BAKER

George James

Private 9141, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 20th August 1916. Aged 24. Born and resident Starcross, enlisted Exeter. Son of Amos and Jane Baker, of New Rd., Starcross, Exeter. Buried in VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row O. Grave 12.

BOULT

Walter Harry

Sapper 304884, 22nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers. Died 19th November 1918. Aged 37. Son of Frank and Jane Ann Boult, of Heavitree, Exeter; husband of Sarah Ann Boult, of Strand, Starcross, Devon. Buried in ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot V. Row D. Grave 29.

BOWERMAN

Richard Venvil

Private 92868, "D" Battalion, Tank Corps. Died 29th April 1918. Aged 21. Son of Henry Hayman Bowerman and Mary A. Bowerman, of Staplake, Starcross, Devon. Buried in EBBLINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 25.

GOSS

Ernest Walter

Corporal M2/204760, Royal Army Service Corps. Died 7th November 1918. Born and resident Starcross, enlisted Exeter. Formerly 2394, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Yeomanry.

GRANT

Arthur James

1st Battalion, R.D.V.C. possibly Arthur James GRANT, Acting Corporal 345166, 16th (Royal !st Devon yeomanry and Royal North Devon Hussars) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 2nd September 1918. Aged 24. Born Crediton, enlisted Exeter, resident Ottery St. Mary. Son of Frank Grant, of Escot Lodge, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, and the late Jane Grant. Also served in Egypt and Palestine. Buried in PERONNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot III. Row D. Grave 7.

HOMEYARD

Reginald

Sapper 145277, "D" Company, No. 1 Reserve Battalion, Royal Engineers. Died in United Kingdom 12th April 1916. Aged 23. Born Exminster, resident Starcross, enlisted Exeter. Son of Mary Ann Homeyard, of The Strand, Starcross, and the late Richard Homeyard. Buriedsouth of the Chancel in ST. PAUL CHURCHYARD, STARCROSS, Devon.

SIZER

Ernest [William]

Private 25650, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 24th April 1918. Born Tunstead, Norfolk, enlisted Exeter, resident Starcross. Buried in ADELAIDE CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, Somme, France. Plot II. Row M. Grave 10.

1939 - 1945

COOKSON

Christopher

possibly Christopher Denys Peacock COOKSON, Pemporary Lieutenant, H.M.M.L. 146, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died 1 November 1944. Aged 22. Son of Ernest Ash Cookson and Amy Doris Cookson, of West Derby, Liverpool. He was born in Liverpool on 23 Dec 192. However his family have strong ties to Starcross going back many years and his parents, Earnest and Doris Cookson, kept a house there where he grew up, learning to sail on the River Exe. He was appointed Temporary Midshipman RNVR in November 1941 and later Temporary Sub-Lieutenant RNVR based at HMS Attack (shore-base) Portland. He went on to command a small fast MV, taking part in the D-Day landings, before sadly being killed in action while involved in the Royal Marine Commando landing at Walcheren in November 1944. Buried at sea. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 88, Column 1.

There were three possiblities two have now been discounted. This possibility kindly submitted by Neil Cookson

CHANDOS-POLE

Peter

Master, S.S. Pacific (Hull), Merchant NAvy. Died 9th February 1943. Aged 38. Son of Christopher and Constance Chandos-Pole; husband of Hilda A. Chandospole, of Starcross, Devon. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London, Panel 78.

Note: British cargo ship SS Pacific (2,816 Tonnes) foundered in bad weather on 8th February 1943 on a journey between Sunderland and London, in convoy together with two more ships. SS Pacifc was part of the 18 ship convoy FS 33 (fast). According to the convoy report she was presumed to have foundered due to bad weather. It seems she received some assistance from H.M. Tug Brightlingsea.

STONEMAN, MM

George [Henry]

Lance Sergeant 2658730, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died 23rd June 1944. Aged 23. Son of Frederick John and Nellie Stoneman; husband of Yvonne Eileen Stoneman, of Dawlish, Devon. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). Buried in BOLSENA WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot I. Row B. Grave 22.

YOUNG

Charles

No further information currently available.

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM

R.I.P

ALSO OF

DUMBLETON

Dennis

Lance Corporal 24153463, 1st Battalion, The Devon & Dorset Regiment. Killed in action when a four man army patrol were mistaken for Turks in the British sovereign base of Dhekelia, the troops were fired on as they patrolled the base boundary along the ceasefire line between the Greek and Cypriot village 2 June 1975 in Cyprus; a farmer was blamed for the shooting. Aged 22. Born 5 March 1953.

Extract from The Times (London, England). Issue: 59413, Wednesday, June 4, 1975:

British soldier killed in Cyprus

Nicosia, June 3.-Lance-Corporal Dennis Dumbleton, a young British serviceman, was shot dead in the sovereign base, area of Dhekelia, south-east Cyprus, last night, when a Greek Cypriot gardener mistook a British Army foot patrol for Turkish troops. He claimed when detained that the Turks have been stealing produce from his garden.

The incident occurred along the Xylotymbou-Akhna road, which forms the ceasefire line.