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Werrington.

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Werrington Church c.1900.
St. Martins Church, Werrington c.1900.

Werrington is a civil parish and former manor now in Cornwall, England, formerly before 1974 boundary changes, within the county of Devon. It is situated 1 mile to the west of the River Tamar, the traditional boundary between Devon and Cornwall, and 2 miles north of Launceston.

The churches of Werrington and St Giles, had the status of chapelries in the Middle Ages; the impropriators of the churches of North Petherwin (Tavistock Abbey) and St Stephen’s by Launceston (Launceston Priory). A settlement of the dispute was made in 1500 in favour of the priory which undertook the cost of a resident chaplain to serve both Werrington and St Giles. The original site of the parish church of St Martin was in Werrington Park but it was re-built much to the disgust of parishioners, in 1742 on a new site in the Gothic style; the tower is from the old church. The front in the earliest Gothic Revival style suggests that the architect could have been William Kent. There are two fonts: one is plain and Norman and the other contemporary with the rebuilding. There is a peal of eight bells.

Transcriptions of Memorial Inscriptions by Glenda Mattes

One memorial in the Church depicts how fragile life once was in the parish during the mid 19th Century where George and Ann Benoy losing five of their children to a cholera epidemic in 1842:

The Benoy children who died in a cholera epidemic 

William Benoy who died August 28th 1842, aged 14 years  Thomas Benoy who died September 1st 1842, aged 8 years  Thomazin Benoy who died September 2nd 1842, aged 11 years  Jane Benoy who died September 3rd 1842, aged 16 years  John Benoy who died September 4th 1842, aged 4 years  The children of George and Ann Benoy of this parish  No more with tears will we our loss deplore   But bow to God his sovereign will adore  Be this our prayer our lips our hearts all one  Almighty Father let thy will be done.  This stone was erected by William Colwill in remembrance of his sister’s children  November 1842 

Werrington School was built and owned by the Duke of Northumberland and originally opened on October 2nd 1848 for boys only. They paid a penny to sixpence a week for their education. In the first year there were thirty four pupils on the register.   By 1873 the building had been enlarged and two schools were operating, one for boys and one for girls.   The cost of running the schools was met by subscriptions from the local landowners and occupiers. By 1876 the two schools had merged and became a board school.

Werrington School c.1900.
Werrington School c.1900.

Werrington House and Park.

Werrington House (below) or more importantly the occupiers played a major part in the history of Launceston and its surrounding area.

werrington-house-werrington-launceston    werrington-park-photo-courtesy-of-gary-lashbrook

A summary of the descent of the manor of Werrington was as follows:

Crown
Before the Norman Conquest of 1066, the manor of Werrington, in the hundred of Black Torrington,was a possession of Gytha of Wessex (died 1098 or 1107), the mother of King Harold (d.1066). In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as Ulvredintone. Tavistock Abbey
In about 1066-8 she gave it to Tavistock Abbey, which held it until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Russell
At the Dissolution of the Monasteries Werrington was granted in 1540, together with most of the other possessions of Tavistock Abbey, by King Henry VIII to John Russell, 1st Baron Russell (1485-1555)(later 1st Earl of Bedford). Russell sold the manor to Edward Woodward and Henry and Bartholomew Lucas.

Drake
It was acquired in 1620 by Sir Francis Drake, 1st Baronet (1588-1637), of Buckland Monachorum in Devon, nephew of the famous Admiral Sir Francis Drake (d.1596). In 1631 he obtained a royal licence to empark lands in Werrington and St. Stephen by Launceston and later rebuilt the manor house. In 1649 Sir Francis Drake, 2nd Baronet (1617-1662) purchased the nearby manor of Launceston and the borough of Newport in the parish of St. Stephen, and moved his main residence to Buckland Monachorum, whereupon he sold Werrington to Sir William Morice.

Morice.
The estate was sold in 1651to Sir William Morice (1602-1676), Secretary of State to King Charles II, who also purchased from the Drake family the manor of Launceston. The present mansion, today known as Werrington Park was built by one of his descendants in the 1730’s, possibly to the design of William Kent, which involved the demolition and re-siting of the parish church of St Martin which as previously stated, caused much upset amongst the parishioners. In fact legend has it that a curse was placed upon the Morice family.

Percy
The manor with 11,000 acres was purchased in 1775 by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1714–1786), who further embellished the interior. He also purchased all the outlying tenements in Newport and much property in the borough of Launceston.

Various 1864-1882
Between 1864 and 1882 Werrington passed through a succession of brief ownerships. In 1864 Werrington was purchased by Alexander Hey Campbell, a Manchester merchant, MP for Launceston from 1865 to 1868. In 1868 he sold it to William Wentworth Fitzwilliam Dick, of County Wicklow, Ireland, who sold it in 1871 to Col. James Henry Deakin I (1823–1880), a Manchester merchant, briefly Member of Parliament for Launceston, who was succeeded in that seat by his son James Henry Deakin II (1851–1881). During this period much of the peripheral lands and properties of the estate were sold off.

Williams 1862-present
The estate was acquired in 1882 by John Charles Williams (1861-1939) of Caerhays Castle, who renovated the house, including a re-modelling of the East Range. The family still hold the guardianship of the Manor and its estate to this day. With Mrs. J. C. Williams in charge, the house was turned over to the Red Cross during the First World War, officially opening on January 5th, 1915 and running throughout the war until its demobilization on March 28th, 1919. This hospital took over from the earlier hospital in the Launceston Town Hall.

Red Cross Hospital, Werrington House which was demobilized on March 28th, 1919.
Red Cross Hospital, Werrington House which was demobilized on March 28th, 1919.

Werrington Gallery.


A Recruitment Parade at Yeolmbridge in 1916.
A Recruitment Parade at Yeolmbridge in 1916.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD  AND IN MEMORY OF THE  MEN OF THIS PARISH  WHO FELL IN THE WAR  1914‐1919 

WILLIAM EARLE ‐ PTE 8th Canadian Rifles, 20 May 1915, France

ROBERT WILLIAMS ‐ 2nd Lt 3rd Grenadier Guards, 9 Oct 1915, France

JACK DUNN LILLECRAPP ‐ PTE 9th Canadian Mid Rfls, 11 Jan 1916, England

JOHN FRANCIS WILLIAMS ‐ Lt HMS Russell, 27 April 1916, Mediterranean

HARRY JESSUP ‐ PTE 2nd Grenadier Guards, 25 Sept 1916, France

ALFRED HORELL ‐ PTE 2/4th DCLI, 26 Oct 1916, India

CLAUDE BASKERVILLE ‐ PTE 1st DCLI, 12 Feb 1917, France

SAMUEL BROWN ‐ Stoker Petty Officer RN, 26 May 1917, England

WILLIAM GEORGE BENOY ‐ PTE 1/5th Essex Regt, 19 Sept 1918, Palestine

JOHN THOMAS BAKER ‐ PTE 78th Div USA Exp Force, 21 Oct 1918, France

WILFRED JOHN VANSTONE ‐ LSHMS Bombardier, 27 March 1919, North Sea

JAMES PEARCE ‐ MD Regt 1st Worcs, 4 July 1919, India

The above Memorial stands on the North wall of the church about midway.

There is in Werrington Primary School a war memorial plaque on which is inscribed:

To the Memory of Old Boys of This School who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918.

W. Earle; B Mutton; A. C. Horrell; C Baskerville; H Jessup; G Tucker; T Hawke; J. D. Lillicrap; J. T. Baker; H. S. Gerry; W. G. Benoy; W. J. Vanstone; S Brown; J Pearce; W Hawkell.

Those from Werrington that served their country during World War One.
Ernest Ayres
Ernest was born in 1893 to Joseph and Mary Ayres at Yeolmbridge. His Father was a Quarryman. He served with the 3rd Devon Battery.
William John Ayres
William was the elder brother to Ernest being born in 1886 at Trewithick, St. Stephens. He attended Werrington school at Ladycross. I have no information on his Regiment or when he enlisted but he was serving as a Private and was wounded in August of 1916.
 
Charles Allen
Charles was born on the 28th of September 1893 to Samuel and Mary Allen at Bridgetown, Werrington. His Father was a Ordinary Agricultural Labourer. On leaving school Charles went to work for Mr. William Rowland at Bridgetown Farm, Werrington as a Cattleman. Charles joined the Royal Navy (Service No. M10733) on the 9th of December 1914. He spent much of his service in and out of Hospital with illness but survived the War.
John Thomas Baker 

With thanks to John’s great nephew Nick Stephens for the extra information. 

John Thomas Baker
John Thomas Baker
John was born in 1896 to William and Ann Baker at Ladycross, Werrington. His father worked ona farm as a horseman. On leaving school, John went to work for Bessie Burt at Radford Farm, Werrington. The family were Methodists, attending the Wesleyan Chapel at Ladycross.  He then emigrated to American in the spring of 1914, joining his elder brother William. After America joined the war, John enlisted at Minnesota in June 1918, as a Private with the 312th Infantry of the 78th Division of the U.S.A. Expeditionary Force. After training he arrived with his Division in England in the September of 1918 before proceeding to France. He was killed when a shell landed near him on October 21st, 1918 in France. Corporal Frank E. Lacy also of the 312th Infantry and from Brooklyn, New York had this to say:
“On about the 22nd October, 1918 Private Baker was a member of a ration carrying detail with me. We had not gone far when the enemy started to shell the area over which we had to cross. When we reached cover in the woods, we stopped for a short time just before coming to a cross road. We thought we could rush across, but a shell landed right in front of us, fragments striking Private Baker, and he passed away almost instantly, leaving no personal message. This occurred in the Bois de Negremont near Grand Pre, France.”
John was interred in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon (Meuse) France, Grave 5, Row 12, Block E. A memorial service was held on Sunday, January 13th, 1919 at the Ladycross Wesleyan Chapel officiated by the Rev. C. M. Draper.
 
F Baker
There is no information available except that he served with the 1st Devon Yeomanry.
F Batten
There is no information available except that he joined the Royal Navy serving aboard ‘HMS Stannch’.
Claude Baskerville
Claude was born in 1887 at Werrington to William and Emma Jane Baskerville at Bullapit, Werrington. His Father was a Gamekeeper. Claude was living in the Camborne area with his wife, Margretta (nee Parnell) and two children and working as a Carpenter when he enlisted with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry as a Private (Regimental No. 26267) in June 1916. Serving with the 1st Battalion of the D.C.L.I. in the 95th Brigade of the 5th Division, Claude embarked for France in October of 1916. He was killed in action on  February 12th, 1917. Claude was interred in the Gorre British and Indian Cemetery,  Pas de Calais, France, Plot 3, Row C, Grave 11. He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour. At the time of his death, his wife and family were living at Rose Cottage, Camborne. 
Fred William Baskerville
Fred was Claude’s elder brother being born in 1894 to William and Emma Jane Baskerville at Tetcott. His Father was a Gamekeeper. On leaving school Fred worked as a Under Gamekeeper. Fred enlisted with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Regimental No. 4299/201223) as a Private.
John Benoy
John was born in 1892 to George and Bessie Benoy at Yeolmbridge. His Father was a Miller’s Carter. I cannot find any details of his military records.
Percy Milford Benoy
Percy was born on the 28th of February 1894 to Issac and Emma Benoy at Bridgetown, Werrington. His Father was an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer but by 1911 worked as a Roadman. Percy on leaving school took up his apprenticeship in Drapery. He enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment (Regimental No. 266766) as a Private. Surviving the war he married Ethel Fry at Barnstaple in 1928. He died in 1977 at Barnstaple.
William George Benoy
William was born in 1889 to George and Bessies Benoy at Yeolmbridge. His father was a Millers Labourer. On leaving school, William went to work on the Werrington Estate as an Estate Labourer. He was a Private with the 1/5th Regiment of the Essex (Regimental No. 56315) serving with the 161st (Essex) Brigade in 54th (East Anglian) Division. With the 54th Division, William saw action at Gallipoli after landing there in August 1915. After this campaign was abandoned in December 1915, the Division were transferred to Egypt where they were immediately involved in the Senussi Campaign, marching out to replace the New Zealand Rifle Brigade guarding the coast railway from Alexandria to Da’aba. The Essex battalions were relieved from this duty on March 4th, 1916. In early 1917, 161st Brigade crossed the Sinai Desert to take part in the Palestine Campaign. It was engaged at all three Battles of Gaza. As well as battle casualties, the whole brigade suffered considerably from influenza during November–December 1917 and throughout 1918. The weakened brigade was mainly engaged in line-holding until September 1918. The 54th Division returned to the offensive for the Battle of Megiddo (September 19th-25th 1918), which finally broke the Turkish resistance. William was killed during the preliminary exchanges of this battle on September 18th, 1918. His body was never identified but he is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza), Panels 32 to 38. He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial. At the time of his death, his sister, Mrs. E. M. Cole, was living at The Village, Boyton.
Amos Brown
Amos was born in 1889 to William and Mary Ann Brown at Yeolmbridge. His Father was a Labourer on the Werrington Estate. Amos worked as a Agricultural Labourer. There is no information on his military service, but there is an Amos Brown that died in 1916.
Samuel Brown
Samuel was born in 1870 to George and Eliza Brown at Down Hayse, Werrington. His Father had been an Agricultural Labourer but was listed in the 1881 census as being an Afflicted Pauper with Eliza working as a Charwoman. Samuel joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker (Service Number 152101) sometime in the 1880’s. He left the Royal Navy in 1911 but was recalled at the onset of the war and served for 16 months in the West Indies. He returned to Devonport in September of 1916 by now a Petty Officer Stoker. He was taken unwell in May of 1917 and died at the Royal Naval Hospital on May 26th, 1917, aged 48. He was buried with full naval honours at Plymouth Ford Park Cemetery, Plot S, Row 5, Grave 11, on May 29th, 1917. At the time hew was serving aboard ‘HMS Vivid‘ which was the Navy barracks at Devonport. He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial.
Stoker Samuel Brown
Stoker Samuel Brown
Thomas Brown
Thomas was the brother of Samuel above and was born in 1875. He also joined the Royal Navy serving aboard ‘HMS Blake’.
C Davey
There is no information available except that he served with the 1st Devon Yeomanry.
Alfred Duke
Alfred was born in 1891 to Benjamin and Ellen Duke at Calvanna, Yeolmbridge. His Father was a Under Gamekeeper. On leaving school he worked for Mr. James Walters at Peppers Hill Farm, Yeolmbridge. There is no information on his military record except that he was part of Kitchener’s Army.
William Earle
William was born in 1888 to John and Matilda (nee  Barriball) Earle at Druxton Cottage, Werrington. His father was a Farm Labourer. Having emigrated to Canada, he found work as a Chauffeur. He served with the 8th Canadian Rifles part of  2nd Canadian Brigade, 1st Canadian Division and was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres on May 20th, 1915 in France. His body was never identified but his name is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. He is also commemorated on the Birtle War Memorial, Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial.
The division moved to the Ypres Salient in April 1915, and faced its first real test during the defence of St. Julien beginning on April 22nd. The Canadians withstood German attack—aided, for the first time on the Western Front, by the use of poison gas—and finally retired to secondary positions on April 26th, where they held on until May 4th. The Second Battle of Ypres, as the overall action came to be known, cost the infantry brigades some 5,506 men. Two weeks later, the division was in action again at Festubert. Aiding in a diversionary offensive by the British armies, the Canadians suffered 2,204 casualties for gains of only 600 yards. Another futile attack was launched at Givenchy-en-Gohelle in June 1915, after which the division moved to Ploegsteert. 
J Edwards
There is no information available except that he served with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry.
Walter Henry Finnamore
Walter was born in 1905 to Walter and Martha Jane Finnemore at Launceston. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery (Regimental No. 776663).
William Hammond Furze
William was born in 1892 to Thomas and Ellen Furze at Bullapit, Werrington. His Father was a General Farm Labourer. On leaving school he worked as a General Farm Labourer and in 1911 he was living at Copthorne, North Petherwin with his wife Mary Grace. He served with the 1st Devon Yeomanry.
Hedley Samuel Gerry
Hedley was born at Werrington in 1894 to William and Mary Gerry. His father worked in the slate quarry at Yeolmbridge. On leaving school Hedley became a farm labourer and in the 1911 census was recorded as being a cattleman.  Hedley enlisted as a Private with the Somerset Light Infantry (Regimental No. 15075) serving with the 1st Battalion. He was killed in action on July 1st, 1916 during the Battle Of Albert which was part of the Battle of the Somme. His body was never identified, but his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 2 A, and on the Werrington School Roll of Honour. At the time of his death his mother, then a widow, was living at Portgate, Lifton. 
The British and French Army attacked to the south of the Albert to Bapaume road were very successful, inflicting a considerable defeat to the German Second Army. However, north of the Albert to Bapaume road, the British attack was a catastrophe and constituted most of the 60,000 casualties on the first day of the battle.
H Gotto
There is no information available other than he enlisted as a Lieutenant with the 1st Devonshire Regiment gaining promotion to Captain by 1916. In August of 1916 he was slightly wounded. He was possibly related to the Coode family of Polapit Tamar.
F Harris
Either Francis born 1887 at Clawton to Frederick and Ann Harris or Fred born 1893 at Ashwater to James and Mary Harris.
T. Hawke
Nothing is know except that he is commemorated on the Werrington School Roll of Honour.
W. Hawkell
Nothing is know except that he is commemorated on the Werrington School Roll of Honour.

Charles John Hilson

Charlie Hilson.
Charlie Hilson.

Charles was born November 10th, 1887 to Thomas and Ellen Hilson at the West Lodge, Werrington. His father, having been born in Little Staughton, Bedfordshire, was the gamekeeper for the Williams family at Werrington Park. By 1911 Charles was working as a head gamekeeper (possibly for General Arthur Sandbach) and boarding at lodgings in Pontdeilade, Llanfechain. Montgmomeryshire, Wales. He volunteered in 1914 and joined the Royal Artillery (Service No. 966499), fought through the whole war,was mentioned in despatches and received a citation from the King for actions above and beyond the call of duty,signed by Churchill, he actually went alone into no mans land and carried back a wounded officer, he was discharged (sickness 392 (xvia)) at the end with the rank of Acting Battery Quarter Master Sergeant. After the war, Charles took up a post as head gamekeeper in Lancashire and only moved back to Cornwall on his father’s death in 1929. He took over the running of the family farm at Trossell Farm, North Petherwin before selling up and retiring in 1946. During the second world war, Charles had been a member of the North Petherwin Homeguard. Charles died in 1975 at Launceston.

Alfred Cooper Horrell

Alfred was born 1896 to Alfred and Blanche Eliza Ransom at Warbstow. On leaving school Alfred served his apprenticeship as a General Printer. At the outset of the war he enlisted as a Private in the 2/4th Battalion of the D.C.L.I. (Service No. 4935). The Battalion sailed for India on December 12th, 1915 and remained there throughout the war. They arrived at Karachi on January 9th, 1915 coming under the orders of 1st Quetta Brigade in 4th (Quetta) Division. They then moved in October 1915 to Multan Brigade in 3rd (Lahore) Divisonal Area. In March 1916, the Battalion transferred to Ferozepore Brigade in same Area. He died of dysentery whilst serving in India on October 26th, 1916. He was interred in the Amritsar Cantonment Cemetery, India, Grave 411. He is commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial in Mumbai (Bombay) Maharashtra, India, Plot: Face 5.  He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial. At the time of his death, Alfred’s parents were living at Wringsdown, Yeolmbridge. 

Harry Samuel Jessup
Harry was born in 1895 to Henry and Alice Jessup at Bradden, Towcester, Northants. His Father was a Coachman. On leaving school he came to Cornwall to work for Mr. Richard Carlyon Coode of Polapit Tamar House, as a 2nd Footman. He enlisted at London with the Grenadier Guards as a GDSN (Regimental No. 16340) serving with the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Guards Brigade/Guards Division. During the Battle of the Somme in August 1916 the Battalion were on the front line in front of Beaumont-Hamel. From there they were in action on August 31st in the  Carnoy / Bernafay Wood area and then through September they saw action at Meaulte, Carnoy, and in the front line near Ginchy. On the night of September 13th/14th the Battalion took part in a night attack and captured an orchard North of Ginchy. They followed this up on the 15th with an attack towards Lesboeufs finishing up on the 16th in the Fricourt sector. The following days saw the Battalion at Bernafay Wood before they were part of the successful attack and capture of Lesboeufs on September 25th. It was during this attack that Harry was killed. (There is some discrepancy with his records as he was listed as being missing on November 9th, 1916, but was later recorded on the 24th to have been just wounded). His body was never identified but his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 8 D.  He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial. At the time of his death, his parents were living at  5, Meadow Villas, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berks.

On September 14th, field gunners behind the line saw British artillery bombardments falling on German defences along the Ginchy–Gueudecourt road and Gallwitz Riegel (the Gird Trenches). On September 15th, the British used tanks for the first time in the Battle of Flers–Courcelette and an extraordinary vehicle was engaged by Field Artillery Regiment 78, which hit the vehicle and then shot down the crew as they emerged. From the gun positions of Field Artillery Regiment 77, German infantry were seen to retire towards Lesbœufs, which left the road towards the artillery unprotected. British infantry were engaged but they reached Flers and by 11:30 a.m., outflanked the gunners who retired to Gueudecourt, as the British emerged from Ginchy, Delville Wood and Flers and advanced towards Lesbœufs but the efforts of the artillery with remaining field guns managed to prevent the British from overrunning Gallwitz Riegel.
Small parties from the Guards Division advanced on Lesbœufs and eventually took cover in a trench for several hours, before falling back during a German counter-attack. For several hours the village had been unoccupied but no British reserves were left, after the great number of casualties inflicted on the 56th, 6th and Guards divisions earlier in the day, many caused by a decision to leave tank lanes in the British barrage, which left several German machine-gun nests undamaged. Few lanes were used by the tanks, most of which broke down early or were knocked out. The Guards Division eventually dug in short of the final objective, west of the Gird Trenches in front of Lesbœufs. (Source Wikipedia)

After a short respite from the battle on the 15th the Division was back in the line at Lesboeufs on  September 21st. On September 25th they were sent into the attack following a creeping barrage. The 2nd Battalion achieved their objective in capturing Lesboeufs in a ‘thoroughly well planned and admirably conducted feat of arms which reflected the greatest credit upon every unit in the Division.’ However they went through a field of standing crops which concealed uncut wire. The men were ordered to lie down while four officers took the very great risk of going forward to clear the way with wire cutters. They were Capt A K S Cunninghame, 2nd Lt G A Arbuthnot, Lt W A D Parnell and Lt A F Irvine. Cunninghame, Arbuthnot and Parnell were killed and Irvine was wounded. But the way was clear for the battalion to charge the first objective. The enemy position was strongly held and the Grenadiers were badly mauled. Lt H G Wiggins was killed by a shell and also Lt M A Knatchbull-Hugessen after he had operated a Lewis gun with great effect while wounded and covered in blood. For the second objective there were only two company officers left and the leadership was mostly down to the sergeants who carried out the work with great efficiency and were highly praised later by the CO Lt Col Champion de Crespigny. Many Germans emerged from their subterranean passages and surrendered, enabling the battalion to move on to the third objective which was taken with comparative ease. They established themselves 100 yards east of Lesboeufs, with the Irish Guards on their left and the 1st West Yorks in the 5th Division on their right.
Arrangements had been made for the artillery barrage to be put down 200 yards east of the final objective, but the position of the trench was marked differently on the artillery and infantry maps, and the shells fell short. This not only caused a good many casualties amongst the men who were digging in, but also prevented the attacking force from pushing forward patrols and occupying the best ground for observation. A furious message was sent back by Capt Bailey: “Our artillery are blowing us out. Please stop it at once.” But either the message did not get through or the maps were so inaccurate that the order was not understood, the barrage continued for nearly 2 hours. When the firing did stop it was found that there were no Germans in front as they were retreating towards Le Transloy having abandoned equipment and rifles. Ponsonby’s history of the regiment gives the same figure of 108 killed in the 2nd Battalion as in the attack on 15 Sep. But the wounded numbered 222 with 12 missing. (Source www.britishempire.co.uk)

John Henry Jasper

John was born in 1895 to William and Elizabeth Jasper at Eggebeare Cottage, Werrington. His Father was an Agricultural Labourer. On leaving school John went to work for Mr. William Bluett at Bridgetown, Werrington as a Farm Waggoner. The only record I can find towards his military record places him first with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry (Regimental No. 200778) as a Sergeant then he received a transfer to the Machine Gun Corps (Regimental No. 114168) also as a Sergeant. He was wounded in 1917 but survived the war and lived until 1977 when he passed away at Launceston.
F Kent
It is believe this to be Frederick Thomas Kent who served with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry as a Sergeant. (Regimental No’s. 4334, 201251).
Jack Dunn Lillecrapp
Jack was born on October 18th, 1894 to John Burt and Ellen Vercoe Lillecrapp at Netherbridge farm, Werrington. His Father was a Farmer. He was educated first at Werrington School then Horwell boys Grammar School then finally at the Wesleyan Secondary School at Truro. He emigrated to Canada in the spring of 1913 and worked as a Rancher but with the outbreak of the War he enlisted with the Canadian Mounted Rifles 9th Division (Regimental No. 114836). Jack contracted Meningitis and was placed in Aldershot Hospital. He died on January 11th, 1916 just a week after his Father passed away. He was interred at St Martins and Giles Church, Werrington. Jack is commemorated on the Central Methodist and Truro School rolls of honour.  He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial, Werrington School Roll of Honour.  and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
B Mutton
No information available although he is remembered on the Werrington School Roll of Honour.
W Pawlin
Possibly the William who was born in 1889 to Henry and Cherry Pawlin at North Tregeare, Tresmeer. His Father was a Farmer. He was with the Royal Marine Artillery.
James Pearce
James was born in 1890 at Dawlish. He is shown to be living in both the 1891 and 1901 census at Yeolmbridge with his Widowed Grandmother Mary Ann Shapton and her daughter Amelia Shapton. He served with the Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion but later transferred to the Worcester Regiment serving as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served with the 1st Garrison Battalion being posted to India.  He died of heatstroke whilst serving in India on July 4th, 1919. He left a widow, Frances Pearce of Stoke Damerel. His name is commemorated on the Karachi Memorial, Pakistan. He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial .
T Richards
This could possibly be Tom Allan Richards who was born in 1891 to William and Annie Richards (nee Cudlipp) at Launceston. His Father was a Tailor. He enlisted with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Regimental No. 19675).
Sampson
No information available.
H Sandercock
No information available.
Harry Saunders
Harry was born in 1884 at Broadwoodwidger. He is listed as living at Yeolmbridge with his wife Maud Mary in the 1911 census and was working as a General Estate Labourer. He served with the 1st Devonshire Yeomanry.
Harold Smith
Harold was born one of eleven children in 1891 to Walter and Charity Smith at Wharf Cottage, Crossgate, Werrington. His Father had been a Wharfinger but by 1911 was a Farmer. I have not been able to find any information on his military record.
Percy Edwin Smith
Percy was the elder brother of Harold being born in 1889. On leaving school he worked for his Father on the farm. I have no information on his Regiment or when he joined, but he was a Private being wounded in August 1916.
Percival H Soper
Percival was born in 1888 to Thomas and Mary Soper at Yeolmbridge. His Father was a Farm Manager. He enlisted with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry as a Private (Regimental No. 3934) serving with the 5th Battalion.
Frederick Stanbury
Frederick was born in 1886 at Thornbury, Holsworthy to William and Mary Stanbury. His Father was a Farmer at Ham Mill, Werrington. Fred worked on his Father’s farm before enlisting with the Devonshire Regiment (Regimental No. 2785) serving with the 1st Battalion.
Harold Stoneman
Harold was born in 1897 to Henry and Mary Stoneman at Ham Mill, Werrington. His Father was a Cattleman. Harold enlisted with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry on the 4th of May 1915 as a Private (Regimental No. 2696) serving with the 4th Battalion. He was wounded whilst in battle in 1916 and was discharged as being (paragraph 392 of the Kings regulations (xvi)) no longer physically fit for service on the 26th of January 1917. He died in 1967 at Plymouth.
Frederick James Tilley
Frederick was born in 1888 to Charles and Margaret Tilley at Turnpike road, Ludgvan, Penzance. His Father was a Farmer. He was working for his cousin John Mann at Cullacott Leat, Werrington in 1911 as a Waggoner on the farm. He enlisted with the Devon Yeomanry (Regimental No. 1975) on the 18th of March 1911 serving with the Territorial Force and attended all the training camps for the next four years. He was immediately called up on the announcement of war. During 1917 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Regimental No. 233475) as a Driver. He saw service at Gallipoli with the Devons and France with the 74th Division Signal Corps of the Royal Engineers. He was de-mobbed on the 25th of January 1919.
Frederick John E Titball
Frederick was born in 1873 to John and Mary Titball at Pinslow, St. Giles on the Heath. His Father was an Agricultural Labourer. He was working for Mr. John Harris at East Panson Farm, St. Giles on the Heath as a Farm Servant. He married Mary Ann Gilbert at Bideford in 1891.
He enlisted with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry as a Private (Regimental No’s. 14510/ 240103). He survived the war and passed away in 1956.
William Harold Toms
Harold as he was called was born in 1893 to William and Annabella Toms at Yeolmbridge Post Office. His Father was the local Postman. On leaving school Harold went to work as a Clerk at Tavistock Post Office. He enlisted in 1912 with the Territorial Force of the Royal Filed Artillery as a Corporal (Regimental No. 1150) serving with 1/3rd Devon Battalion. He was immediately called up at the outbreak of war. In May of 1918 he was transferred as a Sergeant to the Royal Field Artillery Unit / Battalion 63rd RN Divisional Ammunition Column (Regimental No. 865582).
He was demobbed on the 16th of July 1919.
George Tucker
George Tucker
George Tucker
George was born in 1897 to Thomas and Caroline Tucker at East Druxton Farm, Werrington. His Father was a Farmer. On leaving school he worked on his Father’s farm at Pinslow, St. Giles. George was a member of the United Methodist Church at Bridgetown. He enlisted with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a private (Regimental No. 285191) serving with the 1/1st Bucks Battalion of the 145th Brigade in 48th (South Midland) Division. In one battle when his great friend and companion Private Percy Mondon (285182) , of Broadwood fell wounded at his side, he carried him, amid shot and shell, to a dugout, and stood by him until commanded to advance again. In January, 1917, after a spell in the trenches at Le Sars, the Battalion took over the line at Biaches, south of the Somme, and from there took part in the advance through Peronne towards the Hindenburg Line, carrying out a brilliant night attack in pouring rain at Tombois Farm. The chaplain said of this action: “Private Tucker played the part of a real hero and his presence and help to the wounded that day was invaluable.” In June the Battalion made several successful raids in the Havrincourt Sector. During fighting in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), George was killed instantaneously by a shell blast near Broodseinde on October 3rd, 1917. Although his body was interred the same day the grave was never identified, but his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cott Memorial,  West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 96 to 98 and also on the Werrington Primary School Roll of Honour.
The commanding officer said: “Pte G. Tucker was a brave fellow and one of the very best men we had. I can assure you he is a great loss to us all.” 
Charles Percival Vanstone
Charles was born in 1897 to Benjamin and Mary Vanstone at the School House, Lady cross, Werrington. His Father was the local School Master. He enlisted in 1914 with the Royal Engineers (Regimental No. 28800) serving with the 171st Field Company as a Sapper. He was wounded twice during the war the first time in August 1915. He wrote  of his experience at Pilkem in the July of that year; “In getting a (18 pounder)gun across the canal (Yaer Canal), we had 11 wounded and 3 killed out of 20 of us, so you can guess what it was like.” The officer in charge was awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry. Charles was again wounded this time in the hip, during an attack on enemy trenches on April 17th, 1916. He recovered and survived the war and led a long life passing away in 1979 at the age of 82.
Sapper C P Vanstone Wounded April 1916
Sapper C P Vanstone Wounded April 1916
Wilfred John Vanstone
Wilfred was Charles’s (above) elder brother born on  December 16th 1888 at Plymouthto Benjamin and Mary Vanstone. His Father was the local School Master. He joined the Royal Navy (Service No. 232533) in 1914 as a leading seaman and was serving aboard the ‘HM Trawler Bombardier’ when he died on March 27th, 1919 in the North Sea. It is presumed that his death was due to an accident as four other sailors perished that same day all listed as having drowned. His body was never recovered but his name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval memorial, memorial reference: 31.  He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial. At the time of his death, Wilfred’s parents were living at Ladycross, Werrington.
In June, 1915, the Germans had extended their minelaying to the White Sea, where Archangel was being used as a port for supplying our Russian allies with munitions and stores. Six trawlers were fitted out at Lowestoft with a couple of supply ships, the latter carrying stores for three months. Each of the trawlers was armed with a 12-pounder gun, and one, the leader, had wireless telegraphy. They were the Bombardier, Sir Mark Sykes, T.R.Ferrens, Granton, Lord Denman and St Cyr. Source Swept Channels by Taffrail Captain Taprell Dorling
W Warne
No information available except that he served with the 1st Devon Yeomanry.
D Wenham
No information available except that he served with the R.G.A. In India.
Alfred Martyn Williams
Alfred was born on the 14th of May 1897 to John Charles and Mary C Williams at Caerhayes Castle, St. Austell. His father was the Squire of Werrington estate. He joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman and at the Wars beginning was serving aboard the ‘HMS Euryalus’. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his gallantry during the landings in the Dardanelles.
Charles Williams
Charles was born 1887 o John Charles and Mary C Williams at Werrington House. His father was the Squire of Werrington estate. Charles was destined for the world of politics and was the unionist candidate for the Truro-Helston division before the war interupted his career. He served as a Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Navy during the war. He served at Antwerp with the Royal Naval Division before seeing service in the Dardanelles where he was invalided home with dysentery.
John Francis Williams

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Sub-Lieutenant John Francis Williams
John Francis Williams

John was born in 1892 to John Charles and Mary C Williams at Caerhayes Castle, St. Austell. His father was the Squire of Werrington estate. He joined the Royal Navy in 1904 as a Cadet, he gained promotion to Midshipman in 1909 and to a Lieutenant in January 1913.
In February 193 he was appointed to the ‘HMS Lord Nelson’ before being transferred to ‘HMS Russell’. When he was a Sub-Lieutenant of the St. George flotilla, he was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society on July 15th, 1912, for gallantry in rescuing a stoker who fell overboard from a launch in the Stour, off Parkstone, on the night of  May 28th, 1912. He was killed when serving aboard ‘HMS Russell’ which hit a mine in the Mediterranean just off Malta on April 27th, 1916. His body was never  recovered but his name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, memorial reference: 15. He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial.

HMS Russell was a Duncan-class pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy commissioned in 1903. She was one of six Duncan-class battle ships ordered in 1899 in response to French and Russian ship-building programmes. Shortly after entering service she was made obsolescent by the introduction of Dreadnaught-class battleships.
Russell served in a number of stations before being placed in the reserve in 1913. When World War I broke out in 1914 she was assigned to the Grand Fleet and worked with the fleet’s cruisers. In November 1915 she was sent to the Mediterranean to support the Dardanelles Campaign.
On April 27th, 1916 she was sailing off Malta when she struck two mines laid by a German submarine. 125 men were lost from her crew of 700. Source Wikipedia

Robert Williams
Robert was born in 1888 to John Charles and Mary C Williams at Werrington House. His father was the Squire of Werrington estate. His education was geared for a career in the army and after he left Cambridge he went straight to Sandhurst with the intention of qualifying for a commission in the Grenadier Guards. Owing to bad health, however, he gave up his studies and did not sit his final examination, it being then considered that he would not pass the medical test for entrance in the army. On leaving Sandhurst Robert commenced to study politics and after a time decided to follow his elder brother Charles into the political world and before he had been adopted as Conservative candidate for the Cleveland division of Yorkshire. When war broke out Robert offered his own services and his motor car for duty at the front, and in a civil capacity he did valuable work in conveying wounded soldiers to hospital and taking staff officers about. When he had worn one car out he returned home, and then went across to the front with another, which also wore out. On returning the second time Robert sought a commission with the Grenadier Guards and on April 3rd, 1915 he was gazetted to the regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards of the Guards Division, forming part of the 1st Guards Brigade, as a Second Lieutenant and was killed whilst in charge of a maxim gun section on October 8th, 1915 whilst fighting during the Battle of Loos. He was interred in the Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Plot 1, Row L, Grave 41.  He is also commemorated on the Yeolmbridge Roll of Honour and the St Martin’s Church War Memorial.
In August 1915 the Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion transferred to the Guards Division, forming part of the 1st Guards Brigade. In September 1915, the brigade took part in the Battle of Loos (September 26th – October 8th) and Hohenzollern Redoubt ( October 18th – 19th). The Germans made several attempts to recapture the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which they accomplished on October 3rd. Relieved from the Loos sector by 12th Division on 3rd October, the Guards Division had moved to the Auchy-les-Mines sector to prepare for an offensive against the Hohenzollern Redoubt when the Germans staged their counter-attack on 8th October. The Germans attempted to recapture much of the remaining lost ground by attacking with five regiments around Loos and against part of the 7th Division on the left flank. Foggy weather inhibited observation, the artillery preparation was inadequate and the British and French defenders were well prepared behind intact wire. The German attack was repulsed with 3,000 casualties including Robert. 
J Wills
No Information available except that he served with the Royal navy aboard ‘HMS Hope’.
T Wills
No information available except that he served with the Royal Navy aboard ‘HMS Martin’.
This is not an exhaustive list and I do know that over 52 men served their country throughout the First World war but I have managed to trace 51 of the men that did serve with eight paying the ultimate price. 

World War Two

In the Second World War, although many parishioners served their country in the several services there were no deaths amongst them, but two men, Mr Ronald Ellacott and Mr Kenneth Batten, were prisoners of war of the Japanese and Germans respectively and suffered considerable privation during their incarceration.
Farmer Tom Wills of Hessacott was in the Werrington Home Guard, and his son Martin remembered going with him to Peppers Hill Farm to collect his Ross rifle and other equipment. He said “I believe that the rifles came from Canada, these were packed in grease, thick, smelly stuff.”  They would man a post at Peppers Hill.

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