Surviving participants in WW1, C-D
CASE William b 30 Jun 1891, Chevithorne was the youngest of 7 children of Richard Case (b1845) and Mary Hill (b1852). His parents were farmers and in the 1911 census he lived at Little Turberfield Farm, SP with William and an elder brother Sidney assisting on the farm. We do not have details of his service but in the 1918 ER he was listed as NM. In Q4 1919 Tiverton he married Sophia Bessie Authers/Arthurs. He returned to SP (1920 ER) where he worked as a dairyman with his father at Lower Turberfield dairy. He was still living there in the 1939 Register. He died Mar 1976 in Exeter, aged 84. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/55070480/family
CAUDWELL Archibald Thomas – b 12 Nov 1899, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Son of Thomas Caudwell and Bessie née Sowden. His father, a salesman for Suttons Seeds in Reading and a widower, married Bessie when she was his young housekeeper, but he committed suicide the day after the wedding. Bessie returned to her parents in Somerset, where she gave birth to Archie later that year. In 1906 Bessie married Walter Cluett and they had a son, Denis, in 1907. The family moved from Somerset to Sampford Peverell in or soon after 1911, where Walter Cluett took up the role of chief clerk at the creamery. Archie’s stephalf-brother was Denis Cluett, whose memoirs of SP have been published by the SP Society as “A Village Childhood”. In 1914 Archie was apprenticed to an engineering firm in Tiverton, travelling there from the family home, initially in Roberts Cottage (2018: 16 Boobery) and later at Kerslake House (2018: 4 Chains Road). On 25 Aug 1917, shortly before his 18th birthday he was called up and sent to Ireland for training. He initially joined the 47th Reserve Battalion Devon Regiment (#71791). He later joined the RASC in Exeter in 1918 (#418467). He was discharged from the army in Nov 1919 in Germany. In 1920 he lived in Turnpike, SP where his parents lived in ‘Tyrella’. After the end of WW1 he joined the RN, having nominally signed up for 12 years – (#35300). He first saw active service on HMS Defiance on 12 Jan 1920. He was a fitter and turner. He then had a spell on HMS Hood and his last service date was 14 Nov 1929. He is shown as a freemason at the St Aubyn Lodge, Devonport on 14 Jun 1921. On 3 Jan 1927 he married Sybil Bessie Pauline Palk (b 31 Dec 1903) at St Johns, SP. In 1939 register Sybil was living with her parents May and Henry at Howards Road, Bournemouth. Archibald is not shown – assumed away. He died in Bournemouth Nov 1995, aged 96. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/154324189/family
CAUNTER Henry Ernest b 1879 Newton Abbot, Devon – the son of William H Caunter (b 1857, painter) and his wife Elizabeth. In Q2 1900 Tiverton Henry m Elizabeth Chapman. They must have moved to SP as on 21 Feb 1906 his son Harold William was baptized in SP. In 1911 census he was an Ag Lab and lived at Holiwell Cottages, Tiverton. He joined the war as a private in the Queens Own (Royal Kent) 1/5th#241296 (Ancestry) or #241292 (FMP). A newspaper article dated 7th September 1917 reported that he was home in SP on leave. After the war he returned to Tiverton and lived in Broad Lane, working as an agricultural labourer. He died in 1948.
CLARIDGE Reginald Algernon Aubrey b 7 Nov 1898, Staines, Middlesex son of Bryant Henry William Claridge (1869 Kilburn, London) - accountant and Company Secretary and Fanny Willis. His father moved to SP at the end of WW1 to run the Globe Inn in Lower Town. Reginald enlisted with the London Regiment in 1916 and was transferred to ASC (Transport) with Reg #393057. He was discharged in 1919 with heart problems and neurasthenia. He was listed on the 1919 electoral roll for SP, living at the Globe Inn with his father who was then the landlord. In Sep 1920 in Bristol he married Annie Dorothy Flemming (b 1898). Reginald died Sep 1980 in Bristol.
COLWILL (COLWELL) John – b SP 10 Aug 1888 to William Colwill (Shepherd) and Lucy (née Jones). Lived at Barton Cottage (2018: 4 Boobery), 1891 and 1901 but cannot be found in any UK 1911 census – possibly because he joined up in the RFA early in 1909 where he served as a gunner for three years until the death of his father, William, in Jun 1912. When war broke out he joined the reserves and served in France. There are three possible service records for a John Colwill – with Somerset LI, Cornwall LI or a sapper with the RE working on the railways. We cannot be sure which is “our” man. He was wounded in the head while in France and invalided out (info from 1934 newspaper report of his death). In the 1920 & 1926 Gregory’s Directory for SP he was living in Higher Town with his widowed mother, Lucy Colwill and working on the railways as a packer. He was buried 6 Jun 1934 in SP, aged 45.
COOK Wilfred Thomas – b Burlescombe 15 Aug 1885, son of William Cook, Yeoman. In 1891 and 1901 census he lived with his parents and siblings at Heazille Barton, Rewe. On 14 Mar 1907 he signed up to RN (#347642) and was posted to HMS Defiance. He worked as an electrician and in 1921 was promoted to RN Electrician 1stclass. His last service date (still on HMS Defiance) was 29 Nov 1928 – 21 years after signing up. On 16 Oct 1916 in SP he married Edith Hanna Pedler, b 20 Dec 1879, youngest sister of the other Pedler family members mentioned in this book, based at Sampford Barton farm, SP. He was 31, she was nearly 37. After leaving the navy he returned to SP and lived at “Tyrella”, Turnpike, but no occupation shown in Directories. He died Sep 1968 in SP, aged 83. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/family
CORNISH Albert James – b 1892, Hillfarrance, Somerset; eldest of 8 children of Eli Cornish (canal worker) and Elizabeth Maria Rossiter from Taunton. 1911 census he was living with his parents in Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town). He joined the 3rdLondon regiment (#3983) as a private, later promoted to Lance Corporal. He then transferred to the Guards (#2327) where he was part of the machine gun regiment. One of his younger brothers - Thomas (b 1897) died in Mar 1917 during the war. In 1920 he resided with his mother in Higher Town (his brother William Henry lived with him). Albert was working as a Newsagent and Shoemaker. By 1926 his sole occupation was shoemaker. He did not marry and was buried 1 Feb 1936 in SP, aged 44. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75458494/family
CORNISH William Henry – b 31 May 1896, Hillfarrance, Somerset to Eli Cornish and Elizabeth Rossiter. Younger brother to Albert James above. In 1911 census he lived with his parents at Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town) and was shown as a general labourer. In 1914 his occupation was shown as Dairyman. In 1915 at Devonport he enlisted in the RN (K28842). He was a stoker on HMS Revenge and last saw service 31 May 1919. In 1920 and 1926 he lived with his widowed mother and his brother Albert James at Higher Town. Occupation shown as factory hand – actually a cheese maker at Norrish creamery in Chains Road, SP. In Mar 1919 in Taunton he married Rose Mary Burgess (1895-1976). They had three children all b and bp in SP. In the 1939 Register William was living at Highland Terrace (far end of Higher Town) with his family and was a Maintenance Engineer. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75458494/family
COUPLAND-SMITH Frederick Geoffrey – b 1872 Peckham, London. A merchant of Private Means. 1911 census lived at High Cross House, Higher Town. His son Frederick Vivian Coupland-Smith b 1896 was a pupil at Blundell’s school Tiverton, who joined the army and lost his life in July 1917 in Belgium. The father, Frederick Geoffery, was an orderly with BRCS (British Red Cross Society) and served initially in France from 10 Aug 1915. Later he served in Salonika, even though he was 43 at the start of the war. He died in Mar 1924 in Hove, Sussex but his home address was given as Catcott, Bridgwater, Somerset. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/73887918/family
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/154324189/family
CAUNTER Henry Ernest b 1879 Newton Abbot, Devon – the son of William H Caunter (b 1857, painter) and his wife Elizabeth. In Q2 1900 Tiverton Henry m Elizabeth Chapman. They must have moved to SP as on 21 Feb 1906 his son Harold William was baptized in SP. In 1911 census he was an Ag Lab and lived at Holiwell Cottages, Tiverton. He joined the war as a private in the Queens Own (Royal Kent) 1/5th#241296 (Ancestry) or #241292 (FMP). A newspaper article dated 7th September 1917 reported that he was home in SP on leave. After the war he returned to Tiverton and lived in Broad Lane, working as an agricultural labourer. He died in 1948.
CLARIDGE Reginald Algernon Aubrey b 7 Nov 1898, Staines, Middlesex son of Bryant Henry William Claridge (1869 Kilburn, London) - accountant and Company Secretary and Fanny Willis. His father moved to SP at the end of WW1 to run the Globe Inn in Lower Town. Reginald enlisted with the London Regiment in 1916 and was transferred to ASC (Transport) with Reg #393057. He was discharged in 1919 with heart problems and neurasthenia. He was listed on the 1919 electoral roll for SP, living at the Globe Inn with his father who was then the landlord. In Sep 1920 in Bristol he married Annie Dorothy Flemming (b 1898). Reginald died Sep 1980 in Bristol.
COLWILL (COLWELL) John – b SP 10 Aug 1888 to William Colwill (Shepherd) and Lucy (née Jones). Lived at Barton Cottage (2018: 4 Boobery), 1891 and 1901 but cannot be found in any UK 1911 census – possibly because he joined up in the RFA early in 1909 where he served as a gunner for three years until the death of his father, William, in Jun 1912. When war broke out he joined the reserves and served in France. There are three possible service records for a John Colwill – with Somerset LI, Cornwall LI or a sapper with the RE working on the railways. We cannot be sure which is “our” man. He was wounded in the head while in France and invalided out (info from 1934 newspaper report of his death). In the 1920 & 1926 Gregory’s Directory for SP he was living in Higher Town with his widowed mother, Lucy Colwill and working on the railways as a packer. He was buried 6 Jun 1934 in SP, aged 45.
COOK Wilfred Thomas – b Burlescombe 15 Aug 1885, son of William Cook, Yeoman. In 1891 and 1901 census he lived with his parents and siblings at Heazille Barton, Rewe. On 14 Mar 1907 he signed up to RN (#347642) and was posted to HMS Defiance. He worked as an electrician and in 1921 was promoted to RN Electrician 1stclass. His last service date (still on HMS Defiance) was 29 Nov 1928 – 21 years after signing up. On 16 Oct 1916 in SP he married Edith Hanna Pedler, b 20 Dec 1879, youngest sister of the other Pedler family members mentioned in this book, based at Sampford Barton farm, SP. He was 31, she was nearly 37. After leaving the navy he returned to SP and lived at “Tyrella”, Turnpike, but no occupation shown in Directories. He died Sep 1968 in SP, aged 83. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/family
CORNISH Albert James – b 1892, Hillfarrance, Somerset; eldest of 8 children of Eli Cornish (canal worker) and Elizabeth Maria Rossiter from Taunton. 1911 census he was living with his parents in Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town). He joined the 3rdLondon regiment (#3983) as a private, later promoted to Lance Corporal. He then transferred to the Guards (#2327) where he was part of the machine gun regiment. One of his younger brothers - Thomas (b 1897) died in Mar 1917 during the war. In 1920 he resided with his mother in Higher Town (his brother William Henry lived with him). Albert was working as a Newsagent and Shoemaker. By 1926 his sole occupation was shoemaker. He did not marry and was buried 1 Feb 1936 in SP, aged 44. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75458494/family
CORNISH William Henry – b 31 May 1896, Hillfarrance, Somerset to Eli Cornish and Elizabeth Rossiter. Younger brother to Albert James above. In 1911 census he lived with his parents at Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town) and was shown as a general labourer. In 1914 his occupation was shown as Dairyman. In 1915 at Devonport he enlisted in the RN (K28842). He was a stoker on HMS Revenge and last saw service 31 May 1919. In 1920 and 1926 he lived with his widowed mother and his brother Albert James at Higher Town. Occupation shown as factory hand – actually a cheese maker at Norrish creamery in Chains Road, SP. In Mar 1919 in Taunton he married Rose Mary Burgess (1895-1976). They had three children all b and bp in SP. In the 1939 Register William was living at Highland Terrace (far end of Higher Town) with his family and was a Maintenance Engineer. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75458494/family
COUPLAND-SMITH Frederick Geoffrey – b 1872 Peckham, London. A merchant of Private Means. 1911 census lived at High Cross House, Higher Town. His son Frederick Vivian Coupland-Smith b 1896 was a pupil at Blundell’s school Tiverton, who joined the army and lost his life in July 1917 in Belgium. The father, Frederick Geoffery, was an orderly with BRCS (British Red Cross Society) and served initially in France from 10 Aug 1915. Later he served in Salonika, even though he was 43 at the start of the war. He died in Mar 1924 in Hove, Sussex but his home address was given as Catcott, Bridgwater, Somerset. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/73887918/family
DAVEY Sidney – b 5 Feb 1869, Templeton, Tiverton son of Edwin Davey (1839-1914, Ag Lab) and Harriet Alford (Also 1839-1914). Sidney was the 2nd of 6 children and a “professional” sailor with the RN. He joined the Navy in Plymouth on 3 Feb 1885, 2 days short of his 16th birthday. He became an Able Seaman 1 Oct 1887, a Leading Seaman 1 Jul 1891, a PO (2ndclass) 10 Jan 1894, 1st class 18 May 1894, acting CPO 6 Apr 1900, and full CPO (Chief Petty Officer) 6 Apr 1901. He was pensioned off on 1 Jan 1909 after nearly 24 years service, but within 2 months had re-enlisted and joined RFR Devonport in the capacity as onshore trainer- with service on Vivid I, Jupiter, King Alfred, Vivid III and finally Vivid II. He retired for the second time on 30 Jan 1919. In Q4 1890 in Plymouth, Sidney married Mary Louisa (b 1871 Plymouth) and they lived in St Andrews, Plymouth in 1891 census. They had three children- all b in Plymouth William Edwin (1891-1976) -who also served in the RN in WW1, Elsie Elizabeth (1893-1975) and Olive Mary (1895-1944). Shortly after his “first retirement” in 1909, the family moved to Boobery, SP – except for William who was an apprentice wheelwrightin Plymouth, before he signed up in 1915, giving his residence as Quay Head, SP. Perhaps the family moved to be closer to Sidney’s parents – who had moved to SP then on to Lowman Cross, Uplowman. Sidney’s parents and siblings left Templeton in 1873 and moved to Hockworthy for 3 years before moving to Uplowman around 1885. His parents then moved to SP and in the 1901 census were living at Rose Cottage but returned to Lowman Cross by the 1911 census. Both were buried in Uplowman in 1914 – within 6 months of each other.
Sidney’s wife Mary Louisa died in SP in Nov 1931. He was part of the British Legion committee responsible for setting up the village hall in 1933. In the 1939 register he was shown as a widower, Navy Pensioner, living at Parker’s Cottages, Higher Town with James and Olive Cotterell. Sidney died in 1955 at the age of 86 in Tavistock, Devon.
DIMENT John – b 30 Apr 1885 SP and bp at St John’s church 24 May 1885. He was the third child of Mark Joseph Diment (a dairyman b 1856 Clyst St George) and his first wife Elizabeth (1857-1889 Jersey Farm, SP). His father remarried Jan 1891 to Mary Ann Thorne (b 1859 Cheriton Fitzpaine). The family lived at Jersey Farm (Waterloo Cross) when John was baptized. By 1891 census the family had moved to Poltimore Village. By 1901 John had left his parents house and was working as an agricultural labourer at Raddon Court, Thorverton.
In 1908 John married Lucy Chapman (b 8 Jun 1884 Exmouth). John and Lucy moved to Withycombe Raleigh (near Exmouth) and in Aug 1910 they had a son, Ernest. In the 1911 census they lived at 7 Princes Street, Exmouth – deemed to be part of Withycombe Raleigh! John was a van driver for Port House laundry company. His brother in law and his niece were living with them at the census date. In Q1 1913 John and Lucy had a son, Leslie F Diment, b in St Thomas, Exeter. On 6 Aug 1914, almost as soon as war was declared, John enlisted, giving 7 Princes Street, Exmouth as home address (as per 1911 census) and married to Lucy. He enlisted with the 1/7th(cyclists) battalion with the Devonshire Regiment – service no 1786. He only saw “service” at home and he was discharged 14 May 1915 in Totnes, having served just 282 days -having elected for course (C) under war office letter no.9 / cyclists / 475(T.F2) of 29 /1/15. John died Sep 1959 in Exeter, aged 74.
DINHAM Albert Ernest – b 7 Jun 1891 Tiverton, second son of Albert and Lucy. Lived at Moor cottage, Lower Town, in 1911 census with parents and siblings where his occupation was shown as Railway clerk. On 6 Oct 1914 he married Millford Holloway (b 24 May 1886) at the Wesleyan Chapel in Higher Town. Her step-brother was Samuel Cromwell Holloway who also served in WW1. Albert enlisted in the army as a private in the Machine Gun Corps (#65733). After demob in Mar 1919 he returned to live at the Mount, Higher Town with occupation Factory Operative. He and his wife left the village before 1923. In the 1939 register they lived at Ilminster Road, Taunton with occupation retired foreman, dairy factory. He died in 1967 in Taunton, Somerset. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DINHAM Frederick Guy - b 30 Jul 1889 Tiverton, eldest son of Albert (1858 Wellington-1920) and Lucy (1861, Exeter). His father was a signalman on the Railway. In 1911 Frederick lived at Moor End Cottage, Lower Town, with his parents and three younger brothers – Albert Ernest 1892, James Stanley 1896 and William Clifford 1897. Frederick was a clerk on GWR, having started working as a railway clerk in Dec 1906 where he was based in Leominster. By Feb 1909 he was in the telegraph office at Pontypool, Wales.
Frederick first saw service in the RN on 19 Jun 1916 with VIVID1 – a shore-based installation. He worked as a clerk and his last service was also at VIVID1 – on 4 Jun 1919. His enlistment record shows that his height was just 3 (Three) feet 7 ¼”. On 1919 Electoral Roll (Absentees) occupation/rank was shown as 3rdwriter M21241, RND, Port Said (Egypt). In Q4 1920 in Taunton he married Leila Emily Jewell. His brother James Stanley Dinham also married a Jewell – sister to Leila Emily! Frederick died 1 May 1925 and left £811 to his widow Leila and his brother James. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DINHAM James Stanley – b 4 Oct 1895 Tiverton, the third son of Albert and Lucy. 1911 lived at Moor cottage, Lower Town, where he was an apprentice. He initially enlisted in the West Somerset Yeomanry (private 1591) then changed to the Labour Corps (809 Company, #621632). In 1921 he married Susannah Jewell – b 28 Jul 1895 (his oldest brother Frederick had married her elder sister Leila Jewell Q4 1920). James and Susannah had two children. In 1923 James was living at Moor Cottage – his parents having died a few years earlier. In the 1939 register the family lived at Prospect Road, Brixham, where James was a Goods Checker with GWR. James died aged 74 in Taunton in Dec 1969, his wife Susannah died 1978. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DREW Thomas - AKA Thomas HODDER. B 15 May 1888 as Thomas DREW – Son of Sarah Drew (B Oct 1862 Uplowman; daughter of Thomas and Sarah Drew) who married 18 months later in Oct 1890 to Frank Otter (B 5 Nov 1860 SP; son of William and Sarah Otter). In 1891 Census Thomas was living at Winks Cottage, Whitnage Road, with parents - father a labourer. In 1901 Census Thomas Hodder was living at Lower Town (2018: site of 16 Lower Town) with his “parents” (father a Railway Labourer) and 4 younger siblings: Charles 1892, Caroline 1893, Mary 1895, Frank 1897. Also living there was his widowed maternal Grandfather – Thomas Drew b 1834 Hatherleigh. In 1911 Census Thomas had left SP, but his parents and even more siblings lived at Lower Town. His father Frank HODDER was now the Canal Keeper and his mother a Laundress. Frank died in May 1916 at Exeter Lunatic Asylum. He was admitted sometime post 1915 Electoral Roll, but we do not know why he was admitted. Thomas seems to have reverted to his true surname of Drew (the maiden name of his mother, Sarah) at around this time.
Thomas Drew was Rifleman #553536 in the 16thLondon Regiment. On 16 Sep 1917, at St John’s Church, SP, Rifleman Thomas Drew married Annie Dunn, b 10 Aug 1891, d of Frederick Dunn (deceased) a coal merchant. Annie was the sister of Sidney Dunn – who lost his life in WW1. Intriguingly the marriage record shows the name of Thomas’ deceased father as Frank DREW – rather than Frank OTTER or HODDER. Thomas was on leave from hospital, having been wounded in the face / shoulder in France in May 1917. He was on the absent voters list on the 1919 Electoral register, with address Lower Town. He continued to live in Lower Town, occupation labourer, with his wife Annie and was still there in 1934 electoral register. They do not appear to have had any children. In the 1939 register he lived at Downs Cottages, SP, occupation Quarry Worker, with his wife Annie. He died in Mar 1965 in Taunton, Somerset, aged 74. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
Sidney’s wife Mary Louisa died in SP in Nov 1931. He was part of the British Legion committee responsible for setting up the village hall in 1933. In the 1939 register he was shown as a widower, Navy Pensioner, living at Parker’s Cottages, Higher Town with James and Olive Cotterell. Sidney died in 1955 at the age of 86 in Tavistock, Devon.
DIMENT John – b 30 Apr 1885 SP and bp at St John’s church 24 May 1885. He was the third child of Mark Joseph Diment (a dairyman b 1856 Clyst St George) and his first wife Elizabeth (1857-1889 Jersey Farm, SP). His father remarried Jan 1891 to Mary Ann Thorne (b 1859 Cheriton Fitzpaine). The family lived at Jersey Farm (Waterloo Cross) when John was baptized. By 1891 census the family had moved to Poltimore Village. By 1901 John had left his parents house and was working as an agricultural labourer at Raddon Court, Thorverton.
In 1908 John married Lucy Chapman (b 8 Jun 1884 Exmouth). John and Lucy moved to Withycombe Raleigh (near Exmouth) and in Aug 1910 they had a son, Ernest. In the 1911 census they lived at 7 Princes Street, Exmouth – deemed to be part of Withycombe Raleigh! John was a van driver for Port House laundry company. His brother in law and his niece were living with them at the census date. In Q1 1913 John and Lucy had a son, Leslie F Diment, b in St Thomas, Exeter. On 6 Aug 1914, almost as soon as war was declared, John enlisted, giving 7 Princes Street, Exmouth as home address (as per 1911 census) and married to Lucy. He enlisted with the 1/7th(cyclists) battalion with the Devonshire Regiment – service no 1786. He only saw “service” at home and he was discharged 14 May 1915 in Totnes, having served just 282 days -having elected for course (C) under war office letter no.9 / cyclists / 475(T.F2) of 29 /1/15. John died Sep 1959 in Exeter, aged 74.
DINHAM Albert Ernest – b 7 Jun 1891 Tiverton, second son of Albert and Lucy. Lived at Moor cottage, Lower Town, in 1911 census with parents and siblings where his occupation was shown as Railway clerk. On 6 Oct 1914 he married Millford Holloway (b 24 May 1886) at the Wesleyan Chapel in Higher Town. Her step-brother was Samuel Cromwell Holloway who also served in WW1. Albert enlisted in the army as a private in the Machine Gun Corps (#65733). After demob in Mar 1919 he returned to live at the Mount, Higher Town with occupation Factory Operative. He and his wife left the village before 1923. In the 1939 register they lived at Ilminster Road, Taunton with occupation retired foreman, dairy factory. He died in 1967 in Taunton, Somerset. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DINHAM Frederick Guy - b 30 Jul 1889 Tiverton, eldest son of Albert (1858 Wellington-1920) and Lucy (1861, Exeter). His father was a signalman on the Railway. In 1911 Frederick lived at Moor End Cottage, Lower Town, with his parents and three younger brothers – Albert Ernest 1892, James Stanley 1896 and William Clifford 1897. Frederick was a clerk on GWR, having started working as a railway clerk in Dec 1906 where he was based in Leominster. By Feb 1909 he was in the telegraph office at Pontypool, Wales.
Frederick first saw service in the RN on 19 Jun 1916 with VIVID1 – a shore-based installation. He worked as a clerk and his last service was also at VIVID1 – on 4 Jun 1919. His enlistment record shows that his height was just 3 (Three) feet 7 ¼”. On 1919 Electoral Roll (Absentees) occupation/rank was shown as 3rdwriter M21241, RND, Port Said (Egypt). In Q4 1920 in Taunton he married Leila Emily Jewell. His brother James Stanley Dinham also married a Jewell – sister to Leila Emily! Frederick died 1 May 1925 and left £811 to his widow Leila and his brother James. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DINHAM James Stanley – b 4 Oct 1895 Tiverton, the third son of Albert and Lucy. 1911 lived at Moor cottage, Lower Town, where he was an apprentice. He initially enlisted in the West Somerset Yeomanry (private 1591) then changed to the Labour Corps (809 Company, #621632). In 1921 he married Susannah Jewell – b 28 Jul 1895 (his oldest brother Frederick had married her elder sister Leila Jewell Q4 1920). James and Susannah had two children. In 1923 James was living at Moor Cottage – his parents having died a few years earlier. In the 1939 register the family lived at Prospect Road, Brixham, where James was a Goods Checker with GWR. James died aged 74 in Taunton in Dec 1969, his wife Susannah died 1978. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76142649/family
DREW Thomas - AKA Thomas HODDER. B 15 May 1888 as Thomas DREW – Son of Sarah Drew (B Oct 1862 Uplowman; daughter of Thomas and Sarah Drew) who married 18 months later in Oct 1890 to Frank Otter (B 5 Nov 1860 SP; son of William and Sarah Otter). In 1891 Census Thomas was living at Winks Cottage, Whitnage Road, with parents - father a labourer. In 1901 Census Thomas Hodder was living at Lower Town (2018: site of 16 Lower Town) with his “parents” (father a Railway Labourer) and 4 younger siblings: Charles 1892, Caroline 1893, Mary 1895, Frank 1897. Also living there was his widowed maternal Grandfather – Thomas Drew b 1834 Hatherleigh. In 1911 Census Thomas had left SP, but his parents and even more siblings lived at Lower Town. His father Frank HODDER was now the Canal Keeper and his mother a Laundress. Frank died in May 1916 at Exeter Lunatic Asylum. He was admitted sometime post 1915 Electoral Roll, but we do not know why he was admitted. Thomas seems to have reverted to his true surname of Drew (the maiden name of his mother, Sarah) at around this time.
Thomas Drew was Rifleman #553536 in the 16thLondon Regiment. On 16 Sep 1917, at St John’s Church, SP, Rifleman Thomas Drew married Annie Dunn, b 10 Aug 1891, d of Frederick Dunn (deceased) a coal merchant. Annie was the sister of Sidney Dunn – who lost his life in WW1. Intriguingly the marriage record shows the name of Thomas’ deceased father as Frank DREW – rather than Frank OTTER or HODDER. Thomas was on leave from hospital, having been wounded in the face / shoulder in France in May 1917. He was on the absent voters list on the 1919 Electoral register, with address Lower Town. He continued to live in Lower Town, occupation labourer, with his wife Annie and was still there in 1934 electoral register. They do not appear to have had any children. In the 1939 register he lived at Downs Cottages, SP, occupation Quarry Worker, with his wife Annie. He died in Mar 1965 in Taunton, Somerset, aged 74. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family