The Wartime Memories Project

- Devonshire Regiment during the Great War -


Great War>Allied Army
skip to content


This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.



    Site Home

    Great War Home

    Search

    Add Stories & Photos

    Library

    Help & FAQs

 Features

    Allied Army

    Day by Day

    RFC & RAF

    Prisoners of War

    War at Sea

    Training for War

    The Battles

    Those Who Served

    Hospitals

    Civilian Service

    Women at War

    The War Effort

    Central Powers Army

    Central Powers Navy

    Imperial Air Service

    Library

    World War Two

 Submissions

    Add Stories & Photos

    Time Capsule

 Information

    Help & FAQs



    Glossary

    Our Facebook Page

    Volunteering

    News

    Events

    Contact us

    Great War Books

    About


Advertisements

World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

Devonshire Regiment




Want to know more about the Devonshire Regiment?


There are:7187 items tagged Devonshire Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

Devonshire Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Abrahams George. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.30th Sep 1915)
  • Andrews James Allfrey. Capt. 2nd Btn. (d.1st Jul 1916)
  • Anstiss Robert John. L/Cpl. 9th Btn. (d.6th September 1916)
  • Aplin Noah. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.25th Sep 1915)
  • Barber Bertie. Pte. 1/6th Btn (d.8th Mar 1916)
  • Bastable Sampson Edward. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.4th Jan 1917)
  • Bastable Sampson Edward. Pte. 9th (Service) Btn. (d.4th Jan 1917)
  • Bickle Thomas. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.26th Oct 1917)
  • Black Edward. Pte. 9th (Service) Battalion (d.7th May 1917)
  • Bladon Frederick Charles. Pte. 8th Battalion (d.24th May 1916)
  • Bole James Joseph. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.14th Apr 1918)
  • Bowden Charles. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.9th May 1915)
  • Branch MM. Spencer Osborne. 2nd Lt. 2/5th (City of London) Btn.
  • Buck James William. Pte.
  • Cartmell William. Pte. 1/6th Batt (d.16th July 1916)
  • Cartmell William. Pte. 1/6th Btn. (d.16th July 1916)
  • Castle MM Arthur John. T/Capt 52nd (Graduated) Btn
  • Chainey Wreford. Pte. 5th Battalion
  • Chambers James. Pte. 9th Battalion (d.9th June 1916)
  • Clark Thomas Henry. Pte. 9th Battalion, C Coy. (d.1st July 1916)
  • Clarke William George. Pte. 1/5th (Prince of Wales's) Battalion (d.28th Jul 1918)
  • Clifton MC. Hubert Everard. 2nd Lt. 1st Battalion (d.4th Oct 1916)
  • Cockwill Reginald Darke. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.26th March 1918)
  • Cole Claude E.. Pte. 16th Btn. (d.3rd September 1918)
  • Coles John. Pte. 8th Battalion (d.10th Dec 1916)
  • Cornall Sydney Norman. Pte. 5th Btn.
  • Cornish Albert William. CQMS. 1st Battalion (d.19th Sep 1914)
  • Davey Charles. Pte. 8th Battalion (d.10th April 1917)
  • Davis Charles George. Bandsman. 4th Btn.
  • Davis Charles Henry Vincent. Pte. 2nd Btn.
  • Dolbear George Edwin. Pte. 1st Battalion (d.9th May 1917)
  • Drew William. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.24th Apr 1917)
  • Facey Albert John. Pte. 6th Btn.
  • Fear Samuel. Pte 9th Btn. (d.11th Nov 1915)
  • Fielder J. W.. Pte. 14th Btn. (d.25th Aug 1917)
  • Fisher Albert Henry. Pte. 5th Btn. (d.29th August 1918)
  • Flower Arthur. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.5th Sep 1917)
  • Gilbert William Peter Northey. Pte. 2nd Battalion (d.1st July 1916)
  • Gilliland MC. Hodgson Stewart. Lt. 1st Battalion
  • Harris MM Henry Percy. Sgt. 8th Btn. (d.17th November 1917)
  • Harris Henry. Pte. 2nd Btn.
  • Hearn John. Pte. 16th Btn. (d.2nd Sept 1918)
  • Helps S. R.. Pte. 1st/6th Btn. attd. 8th Reserve Btn. (d.5th April 1919)
  • Hendrie George. L/Sgt. 2nd Btn. (d.31st July 1917)
  • Hiscock Sidney F. Pte
  • Hodge Edward Lanyon. Pte. 9th Battalion (d.10th August 1916)
  • Holland George Walter. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.27th Oct 1918)
  • Howes Arthur Harvey. Pte. 1st Btn (d.2nd May 1918)
  • Howes Arthur Harvey. Pte. (d.2nd May 1918)
  • Howes Arthur Harvey. Pte. 1st Battalion (d.2nd May 1918)
  • Howes Arthur Harvey. Pte. 1st Devonshire Regiment (d.2nd May 1918)
  • Howes Arthur Harvey. Pte. (d.2nd May 1918)
  • Humphrey William Frederick. Pte 9th Battalion (d.7 July 1918)
  • Humphris Sidney. Pte. 4th (Res.) Bn. (d.3rd October 1918)
  • Ingram W. H.. Sgt. 10th Btn. (d.24th April 1917)
  • Jacob Frederick James. Pte 14th Battalion (d.30 August 1917)
  • Johns William. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.4th October 1917)
  • Jones Arthur Frank. Cpl. 8th Btn. (d.4th October 1917)
  • Jones Ernest. Pte.
  • Keep Wilfred. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.31st May 1918)
  • Kelly Joshua William. Pte. 5th Btn
  • Kingdon Ernest William Francis. L/Cpl. 1/6th Battalion
  • Kite William George. Pte. 1st (Garr.) Btn. (d.24th Nov 1918)
  • Lane Bernard Fred. Pte. (d.15th Oct 1918)
  • Lane Jesse. Sgt.Mjr. 1st Btn.
  • Lawrence Ernest. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.22nd Nov 1917)
  • Lewis Frank. Pte. 3rd. Labour Coy. (d.25th May 1918)
  • Litton Jack. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.5th Oct 1917)
  • Maddock Thomas. 3rd Btn.
  • Malone Brian Wilmot . 2nd Lt. 1st battalion (d.23rd April 1917)
  • Mann John Ivor Castle. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.13th Oct 1917)
  • Manning Alfred Charles Henry. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.10th Aug 1917)
  • Manning Ernest Charles. Cpl. 8th Battalion (d.8th May 1917)
  • Manning William James. Pte 2/7th (Cyclist) Battalion (d.25th April 1918)
  • Marker Joseph. Pte
  • Martin Arthur. 10th Btn.
  • Martin William James. Pte. 8th (Service) Btn. (d.27th March 1917)
  • Matthews Sidney Wright. Pte. 9th (Service) Btn.
  • Miller George James. Pte. 10th Battalion
  • Mogford Frederick George. L/Sgt. 9th Btn. (d.19th Sep 1916)
  • Morgan James. L/Cpl. 8th Btn
  • Morrish Frederick Triggs. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.9th May 1917)
  • Oakes Edwin James. Pte. 9th (d.6th October 1917)
  • Oliver William Percy. 8th Btn.
  • Owen Henry. Pte. 9th Btn (d.17th Feb 1917)
  • Paddon Thomas. Pte 1st/4th Btn. (d.17th July 1917)
  • Partridge Wilfred Issell. Lt. 10th Battalion
  • Penfound George Frederick. Pte. 1st Battalion (d.12th May 1915)
  • Perry Alfred J.. Pte 13th Battalion (d.3rd June 1917)
  • Perry H.. Pte. 10th Btn. (d.10th Feb 1917)
  • Pipe Arthur F.. Pte.
  • Powlesland Harry. Pte
  • Priddis William James. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.14th Apr 1917)
  • Purse Harold. Pte. 1st/4th Btn. (d.17th Feb 1917)
  • Rickard Reginald. Pte. 103rd Coy. (d.1st July 1916)
  • Roberts Francis John. Sergeant 9th Battalion
  • Roberts Francis J.. Sgt. 9th Btn.
  • Sanders John Conrad. Pte. 4th Btn.
  • Saunders Harry. Cpl. 9th Btn. (d.5th Oct 1917)
  • Shears Albert Henry. Pte. 16th Btn. (d.2nd Sep 1918)
  • Snell Frederick. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.9th May 1917)
  • Stephens MiD. Sydney Frank. Pte. 2nd Battalion
  • Stirman Herbert. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.15th April 1917)
  • Suckling George Joseph. Pte. 17th Btn.
  • Tracey Geoffrey Eugene. Lt. 9th Battalion, Machine Gun Section (d.25th September 1915)
  • Tregelles Geoffrey Phillip. Capt. 8th (Service) Battalion (d.1 July 1916)
  • Tuffery MM. Harold. Cpl. 1st Btn. (d.20th Jul 1916 )
  • Vicary Wiliam Dallin. 2nd Lt. 6th Btn. (d.8th March 1916)
  • Vincent John Wright. Cpl. 9th Btn.
  • Wagstaff Albert Victor. L/Cpl. 1st Btn. (d.25th May 1915)
  • Warren William Norrish. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.1st Apr 1916)
  • Way William Richard. Pte. 7th Btn. (d.14th Feb 1918)
  • Webb William James. L/Cpl. 2nd Btn. (d.17th May 1918)
  • Whitfield Charles Henry. Pte. 2/7th Battalion
  • Whitfield Charles Henry. Pte. 2/7th Battalion
  • Whitlock MM. Robert. Cpl. 2nd Battalion (d.31st October 1918)
  • Whitlock MM. Robert. Cpl. 2nd Battalion (d.31st October 1918)
  • Williams DCM, MM James Norman. Sgt. 9th Btn. (d.5th Oct 1918)
  • Windle Michael William Maxwell. Lt. 8th Btn. (d.25th Sep 1915)
  • Wood Charles. Pte
  • Wood Charles. Pte. 9th Btn. (d.10th October 1917)
  • Worsnip Joseph. Pte. 5th Battalion

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please. Add a Name to this List

More Devonshire Regiment records.


  • The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

  • 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.

Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.



Looking for help with Family History Research?   

Please see Family History FAQ's

Please note: We are unable to provide individual research.

Can you help?

The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors.

If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.


Announcements

  • 12th March 2024

        Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263705 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit.

      Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.





      We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question.

      If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.


      World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
      Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.






1206335

Pte. Joshua William Kelly 5th Btn Devonshire Regiment

Joss Kelly enlisted at Douglas on 20th of Feb 1917, aged 18 years 6 months. It was his second attempt at enlistment. He was 5' 3 1/2" and weighed 7 1/2 stone. The recruiting sergeant sent him away the first time, telling him he should come back when he'd grown a bit. He served in Palestine and France, where he was wounded at Rheims on 20th of Jul 1918. His record states: 'While advancing, a shell burst in close proximity and he was wounded in the leg'. Nature of Disability: 'Right foot [blown] off, stump gangrenous and full of maggots'. Treatment of Disability: 'Operation 24 Jul 1918, amputation [of right leg] 6 inches below [the] knee'. He was discharged as an invalid..

Like a lot of injured ex soldiers, he wasn't able to return to his profession as a Clothier's Assistant - his former employer wouldn't employ a cripple - so he made his living working various menial jobs. He was my great-grandfather. He lived to be 80. I suppose he was one of the lucky one's. He went over-the-top, aged 19, was blown up and left for dead three days in no-mans land. But he did at least survive.





1206041

Pte. Charles Davey 8th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (d.10th April 1917)

Pte Charles Davey was my Great Uncle Charlie. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in France.

Andy Pay




262071

William Percy Oliver 8th Btn. Devonshire Regiment

My grandfather, William Oliver, was in the 8th Devonshire Regiment during the First World War. He arrived in France on 27th of July 1915. He survived the war and was demobbed on 21st January 1919.

Colin Oliver




261000

Pte. Sampson Edward "Samson" Bastable 9th (Service) Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.4th Jan 1917)

Pte. Sampson  Bastable's grave

He was a bricklayer, a single man. According to the Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915, he was born in 1883, somewhere between January and March. According to the De Ruvigny Roll of Honour, he was born 31st December 1885, but I have found this to be wrong, as proved by the 1891, 1901, and 1911 censuses. I wonder why or how they got the date wrong. On some records though he is listed as Samson (without the p) instead of Sampson. He has two service records. One says he was Soldier Number 23343, Private, South Staffordshire Regiment. The other says he was Soldier Number 30195, Private, 9th Service Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. He is buried at the Munich Trench British Cemetery at Beaumont-Hamel, plot C 22.

Tony Moore




260225

Sgt. Francis J. Roberts 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment

Francis Roberts is 2nd from right

Francis Roberts was born in Plymouth, Devon on 5 May 1894. He served with the Devonshire Regiment from 1914 to 1918. Later, during WWII, he served with the Home Guard, 5th Btn., St. Austell in Cornwall from 2nd of November 1942 until 31st of December 1944. According to my research, original records of the Devonshire Regiment were destroyed by enemy bombing during WWII. I have therefore extracted from books, The Bloody Eleventh and C. T. Atkinson, The Devonshire Regiment 1914-1918, the following information in trying to trace were my father was. Certain facts (e.g., Mametz and Italy) were given by F. J. Roberts, otherwise one presumes he could have been in many or all of the places mentioned. The chapter and page numbers cited below are for the Devonshire Regiment Book:
  • Assuming a volunteer joined on 31st of January 1916, it is thought his training took up to the usual period of 6 months. Therefore, he would not have been sent to France until July or August of that year.
  • Chapter XII, page 146: On 19th July 1916, having its front line at Mametz (map ref J7), the Borderers on the left, then the 9th Devons and the 2nd Gordons beyond them.
  • Page 148/9: In Shrine Alley, which swept round Mansel Copse (Picardy), the company on the right of the 9th Devons had to move. Assembly trenches had therefore been dug 250 yards further back, and in these the troops formed up on the evening of 30 June. The 9th Devons had A and B companies in front and company C in second line as support.
  • Page 153: From 2 July to 5 July, the 9th Devons were withdrawn for reorganisation.
  • Chapter XIII, page 154: On 11 July 1916 at Bazentin (map J7), yards from the German trenches on the ridge and between Bazentine and Lonueval, the 9th Devons were the first to go into the new front line through Fricourt and Marlborough Wood to Caterpillar Valley. The second stage of The Battle of the Somme, the contest for the main ridge, was ushered in on 14 July. In the interval, large drafts had been received and the 9th Devons had 486 men coming from other West Country and Southern regiments.
  • Page 155: In the 20th Brigade, the 8th Devons on the right, the Borders on the left, and the Gordons in support the of the 9th were holding the whole of the brigade’s front until the attack began and being drawn into reserve as the other units passed through.
  • Page 167: Since the capture of Mametz (map J7), there was less fighting for the 9th Devons as construction work was carried on at Ailly sur Somme.
  • Page 175: On 3 September, whilst the Division had 5 weeks rest, the 8th and 9th Devons, in the middle of a football match, were unexpectedly summoned back to the fray at Ypres (Ieper) or Vimy or Ploegsteert. They embussed at Buire. The 9th led the way, debussing at Mametz (map J7), then to Montauban (map J7) near Toulose.
  • Page 177: The attack of the 9th Devons was gallantly launched, but they had a painful and tedious march to their position near Ginchy (map J7) and were in support of the Gordons. It was a bitter memory for the 8th and 9th Devons.
  • Page 181: Near Morval (map K7) and route D20.
  • Page 193: On 21 November, both battalions tramped to Bertrancourt and on the 23rd to Mailly Maillet (map I7) near Abbeville, and received reinforcements of 220 men.
  • Page 235/6: On 1 January 1917, the 9th Devons were at Hope Post. There was fighting. However, from 20 January until the end of February, they were in reserve and training. Twenty-four officers and 203 enlisted men joined the 9th, which now mustered a total of 46 officers and 1,030 enlisted.
  • Page 241: On 8 and 9 March, the Battalion was in Mailly Maillet, training and working.
  • Page 242: From 21 to 26 March, they were in the front line, and the 9th relieved the Gordons on the right of the Brigade.
  • Page 243 In April, the fight for Ecoust (map K6) near Arras was entrusted to both the 8th and the 9th, and after their success at Ecoust they were out of the line until 20 April.
  • Page 250: On 7 May, the Gordons came up to attack Bullecourt near Ecoust (map K6). Twenty-two men were killed and 7 were listed as missing. Ten men awarded the Military Medal.
  • Page 254: From May to September, there was a long spell of quiet. At Bailleulost, then Dickebusch, then Reninghelst in Belgium, the 8th and 9th Devons were inspected, then entrained for Proven. At Steenvoorde ( west of Hazbrouck), training took place at St. Martin au Leert. On 29 September, with a strength approximately 1,000 men, they proceeded to Abeele, 17 km. west of Ypres.
  • Page 284: On 4 and 5 October, they were carrying parties and resting at Reninghelst.
  • Page 288: On 24 October, the 9th relieved two battalions of the 14th Division in the front line, holding 200 yards of line on the right of the Menin road during Third Ypres, then crawling back to Blaringhem (near Hazebrouck-Nord, map I3). October was the worst month the 8th and 9th Devons ever experienced. The 9th listed 143 killed or missing and 151 wounded (page 293).
  • Chapter XXV, page 322: On 17 November 1917, they were resting at Le Croquet (near Saint Ghislam, Belgium) and were inspected by the King of Belgium.
  • Page 326: Both the 8th and 9th were transferred to Legnano, Italy. They were then moved to Giavera and later to Piave.
  • Page 425: The 8th and 9th were held in reserve, with the 9th going into the trenches at the end of January 1918.
  • Page 437: In April 1918, the 9th was billeted at Montecchio Maggiore.
  • Page 438: On 13 September, they were moved back to France, first to St. Riquier, then to Canchy (near Abbeville).
  • Page 435/6: On 8 October 1918, they were near Ponchaux. On 9 October, they were at Buitry Wood and Elincourt. On 23 October, they were fighting at Selle in Picardy. On 3 November, they were east of Bois l’Eveque. On 7 November, at Pommereuil, they fought their last fight. At the beginning of January 1919, the 9th Devons moved to Englefontaine, and on 27 January 1919, they were presented their King’s Colours. Demobilization began in January, but on 1st March 1919, 250 men of the 9th joined the 5th DCLI as part of the army of occupation.

Francis Roberts is on the right

Francis Roberts is front row, 3rd from left

F. Carl Roberts




258453

Pte. Sampson Edward Bastable 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.4th Jan 1917)

Sampson Bastable was the son of Charles Edward and Ruth Bastable, sibling to Charles, Mary, William and Samuel. He was born 31st December 1885 in Smethwick, was educated at Old Hill Council School. He enlisted on the 5th of April 1916 and fought from the 6th August 1916. He is buried at Munich Trench Cemetery at Beaumont-Hamel.

Tony Moore




258319

Lt. Geoffrey Eugene Tracey 9th Battalion, Machine Gun Section Devonshire Regiment (d.25th September 1915)

Geoffrey Tracey was the eldest son of Dr (Henry) Eugene and (Emily) Alice Tracey. He was born 25 October 1895 in Willand. He was in France from 27th of July 1915, and was killed at Loos. His name is on a panel for the Devon Regiment at Dud Corner Cemetery near Loos in France. His name is in St Mary's Church, Willand. He was an Uncle of David Church.

Judith Mary Church




258053

Pte. Albert John Facey 6th Btn. Devonshire Regiment

Bert Facey served with the 6th Devonshire Regiment.

Brian Essery




257704

Pte. Joseph Worsnip 5th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Joseph Worsnip was my great uncle. He served with the Devonshire Regiment and the Royal Defence Corps was discharged from service on 12th of January 1918 due to wounds received. He was awarded the Silver War Badge for his trouble.





257387

Pte. Arthur Harvey Howes 20th Hussars (d.2nd May 1918)

Arthur Howes was a proud gentle man. He was an impeccable cavalry man and his parents would have been very proud of him. He was a Cheltenham soldier transferred from the 20th Hussars to the 1st Devonshires where unfortunately he lost his life in the Neippe Forest.

Neil Harris




256897

Pte. George Abrahams 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.30th Sep 1915)

George Abrahams served with the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment in WW1. He died 30th of September 1915 and is remembered on the Loos Memorial Panel.





256639

Pte. Albert Henry Shears 16th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.2nd Sep 1918)

I know very little of my distant relative, Albert Henry Shears. He was the youngest of three children of Alfred Ernest Shears and Thomasine Trevise nee Toy

Darryl Toy




255732

Pte. Noah Aplin 8th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.25th Sep 1915)

The story is that Noah Aplin was fighting on the front line with the 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in Loos. There was a break in firing, Noah stood and removed his helmet to take his gas mask off and was shot in the forehead by a German sniper.

Victoria Russell




255581

Pte. Arthur Harvey Howes 1st Devonshire Regiment 20th Hussars (d.2nd May 1918)

Arthur Howes was a Cheltenham soldier born in 1888. He enrolled in 1909. He was a proud man. He lived with my great grandparents after losing his mum at an early age. Arthur worked in Cheltenham train station before enrolling to the Army. He is mentioned in the 20th Hussars War Diaries checking trenches around the Menin Ridge and also in the hard back book 'Leaving All That Was Dear'. Arthur was transferred to the 1st Devonshire Regiment around November 1917. He was quoted by my grandmother, who was 10 years of age, saying after his leave he really had a bad feeling about returning to the battle fields. He did return and fight until loosing his life in the forest of Neippe. He lies in Morbeque Cemetery France. And we thank him greatly for giving up his life.

Neil Harris




255262

Pte. Bernard Fred Lane Devonshire Regiment (d.15th Oct 1918)

Born in 1880 in Wellington, Somerset, Bernard Lane served with the Devonshire Regiment and the Labour Corps.

Graham Bendell




255186

Pte. Claude E. Cole 16th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.3rd September 1918)

Claude Cole served with the 16th (North Devon Yeomanry) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. He lost his life on the 3rd of September 1918. Aged 21 he was the son of Alfred and Dorothy M. Cole of 224 Pinhoe Road, Exeter.

Mark McGreevy




255007

Pte. Wilfred Keep 2nd Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.31st May 1918)

Wilfred Keep was the last of 8 children born to Nicholas James Keep and Fanny Bishop. He was killed in the Battle of Aisne and is commemorated at the Soissons Memorial being just one of the 4000 who have no known grave.

Peta Millard




254126

Pte Thomas Paddon 1st/4th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.17th July 1917)

Tom and Selina Paddon and family about 1916

Tom Paddon was born 1877 in Tiverton, Devon and died in Iraq in 1917 He was husband to Selina. Father to 5 children Ellen b. 1901, William b. 1903, Tom b. 1905, James b. 1909 and Harold b. 1911. Before the war he was a Coal Merchants Yardman in Tiverton, Devon.

He started the War in the 1st/4th Devonshire Regiment, finding himself in the Middle East. On 3rd of February 1917 the 1/4th Devons and 1/9th Gurkhas led a dazzlingly successful attack on the Hai Salient in the Turkish line south of Kut. Victory came at a price, of 15 officers and 403 men who attacked, only 5 officers and 186 men emerged unscathed. The survivors of the 1/4th spent the rest of the war in Amara and Baquba (north of Baghdad) building roads, guarding prisoners and administering refugee camps.

Tom was transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in Mesopotamia. He is buried in the North Gate Cemetery in Baghdad, Iraq.

Wendy Gyngell




253573

Pte. Wreford Chainey 5th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Wreford Chainey was my father. I know only that he was in Egypt in WW1 as a batman. But I don't know which section of the 5th Battalion he was in, nor exactly when he was in Egypt, or what his Regiment would have been doing there while he was serving, or for how long he would have been there.

Alison Vowles




252898

Pte Samuel Fear 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment (d.11th Nov 1915)

Samuel Fear was the husband of Elizabeth and brother of Gilbert. He lived in Gelli in the Rhondda. He was 35 years old when he died on the Western Front. He was my great uncle.

John Fear








Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.



Devonshire Regiment 1914-1918

C.T. Atkinson


The author is among the foremost of the Great War divisional and regimental historians and this book is typical of his standard of writing and composition. He has provided a continuous narrative in a chronological order, bringing in the various battalions as they came onto the stage in the relevant theatre of war. He has made use of war diaries, not only of the battalions but also, where appropriate of brigades and divisions. He was also able to make use of collected accounts of various actions and experiences of those who took part in them, giving the point of view of the man in the trenches. One third of the book, some 250 pages, contains the complete list of honours and awards, including Mention in Despatches, and the Roll of Honour, listed alphabetically by battalions.
More information on:

\image of book cover

Devonshire Regiment 1914-1918






Links


    Suggest a link


















    The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.

    This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

    If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.


    Hosted by:

    The Wartime Memories Project Website

    is archived for preservation by the British Library





    Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
    - All Rights Reserved -

    We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.