205871 Pte Joseph Marker British Army Royal Devon from:Budleigh Salterton My Grandfather fought in World War I in the trenches. Before the War he lived and worked in Budleigh Salterton,Devon, where he was born. He was a Draper's Assistant in a smart Gentleman's Outfitters. And I do remember him always looking smart - with a gold watch and chain.
He went to Exeter Barracks when he was called up - but in the latter years of his life we took him over towards Wareham where the tank regiment now is. He remembered training on the heathland.
When I was a little girl he mentioned eating rats whilst he was serving in France! He was injured at the Battle of the Somme and came home on the King of Belgium's yacht - though not in style. He was 2 days in a shell hole in the winter and frost - and suffered desperately from frost bite. He was also deafened and had a leg wound.
When he arrived back in England, he was sent to a Convalescent Home in Brighton - run by nuns - I have some p/cards of it with the servicemen lying in their beds in rows.Eventually he returned home to Budleigh to my grandmother and Dad. Life was very hard - he got 10 shillings a week war pension (after a long fight - there was no British Legion then, it was just before they were formed). He and Grandma had an allotment and grew vegetables and had chickens (but only for eggs, as Granddad would not allow them to be killed, he was a very kind and generous man).
Grandma took in lodgers and somehow or another they owned their own house. Granddad did work for the Rechabites and also became the local Secretary and Welfare Officer of the Royal British Legion. He had no transport, but walked miles on his crutches collecting peoples shillings. But more often than not, trying to open the orphans and widows living on next to nothing - he got them coal and food allowances.
He served on the Parish Council for about 40 years. His son, my dad, Bill Marker, also served in the Devon Regiment in World War II before being transferred to the Royal Sussex and later volunteering for the Royal Navy (Signals). Dad died last year.
I remember them both with great love and great pride.
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