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BISHOPS HULL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © David Greig 2006

The memorial stands on a wide bend in the village street opposite the church of St Peter and St Paul outside the Cavalier Inn. It takes the form of a plain cross with a square, chamfered shaft and a square, two-stepped, base. The rear quadrant is cut-off by a wall, the insctiption are written on bronze plaques affixed to the memorial. There are 34 names for World War 1 and 12 for World War 2. The memorial was first unveiled 6 November 1921. The memorial was re-dedicated on 9th February 1993.

THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
BISHOP'S HULL WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918
FOR GOD, FOR KING, FOR COUNTRY

ALLAN Harry aka Henry
Private 28738, 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Died 10 March 1917. Aged 22. Born West Htach, Somerset, enlisted Taunton, resident Bishops Hull. Son of William and Sarah Ann Allen, of West Wood, Crowcombe, Taunton, Somerset. Native of Bishop's Hull, Taunton. Formerly 1135, West Somerset Yeomanry. Buried in GROVE TOWN CEMETERY, MEAULTE, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row C. Grave 4.
ALLAN Thomas
No further information currently available
BASTARD Charles Stafford
Private 31914, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died of wounds 19 March 1918. Aged 20. Born and enlisted Taunton. Son of Charles Henry and Constance Sarah Bastard, of Taunton. Buried in LIGNY-ST. FLOCHEL BRITISH CEMETERY, AVERDOINGT, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 32.
BATTEN Arthur Henry
Private 31886, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 12 March 1919. Aged 19. Born and resident Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Batten, of 3, Netherelay Terrace, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, and the late Alice Batten. Buried in TAUNTON (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY, Somerset. Plot II. Row B. Grave 139.
CARPENTER Henry aka Harry
Private 43721, 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Died from pneumonia 5 November 1918. Aged 22. Born and resident Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Carpenter, of 3, Mountway Lane, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in ETRETAT CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot III. Row D. Grave 2.
CAVILL Alfred James
Private 3/7264, 6th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 17 September 1915. Aged 34. Born Preston, Yeovil, enlisted Yeovil. Son of William and Elizabeth Cavill, of Bishop's Hull, Tallnton, Somerset; husband of Bessie Timbrell (formerly Cavill), of 34, Coronation Rd., Gilfach Goch, Bridgend. Buried in YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XI. Row C. Grave 27.
CRIDGE Henry William George aka Harry
Sapper 94255, 130th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Killed in action 21 May 1916. Aged 27. Born Taunton, enlisted Shepherd's Bush, Middlesex. Husband of Lucy Cridge, of 8, The Row, Galmington, nr. Taunton, Somerset. Buried in ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 24.
GILL William
Lance Corporal 8613, 8th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died of wounds 22 November 1916. Aged 27. Born Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton, resident Norton Heath. Son of Mrs. A. Daly (formerly Gill), of Galmington, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section O. Plot II. Row J. Grave 10.
GRAY Percy John
[GREY, Private on the memorial] Air Mechanic 1st Class 219793, Royal Naval Air Service from 24 August 1916 then transferred 1 April 1918 to 214th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in enemy bomb raid 6 June 1918. Born 8 November 1897 in Bishop;s Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Son of Henry Gray, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton. Coil Winder by trade. Height 5 feet 8½ inches, chest 36 inches, hair fair, eyes blue, complexion fresh. Buried in DUNKIRK TOWN CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot IV. Row B. Grave 27.

Percy John GRAY birth was registered in the October to December Quarter 1897 in the Taunton Registration District. In the 1901 census Percy GREY was the son of Henry and Sarah GRAY, aged 3, born Bishop's Hull, resident Bishop's Hull. In the 1911 a Percy GRAY was the son of Henry and Sarah GRAY, a Newspaper Boy, aged 13, born Bishop's Hull, resident 4 Hamwood Terrace, Bishop's Hull, Taunton. Percy John GRAY, born 8 November 1897 in Taunton, attested for the Royal Flying Corps 24 August 1916, and enetered the service with a service numner of 219793. At the time of enlistment he his occupation was Coil Winder. In 1917 Percy J GRAY married Gladys S Evans in the April to June Quarter in the Taunton Registration District.

KING Edgar
Private 11129, 9th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born and enlisted Minehead. Son of Mrs. M. J. Winsborough, of 17, Summerland Avenue, Minehead, Somerset. In the 1901 census Edgar KING was the 5 year old son of Mary King, a widow, born Somerset, resident Shute Water, Bishop's Hull. In the 1911 census Edgar Henry KING was unmarried, a boarder, aged 15, an Errand Boy, born Bishop's Hull, resident Hamwood Cottages, Bishop's Hull. Buried in DEVONSHIRE CEMETERY, MAMETZ, Somme, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 4.
MATTRAVERS Frederick aka Fred
Private PLY/8256, H.M.S. Indefatigable, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action at the Battle of Jutland 31 May 1916. Aged 38. Born 29 March 1878 in Bradford, Somerset. Son of Mark and Elizabeth Mattravers, of Longaller, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 18.
MELHUISH Ian Vaughan Brembridge
[Listed as Jan Vaughan Brenridge Melhuish on SDGW] Second Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 27 October 1915. Aged 23. Son of Ada Constance Melhuish, of Taunton, Somerset, and the late John Bremridge, Melhuish. Listed on the Bromsgrove School Roll of Honour. Buried in RUE-DU-BACQUEROT (13TH LONDON) GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Row 4.
PATON Bassett
No further information currently available
PERRY Walter
Private 27703, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 22 January 1918. Aged 20. Enlisted Taunton. Son of Job and Emily Perry, of 6, Court, Shuttern, Taunton. Formerly 1209, West Somerset Yeomanry. Buried in MONCHY BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row B. Grave 19.
PETERS Sidney Edward
Lance Corporal 410, 1st/1st West Somerset Yeomanry. Died in United Kingdom 15 August 1915. Aged 23. Born and enlisted Taunton, resident Bishops Hull. Son of Edward Partridge Peters and Annie Chamberlain Peters, of The Cottage, Wellington Rd., Taunton. Born at Bishop's Hull. Buried in TAUNTON (ST. MARY'S) CEMETERY, Somerset. Old ground. Grave 6324.
PRATT Edgar Charles
Lance Corporal 7941, 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Killed in action 12 May 1915. Aged 27. Born and resident Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 20.
PUGSLEY Albert Thomas
Driver 620099, 18th Brigade (Territorial Force), Royal Horse Artillery. Died in Egypt 7 June 1918. Aged 22. Born Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Annie Pugsley, of Woodlands, Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Section O. Grave 185.
RABAN Richard Bassett Cockburn
Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Duke of York's Lancers (Skinner's Horse), Indian Army attached 13th Battalion, Royal Scots. Died 11 May 1916. Aged 35. Son of the late Rev. R. C. W. Raban (Vicar of Bishop's Hull, Taunton), and Mrs. Raban. Aide-de-Camp to the King at the Delhi Durbar. Buried in VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row F. Grave 22.
ROBINSON Arthur John Henry
Second Corporal 505916, 54th Light Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers. Died 12 June 1918. Aged 24. Enlisted Taunton. Formerly 1026, West Somerset Yeomanry. Son of John and Annie Robinson, of Bishop's Hull; husband of Millicent May Robinson, of 7, Shutewater Hill, Bishop's Hull, Taunton. Buried in BAC-DU-SUD BRITISH CEMETERY, BAILLEULVAL, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row E. Grave 3
SMERDON John Geoffrey
Second Lieutenant, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) attached to 2nd/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 20 September 1917. Aged 24. Son of W. R. and Marienne E. Smerdon, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 41 to 42 and 163A.
SMITH Charles Edgar Holton
Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps attached to the 10th/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Killed in action 16 September 1916. Aged 32. Awarded the Order of St. Sava 5th Class (Serbia). Son of Charles and Ellen Smith; husband of Ethel Bertha Smith (nee Terry), of 5, Evelyn Court, Cheltenham. Buried in ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row F. Grave 15.

Extract from British Army, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918:

SMITH, CHARLES EDGAR HOLTON, L.R.C.P.S. (Edin.), L.F.P.S. (Glas.), Captain. attd. to the Highland Light Infantry, eldest s. of the late Charles Smith, of Hall. Taunton, co. Somerset, by his wife, Ellen (Rose Cottage. Wellington, co. Somerset), dau. of John Holton, of Lincoln ; b. Banbridge, co. Down, 5 June, 1884 ; educ. Lausanne ; Neuwied, and Chigwell School, co. Essex, also at the Edinburgh University, and qualifiedfor Medicine in 1911. After filling the pasts of House Surgeon and House Physician at the East Suffolk Hospital at Ipswich, and acting in 1912 as Second Surgeon of the British Red Crescent Hospital in Tripoli in the late Italo-Turkish War, he went into practice at High Green, Cannock, co Stafford ; gazetted Lieut. R.A.M.C. 1 Nov. 1914, and Capt. a year later ; was a member of the British Medical Mission to Serbia in 1915, and was awarded the Order of St. Sava, 5th class : served with the Expeditionary Force in France front 3 April, 1916, and was killed in action at Martinpuich 16 Sept. following. Buried in the Villa Wood Cemetery, Contalmaison. Colonel Pollock, A. D.M.S. 15th Division, wrote : " He was a keen and gallant officer, who did his duty thoroughly and nobly without thinking of his own safety or sparing himself in any way. His death is a great loss to this division," and Lieut.-Col. R. F. Forbes : "I can assure you his loss is keenly felt by the regiment, for since he joined us at Le Biset he has always worked hard, for any man shot came under his care, and by his attention has saved many badly wounded." Another officer wrote : " Capt.. Smith was an exceptionally gallant and efficient officer, and was extremely popular with all ranks, and his loss is very deeply felt by the battalion," and the Chaplaln : " The sad occurrence has occasioned universal regret amongst all ranks here. He was a universal favourite—for his personal qualities and for his medical skill." He was awarded the Order of St. Sava, 5th Class, by His Majesty the King of Serbia [London Gazette, 16 May, 19161, for distinguished services during tile campaign of 1915. He m. at Prestbury Parish Church, 30 Dec. 1912, Ethel Bertha (High Green, Cannock, co. Stafford), dau. of Henry Warwick Terry, and had two children: Charles .Warwick Bowman, b. 2 May, 1915 and Yvonne Muriel, b. 12 Oct. 1913.

STRICKLAND Charles
Private 15590, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 2 May 1917. Aged 22. Born Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Strickland, of Victoria Place, High St., Taunton. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4.
SWAIN Christopher Edward
Gunner 109721, 105th Battery, 22nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 28 October 1917. Born and enlisted Taunton. Buried in THE HUTS CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XII. Row D. Grave 2.
SWAIN Richard John
Private 8612, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Died of wounds 17 May 1915. Aged 29. Born Stoke St Mary, enlisted Portsmouth, resident Taunton. Son of Sarah Ann and the late Richard John Swain, of Bradford-on-Tone. Taunton, Somerset. Buried in BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VIII. Row D. Grave 10.
TROTT, MM Arthur Sholto
Private 1002, 2nd Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment. Died of disease 19 February 1917. Aged 28. Son of William Henry and Emily Trott, of 2, South View, Trulle, Taunton. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). Buried in CAPE TOWN (MAITLAND) CEMETERY, South Africa. Section 1. Grave 14286C.
WALSH Archibald Charles Mark
Second Lieutenant, "X" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Died of wounds 18 March 1915. Aged 23. Born at Hillmore Taunton. Son of the late Col. H. A. Walsh, C.B., and Mrs. Ann Pollexfen Walsh, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton. Buried in TAUNTON (ST. MARY'S) CEMETERY, Somerset. Old ground. Grave 6420.
WEAVER Reginald
Gunner 14792, "X" 51st Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 26 July 1916. Born and elinsted Taunton. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme. France. Pier and Face 1 A and 8 A
WEBBER Reginald
See below under his real name Harry Webber
WEBBER Henry George aka Harry
Private 24192, 2/5th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died in India 22 January 1919. Aged 32. Buried in CALCUTTA (BHOWANIPORE) CEMETERY, KOLKATA, India. Section H. Grave 325.
WILKINS Herbert George
Private 16890, 8th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born and enlisted Taunton, resident Bishops Hull. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 A.
WINN Clarence
Private 16618, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 1 July 1916. Aged 22. Born Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Son of Kerslake and Blanche Winn, of Somerset Place, Taunton, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 A.
WOOD Stanley
Private 25887, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 19 May 1916. Aged 20. Born Bishops Hull, enlisted Taunton. Son of William and Alice Wood, of 7, Florence Terrace, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in PERNES BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row F. Grave 10.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF BISHOPS HULL WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 -1918
AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 -1945
LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT THAT THEIR NAMES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 -1945
BARKER Arthur Robert Checkley
Major 96431, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Died 5 June 1943. Formerly Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
BOND Francis Lewis
Leading Aircraftman 1221522, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Diedm 5 May 1944. Aged 25. Son of Francis Walter and Florence Elizebeth Bond, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in DELHI WAR CEMETERY, India. Plot 7. Row K. Grave 14.
CHAMBERS Terrence Frederick Thomas
Captain IA/1013, 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, Indian Army and Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C.. Died 4 December 1942. Aged 27. Son of Thomas Smith Chambers and Edythe Chambers, of Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset. Buried in FAYID WAR CEMETERY, Egypt. Plot 1. Row C. Grave 2.
CLEMENTS William David
Captain P/63476, 55th (West Somerset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 27 March 1940. Aged 29. Son of Percy A. Clements and E. Mabel Clements, of Stone Gallows Hill, Taunton. Buried in TAUNTON (ST. MARY'S) CEMETERY, Somerset. Grave 2/2000.
FARRANT Peter Geoffrey
Lieutenant 179766, Somerset Light Infantry attached to 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died 12 August 1944. Aged 24. Son of Geoffrey Upcott Farrant and Georgina Milne Farrant, of Taunton, Somerset. Buried in ST. MANVIEU WAR CEMETERY, CHEUX, , France. Plot IX. Row G. Grave 10.
HOBBS Dennis John
Sergeant (Navigator) 1321379, 460 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 2 December 1943. Buried in BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY, Berlin, Germany. Plot 4. Row C. Grave 10.
LEGGE Albert George

Able Seaman D/J 43823, H.M.S. Matabele, Royal Navy. Died when his ship was torpedoed by U-454 17 January 1942. Aged 41. Son of Charlie and Mary Legge; husband of Florence Elsie Legge, of Bishop's Hull Within, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 18.

Note - extract from uboat.net: At 22.21 hours on 17 January 1942 HMS Matabele (G 26) (Cdr A.C. Stanford, DSC, RN), escorting convoy PQ-8, was hit by one torpedo from U-454 in the stern, which caused her magazines to blow up and the ship sank within two minutes off Kola Inlet. The survivors were unable to release the Carley floats because they were frozen in their lashings and had to jump overboard. Some of them were killed when the depth charges of the sinking destroyer detonated, but the most died of hypothermia in the icy water before they could be rescued. Only two of the four men picked up by HMS Harrier (J 71) (Capt E.P. Hinton, DSO, RN) survived.

The U-boat had reported an earlier hit on a destroyer at 18.54 hours and a previous shot that missed. All attacks were probably against the same destroyer.

MALLALIEU Geoffrey Norman Anthony William
Major 77616, 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Died 20 February 1945. Aged 26. Son of Lt.-Col. William Mallalieu and Dorothy Maud Mary Greenwell Mallalieu, of Taunton, Somerset; husband of Patricia Mallalieu. Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Plot 57. Row B. Grave 15.
SIBLEY Paul
Sapper 2074593, 672 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers. Died 19 July 1943. Aged 38. Son of Ernest Edward and Annie Elizabeth Sibley, of Taunton. Buried North of the church in NORTON FITZWARREN (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Somerset.
STARK Charles
Lance Corporal 5676775, 2nd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Died 12 May 1944. Aged 27. Buried in CASSINO WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot XI. Row D. Grave 1.
WEBBER Gerald [Henry]
Lance Corporal 2662584, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died between 29 and 30 January 1944. Aged 31. Son of Henry George and Bessie Webber, of Bishop's Hull, Somerset. Buried in MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot IV. Row B. Grave 15.

Last updated 29 December, 2015

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