but these were not the only issues; In April 1916, spring was nowhere in sight in France. Bad weather, including heavy rain over 36 hours, had reduced the trenches to an awful condition, causing trench flooding.Front line trench duties continued until the 20th of May 1916, when the battalion was billeted at St Omer for training.
In early June, most of the battalion were employed on railway maintenance and construction duties, making dug outs on the Yser canal bank. After this the battalion resumed front line trench duties until it was deployed at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the 15th of September 1916. The battle was significant, in that it was the first offensive to see British tanks on the battlefield. The assault was launched at 06.20 hrs with the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards attacking the German trenches near the village of Lesboeufs, with waves of men heading 'over the top' about 50 paces apart. As might be predicted, the battalion incurred a large number of casualties from German machine gun positions about 300 yards away from the starting line. After they had been overcome the battalion’s second objective was taken without much opposition later in the day. Sidney was killed in action, aged 19 years, during the fighting on the 15th of September 1916. His body was never identified/recovered and he is commemorated on Pier and Face 7 D and 8 D of the Thiepval Memorial in France. His name appears on the War Memorial plaque at St Petrock's Church at Timberscome, and he is also memorialised on his brother's (Cecil Thorne) grave in Timberscombe Churchyard, which reads: "also his brother Sidney Thorne. Killed in action in France. Sept 15 1916. Aged 19." |
GUARDSMAN Thomas John Tudball (1884-1915)
Thomas John Tudball was born at ‘Knackers’, Luccombe, Somerset on the 25th December 1884, He was the son of John Tudball (1855-1925) and his wife; Emma Tudball née Mogford (1853-1936). He was baptised at Cutcombe's St John the Evangelist Church in early 1885. The family later moved to Bench Cottage, Timberscombe, when his father started work as a farm labourer at Allercot Farm (between Timberscombe and Wheddon Cross)..
Thomas was educated at Timberscombe School and after leaving school worked as a farm labourer and ploughman prior to joining the army. On the 29th of March 1904 he enlisted at Taunton to become Private 5499 in the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. After three years service with the Regular Army he was transferred to the Army Reserves on the 29th March 1907 and returned to civilian life for the next seven years. The day after Britain declared war on Germany on the 4th of August 1914 Thomas was mobilised from the Army Reserve and posted back to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. The battalion was amongst the first units of the British Expeditionary Force to land in France, and Thomas joined up with them on the 21st of August 1914, shortly before the Battle of Mons, in Belgium. After 4 months of fighting on the Western Front Thomas was granted leave from the 21st of December 1914 and spent Christmas at home in England, returning to the battalion on the front line in France on the 9th of January 1915. On the 22nd of January 1915 the battalion left Cambrin to go into the trenches at Cuinchy, France, relieving men of The London Scottish Regiment. The trenches at Cuinchy had not been completed and were full of water. To add to the misery imposed by the wintry conditions, the Germans heavily shelled the trenches on the 24th of January 1915 in advance of a German offensive the following day. |
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The German attack commenced on the 25th of January 1915 with the explosion of a mine under the trench held by No. 4 Company. Other mine explosions occurred and were followed up by a massed German assault, which over-ran part of the British trenches held by the Coldstream Guards. The battalion was devastated by the German assault with around 200 men killed, wounded or missing, including Thomas. He was killed in action on the 25th of January 1915, aged 31 years.
His body lay undiscovered for 9 years, but in September 1924 the Imperial War Graves Commission, whilst searching for the 'missing' on the Somme battlefields, discovered several bodies of men from the Coldsteam Guards at the Cuinchy battlefield site. Thomas was identified by his disc (dog-tag) and his body exhumed and rebuied at the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery at Soucheze, north of Arras, at plot XXV. B. 5. His funeral took place on the 26th of September 1924, with full military honours. |
WW2
SERJEANT Frederick Daniel Vile (1907-1942)
He was born on the 6th of August 1907 at West Hatch, Nr Taunton, Somerset, and was the son of Walter and Ethel Vile, and husband to Beatrice Clara Vile, of Alcombe, Minehead.
He served as Serjeant 5667460 in the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. The regiment were stationed in India when war broke out and, consequently, fought the Japanese in the Burma campaign throughout the duration of the war. Fred was killed in action, aged 34 years, on the 18th of February 1942 whilst engaged with the enemy on the Island of Sumatra. His exact final resting place is unknown but he is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial (Column 61) at the Singapore Cemetery, located at Kranji, North West Singapore. His name was also added to the First World War Memorial Plaque at St Petrocks Church, Timberscombe, Somerset, and is the only name on the memorial from WW2. |
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The Home Guard
In St Petrock's Churchyard can be found the grave of Timberscombe residents: Arthur Smith (1906-1984) and his wife; Alice Maud Smith (1907-1985). Arthur served in the Home Guard from 1940-1944.
Most of us have, at some time or other, enjoyed the BBC television series "Dad's Army". With its memorable signature tune "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler?” it's usually among the first imagery evoked when thinking of the Home Guard. However, despite this portrayal, in its time the Home Guard represented a formidable force of willing volunteers ready to give up their lives in protection of their country. Indeed, should Hitler's Germany succeed with its invasion plans, the Home Guard would be ready and waiting. None so less than the 1st Somerset (Minehead) Battalion, who were raised in May 1940 as the Local Defence Volunteers. Later renamed the Home Guard, it became affectionately known as ‘Dad’s Army’. At its start it lacked sufficient amounts of weapons and members often had to improvise whilst out on patrol, taking with them items such as truncheons, broom handles and even golf clubs. It is said that each Guard also took a bag of pepper with them which, if required, would be thrown into the eyes of invaders and thus interfere with their vision. Being a Home Guard volunteer was far from easy and all but a few members would work all day in their full time jobs and then, later that evening, meet at their Platoon HQ at the Woman's Institute building in Minehead, to take-up their Home Guard duties. This included the patrolling of the coast and areas of Exmoor, North Hill, the railway line, removing or blacking out road-signs and, in particular, watching for German parachutists from Luftwaffe aircrew shot-down in the area following their attacks on the Cardiff and Bristol Docks. All of these responsibilities helped to boost the morale of troops serving overseas, for they knew a very able force back ‘home’ was looking after their families. |
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By 1944, with the Battle of Britain long won and invasion was looking less and less likely, everybody was preparing for victory and not invasion. Even when Hitler unleashed onto the country his V1 and V2 terror rockets, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths, Britain's earlier belief in a German invasion was now seen as unrealistic. So it was that on the 3rd of December 1944 the Home Guard were finally stood down. The country had always been both proud and grateful for its 'Dad's Army' and King George VI expressed the nations thoughts when he said "You have earned in full measure your country's gratitude".
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Women's Land Army
Ellen Kate Brewer (known as 'Nellie") was born in Timberscome in 1916. She was the youngest of five children of Thomas William Brewer and Maud Kate Brewer nee Fletcher. The family lived at Sunnyside, on the northeastern edge of Timberscombe (Cowbridge and Dunster Road) and her father was a Carpenter.
During World War II Nellie volunteered as a Land Girl. The Women’s Land Army employed over 200,000 women between June 1939 and November 1950. These Land Girls replaced male farm workers who had gone to war. Coming from all walks of life, Land Girls were critical in increasing the country’s food production. Despite many having little to no agricultural experience, they ploughed, grew produce, milked cows, caught rats, drove tractors – and much more. Nellie worked in the Minehead/Timberscombe areas, but others would leave home and be relocated to wherever they were needed across the nation. In October 1960 Nellie married Frederick William Hooper (1907-1990) and the couple made their home at Alcombe, Minehead. After he husband's death in 1990 she came back to Sunnyside to live with her sister; Maggie. Nellie died aged 85 in 2001 and is buried at St Petrock's churchyard. |
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Evacuees
In September 1939 evacuees from London started to arrive at Timberscombe as part of the government's 'Operation Pied Piper' and were billeted with families and individuals in the area. Arrivals soon totalled over 50 new children at a time, all of whom had to be integrated into Timberscombe's school and church schedules.
Originally the evacuees were taught separately from the local children in Timberscombe's Reading Room. However, this proved impracticable and in 1940 they were merged at Timberscombe School, with classes split into morning and afternoon sessions.
Others arrived in Timberscombe by their own initiative, leaving London and other large cities and relocating to stay, temporarily, with relatives.
Pat Herniman recalls being evacuated from London in 1939, with her sister, Jeanne. They were taken by their parents, Frank Robinson and Elsie Robinson (nee Prole), to live in Timberscombe with their maternal grandparents; Harry and Annie Prole, at Kiln Farmhouse. Also nearby was her Aunt Kathleen, who was married to Ernie Ray, and lived at The Old Mill in Timberscombe.
Originally the evacuees were taught separately from the local children in Timberscombe's Reading Room. However, this proved impracticable and in 1940 they were merged at Timberscombe School, with classes split into morning and afternoon sessions.
Others arrived in Timberscombe by their own initiative, leaving London and other large cities and relocating to stay, temporarily, with relatives.
Pat Herniman recalls being evacuated from London in 1939, with her sister, Jeanne. They were taken by their parents, Frank Robinson and Elsie Robinson (nee Prole), to live in Timberscombe with their maternal grandparents; Harry and Annie Prole, at Kiln Farmhouse. Also nearby was her Aunt Kathleen, who was married to Ernie Ray, and lived at The Old Mill in Timberscombe.
Two of those who were instrumental in caring for the educational and spiritual needs of the children were; Mrs Kathleen Annie Willis and the Revd. Rowland Newman.
Mrs Willis was the Head Mistress of the Timberscombe School, a position she held until July 1967, guiding the school through World War 2, with the influx of evacuated children during the war. She was also the choir mistress for many years at St. Petrock's Church. Revd. Newman came to St. Petrock's Church as the new Vicar on the 4th of July 1940 after the previous incumbent suddenly died. The school's logbook recorded "The Vicar R. Newman began attending on Wednesday mornings 9-9:40 to instruct the Senior group (11+) in religious teachings." Revd. Newman remained as the Vicar in Timberscombe until 1946. |
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Miles From Home
'Miles From Home' is a book by Alan Hines, published in 2022, that tells the story of the evacuees who came to Timberscombe.
"On the first weekend of September 1939, just before Britain declared war on Germany, 1.5 million British schoolchildren and mothers with children under the age of five were evacuated by train from the large cities most likely to be attacked. They were billeted in private homes in rural villages across England. Forty of them were placed in a small Somerset village called Timberscombe. Only a few are still living."
"Some are in their nineties, yet they remember: separating from their parents, not knowing if they would see them again, boarding trains at Paddington Station in London, no one sure about where they were being taken. They remember: the young boy from the East End who was run down by a lorry on a country road, and being a boy scout under the tutelage of an elegant lady from the noble ranks, and the German plane that crashed in a nearby field. They remember the smartly-tailored villager who made an impression on each of them with his knowledge of birds and insects and the names of plants and constellations – sights in the natural world a boy from the East End of London could have never imagined."
Pieced together, these first-hand accounts and photographs create an intimate portrait of a small English village during war time, its people and the evacuees who lived among them.
Link to Amazon:
Amazon.com: Miles From Home: Evacuees In Timberscombe During The Second World War eBook : Hines, Alan: Kindle Store
Other Military Burials at Timberscombe
Major Robert Alexander Archer (14th June 1893 -28th March 1960)
He was the son of Captain Robert Hugh Archer R.N. (1852-1930) and Georgiana Elizabeth Archer nee Hewetson (1867-1948), of Hill House, Hampton, Middlesex. He served as a Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Captain in the Royal Field Artillery and Major in the Royal Flying Corps. He died at Timberscombe, aged 66 years, and was buried at St. Petrock's Churchyard. |
Colonel Murray Lewis MBE
BIRTH 1899 DEATH 1989 (aged 89–90) BURIAL St. Petrock's Churchyard |