Roll of Honour - Devon

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

CULMSTOCK WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Gill Cannell & Andrew Dishman 2016

The Culmstock memorial is located in the village centre, on Town Hill, near the church. It takes the form of a square base surmounted by a plinth and an obelisk; then whole stands on a concreted area and is enclosed by a low post and chain link fence; there is a wreath at the base of the obelisk.

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED TO THE
GLORY OF GOD AND IN SACRED MEMORY
OF THE FOLLOWING GALLANT MEN OF THIS
PARISH WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR
THEIR COUNTRY’S FREEDOM IN THE
GREAT WAR OF 1914 - 1918

CHICHESTER	Henry Arthur	Captain, 3rd Battalion attached to 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 20 October 1914. Born 1882. Aged 32. Son of the late Col. Chichester, of Kerswell House, Broad Clyst near Exeter. No known grave. Commemorated at LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 8 and 9. Extract from Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, Volume 1, page 128: CAPTAIN HENRY ARTHUR CHICHESTER, 3rd BATTN. DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT (SPECIAL RESERVE), was born on the 17th August, 1882, at Stowford House, Swimbridge, North Devon, son of the late Colonel Chichester, of Kerswell House, Broad Clyst, near Exeter, and of Stowford House, North Devon, and Mrs. Chichester, of Woodhayne, Culmstock, Devon. He was a first cousin of Brigadier-General A. A. Chichester, now serving in the war. Captain Chichester was educated at Crewkerne Grammar School, and joined the Exeter Volunteers in 1900 ; the following year he joined the Militia, serving for twelve months in Jersey, and then proceeded to South Africa with the 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, to take part in the Boer War, for which he received the medal. He afterwards joined the Special Reserve and was called up for duty on the outbreak of the war with Germany, on the 7th August, 1914, and was killed in action at Canteleux, near La Bassée. on the 20th October, 1914. Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Volume 2, page 67-68: CHICHESTER, HENRY ARTHUR, Capt., 3rd Battn. The Devonshire Regt., s. of the late Col. Chichester, of Kerswell House, Broad Clyst, near Exeter ; b. Stowford House, Swimbridge, North Devon, 17 Aug. 1882 ; educ. Crewkerne Grammar School ; Joined the Exeter Volunteers in 1900, passing into the Militia the following year ; served in the South African War with the 3rd East Yorkshire Regt. ; took part in the operations in Orange River Colony April to May, 1902, and those in Cape Colony May, 1902 (Queen's Medal with two clasps) ; subsequently joined the Special Reserve, Devonshire Regt. ; was called up on the outbreak of the European War ; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action at Canteleux, near La Bassée, 20 Oct. 1914.
COLES	Samuel	Private 10854, "B" Company, 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 25 September 1915. Aged 19. Born Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Exeter. Son of Thomas and Caroline Coles, of Bowhayes, Culmstock, Cullompton, Devon. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 35 to 37.
DAVIS	J	Royal Warwickshire Regiment - No further information currently available
DUNN	Harry	Private 19931 [CWGC] or 19031 [SDGW], 9th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Aged 24. Born Willand, Devon, resident Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Culmstock, Devon. Son of William and Ellen Dunn, of White Ball, Wellington, Somerset. Buried in DEVONSHIRE CEMETERY, MAMETZ, Somme, France. Row A. Grave 2.
FORD	W H	Devonshire Regiment - No further information currently available
HAKE	Walter Joseph	Private 13496, 103rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds 4 June 1917. Aged 24. Born Culmstock, Devon, resident Rockwell Green, Somerset, enlisted Tiverton. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hake, of Downgreen, Nicholashayne, Wellington; husband of Annie May Hake, of 3, Lower Foxmoor, Rockwell Green, Wellington, Somerset; brother of William hake (below). Formerly 20755, Devonshire Regiment. Buried in POINT-DU-JOUR MILITARY CEMETERY, ATHIES, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 11.
HAKE	William	Private 13495, 103rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds 1 July 1916. Born Culmstock, Devon, resident Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Tiverton. Son of Joseph and Mary Jane Hake, of Downs Green Cottage, Nicholashayne, Wellington, Somerset; brother of Walter Joseph Hake (above). Formerly 20750, Devonshire Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.
HOOPER	Edgar Joseph	Private 7230, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died of wounds 1 December 1914. Aged 30. Born Culmstock, Devon, resident Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Taunton. Son of John and Anna Maria Hooper, of Culmstock, Devon. Buried in BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY, NORD, Nord, France. Row A. Grave 13.
MILTON, DCM, MM	William John	Sergeant 8652, 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds 19 October 1918. Aged 34. Born Culmstock, Cullompton, Devon, enlisted Brecon. Son of Samuel and Jessie Milton, of Culmstock, Cullumpton, Devon; husband of Annie May Milton, of 9, Talbot St., Aberavon. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) and the Military Medal (M.M.). Attested 3 January 1905 at Newport, Monmouthshire, as 8562, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, unmarried on enlistment, aged 19 years 8 months, height 5 feet 53/8 inches, weight 130lbs, chest 36½ inches, sallow complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, religious denomination Church of England; Discharged and joined the Regular Army 24 January 1905. Buried in VAUX-ANDIGNY BRITISH CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Row C. Grave 9.
MUTTER	Francis	[Listed as MUTTERS on SDGW & CWGC] Private 26059, 10th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 24 April 1917 in Salonika. Aged 38. Born and resident Culmstock, Devon, enlisted Tiverton, Devon. Son of Robert Mutters; husband of Mrs. C. Lang (formerly Mutters), of 23, Mantle St., Wellington, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated at DOIRAN MEMORIAL, Greece.
PURKESS	Arthur James	Second Lieutenant, 13th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Died 27 June 1918. Aged 33. Son of James and Mary Purkess, of Hill Moor, Culmstock, Devon. Born at New Malden, Surrey. Joined the 10th Lincolnshire Regt., 17th Sept., 1914. Wounded in the battle of the Somme 1st July, 1916. Buried in CINQ RUES BRITISH CEMETERY, HAZEBROUCK, Nord, France. Row E. Grave 22.
PURKESS	Cyril Lewis	Private 266013, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Killed in action 27 August 1918. Aged 27. Redident Hillmoor, Middlesex, enlisted Willesden, Middlesex. Son of the late James Purkess, of Cirencester, Glos., and of Mary Purkess, now of Culmstock, Devon. Enlisted April, 1915. Born at Surbiton, Surrey. Buried in THELUS MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row B. Grave 9.
QUICK	Alfred	Private 8601, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 27 Noevmber 1914. Born Tiverton, Devon, resident Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Exeter. Son of William and Selina Quick, of Nicholashayne, Culmstock, Devon. Born Culmstock, Devon. Originally attested 3 December 1907 at Cullompton, aged 19, as Private 5048, 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, General Labourer by trade, unmarried, height 5 feet 6¾ inches, weight 125 lbs, chest 35 inches, fresh complexion, light brown eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Church of England, became regular Devonshire Regiment 16 January 1908. Buried in AUBERS RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY, AUBERS, Nord, France. Plot VII. Row A. Grave 4.
SALTER	Charles	Private 100284, 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Killed in action during an attack on Courcelette 15 September 1916. Born 18 July 1891 in Culmstock, Devon. Son of Charles Salter. Farmer by trade. Attested 2 July 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, aged 23 years, height 5 feet 3 inches, chest 36 inches, freckled complexion, medium brown eyes, light brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8619 - 36
SALTER	Wilfred William	Private 51133, 17th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Died of wounds 26 April 1918. Aged 24. Born and enlisted Culmstock, Devon. Son of Thomas and Eva Joan Salter, of Wesley Row, Culmstock, Devon. Formerly S4/125392, Royal Army Service Corps. Buried in HARINGHE (BANDAGHEM) MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot V. Row A. Grave 23.
SHEPHERD	R	Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) - No further information currently available
SHEPHERD	Walter	[Listed as SHEPHARD on CWGC] Private 15940, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. Died on service in Mesopotamia 17 June 1916. Aged 26. Born Hockworthy, Wellington, Somerset, resident Moddowen, Culmstock, Devon, enlisted Exeter, Devon. Son of William Shephard, of South Farm Cottage, Burliscombe, Wellington, Somerset. Formerly 10842, Devonshire Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 22 and 63.
THOMAS	Frederick A	Private 26193, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died on service in United Kingdom 24 or 25 December 1916. Born and resident Culmstock, Devon, enlisted Exeter. Formerly 148660, Royal Field Artillery. Buried in GRANGEGORMAN MILITARY CEMETERY, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Grave reference CE. 634.
VENN	Henry [Charles]	[Not listed on CWGC or SDGW] Private 15023, 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Admitted to hospital 18 October 1916 with Tubercular Peritonitis, died 15 February 1917 at Ivybank, St. David's Hill, Exeter. Born Clayhidon, Devon. Son of Charles and Jessie Mary Venn, of Culliford Farm, Uffculme, Devon. Baptiised 23 April 1899 in Upottery, son of Charles and Jessie Mary Venn. In the 1901 census he was aged 2, born Clayhidon, Devon, son of Charles and Jessie Mary Venn, resident Mays Farm, Clayhidon, Wellington, Devon. In the 1911 census he was aged 12, born Clayhidon, Devon, at school, son of Charles and Jessie Venn, resident Clayhidon, Devon. Attested 22 December 1914 in Tiverton, Devon, aged 19 years 9 months (he lied about his age, actually 17), Labourer by trade, single, height 5 feet 5½ inches, chest 35-37 inches, fair complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Served at home 22 December 1914 to 26 April 1915, in France 27 April 1915 to 9 March 1916, then at home 10 March 1916 to 19 October 1916. Transferred by H.S. St. Patrick to England and admitted to Netley Hospital with eneteric fever 10 March 1916 after testing positive at No. 10 General Hospital, Rouen, transferred to second hospital 12 April 1916, 14 Paril 1916 all tests were negative for Typhoid, Paratyphoid and Dysentery Organisms. Posted 3rd Battalion 2 June 1916. Discharged from military 19 October 1916 under King’s Regulations, paragraph 392 (xvi), no longer physically fit for service. Buried in PRESCOTT CHAPEL CHURCHAYRD, UFFCULME, Devon. Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1917: VENN Charles Henry of CuMord Farm Culmstock Devonshire army pensioner died 15 February 1917 at Ivy Bank St. David's Hill Exeter Administration Exeter 25 May to Charles Venn farmer. Effects £112. Extract from Western Times - Friday 23 February 1917, page 5: Military Funeral Near Uffculme At Prescott Chapel, near Uffculme, Wednesday, the funeral took place of Pte. C. H. Venn, 3rd Devons, eldest son Mr. and Mrs. C. Venn, Culliford Farm. The body was conveyed in a glass hearse by road from Exeter (where deceased died, after having served some seven months in France), and there was an escort of eight men, under Sergt. Parsons. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and floral tributes, and was borne to the grave by four soldiers. Miss Thomas, who presided at the organ, rendered the Dead March from “Saul” and other appropriate music. The principal mourners were:—Mr. and Mrs. C. Venn (father and mother), Mr. W. J. Venn, Mrs. Holloway, Mr. I. Irish, Miss Churchill, Mr. J. Banks, Mrs. W. J. Venn, and Mr. Watts (uncles and aunts), Messrs. Organ, J. Manley, G. and F. Middleton (employees the farm). Others present were: Messrs. Beadon and Thomas (Culmstock), Mrs. Kerslake, Mrs. Westcott, Mrs. Coombes, Mrs. Viney, Mrs. F. Salter, Mrs. Bending. Miss Greenslade, Mrs. Alsopp, Miss Reed, Mrs. Fisher, Mr and Mrs. Hurford, Messrs. A. Wide. E. Wide (Hemyock), and Ayres. Mrs. Bale, Mrs. Heard. Mrs. Fathers, Mrs. Saunders (Spicelands). Messrs W. Long and A. Ware, Miss Lake, Mr. and Mrs Squire, Mrs. Warren (Uffculme), Messrs. Lock (sexton) Middleton, Mrs. W. Staddon. Mrs. Tooze, Mrs. Fisher, and P.C. Jarman (Culmstock), Mrs. Organ. and Miss Gladys Salter. The service was conducted by Revs. T. Brain (Hemyock), J. Warren (Uffculme) and F. T. Passmore (Upottery). The bearers (farmers) were: Messrs. C. Haydon. C. H. Wills, F. Gush, and F. E. Squire. The coffin of polished English oak, with brass fittings, bore on a breastplate, the inscription:— “Harry Venn, died February 15th. 1917. aged 18 years." Also from The Western Times, Friday, February 23, 1917: In the Prescott (Baptist) burial ground near Culmstock, on Wednesday, the funeral took place, with military honours, of Henry venn, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Venn, of Culliford Farm, in that parish. There was a very large attendance. Henry Venn was a true patriot , he having enlisted in the 3rd Devons when only 15 years 9 months old, and was serving with the 1st Devons in the trenches when 16 years 1 month old. He would have been 18 next month had he lived. Unfortunately consumption developed, and he was invalided out of the Army a few months ago. He met death, as he had met the enemy, absolutely without fear. The deepest sympathy is felt in the whole district with the parents, who just after Christmas suffered a ad bereavement by the death of their youngest son, Reginald, as the result of a shooting accident. He was out rabbiting, and his little sister picked up the gun to carry it, when it exploded and the chrge entered the lad's back.
WAY	Charles	Private 10860, 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 16 July 1917. Aged 23. Born and resident Wellington, Somerset, enlisted Exeter. Son of Emma Way, of Hillmoor, Culmstock, Cullompton, Devon, and the late Francis Thomas Way. Buried in H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 10.
WAY	Walter	Corporal 18257, 20th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died on service 15 July 1916. Born Culmstock, Devon, resident Wellington, enlisted exeter. Formerly 10846, Devonshire Regiment. No kinown grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.
WEBB	Richard	Private PO/2093 (S), 1st Royal Marines Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action 22 August 1918. Born 23 February 1893. Son of Mrs. Mary Webb, of Tuckers Farm, Culmstock, Cullompton. No known grave. Commemorated on VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 1.
WRIGHT	E	Royal Warwickshire Regiment - No further information currently available
IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945
FOURACRE	John	Gunner 5620445, 7/4 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 19 February 1942. Aged 18. Foster-son of Ely and Emily Waygood. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 77, Column 3.
HUTH	Christopher Raymond	Sub-Lieutenant, H.M.S. "Marigold", Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died 11 December 1942. Son of Sydney Francis and Ruby Huth, of Culmstock, Devon. Buried in DELY IBRAHIM WAR CEMETERY, Algeria. Plot 3. Row J. Grave 16.
HUTH, MM	Sydney Michael	Lieutenant 269304, 50th Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Died 1 August 1943. Aged 28. Son of Sydney Francis Huth, M.R.C.S., and Ruby Huth, of Culmstock, Devon. B.A. (Cantab.): Clare College. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). No known grave. Commemorated on CASSINO MEMORIAL, Italy. Panel 1.
PIKE	Reginald George	Stoker 1st Class D/KX 99148, H.M.S. "Avonvale", Royal Navy. Died 29 January 1943. Aged 24. Son of Albert and Elizabeth Pike, of Culmstock, Devon. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 82, Column 2.
WHITCOMBE	Gwilym James	Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator (Air) - Warrant Officer) 1229466, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 29 April 1945. Aged 24. Son of James and Laura Whitcombe, of Culmstock. Buried in CULMSTOCK CEMETERY, Devon. Row J. 21B. Grave 92.

Last updated 20 March, 2021

War Memorials Trust