Surviving participants in WW1, E-G
FEWINGS Percy Victor b 12 Jan 1897 North Tawton ; 2ndof 5 children of William Thomas Fewings (1867-1950) and Catherine Jane Stoneman (1867-1947) . His father was the SP village policeman from 1898 to 1909, but had come from an agricultural background – he was one of 5 children bought up on a 108 acre farm at Rose Ash (North Tawton). In the 1901 census the family were living in the Lower Town police house (2018: 21 Lower Town) with four children under the age of five. In 1909 Percy, his siblings and parents moved to Stoke Canon, just N of Exeter and in the 1911 census his father was the village police constable there. Shortly after the census Percy left Stoke Cannon school, aged 14 and moved to Exeter National School. He stayed there for 14 months then on 21 Jun 1912 his school record reads “Left; gone to work”. Percy started work with GWR but on coming of age (18) he enlisted (probably Q1 1915) with the Army Service Corps (ASC) as Private #M2/200251 and served with them for the duration of the war.
On 27 May 1918 his younger brother, Herbert Reginald Fewings lost his life in France and Flanders - near Reims. See the earlier section on those who died for more details. After the war Percy followed in the family tradition and became a farmer - at East Worlington, Witheridge, just south of where his grandfather used to farm. In Sep 1928 at St Thomas, Exeter he married Florence Rhoda Hore (b Dec 1901, Exeter), daughter of Frederick George Hore, a Brass finisher and Alice Vicary. In the 1939 Register Percy lived at Prospect Park, Exeter where he was a “hire car proprietor”. Percy died in 1986 in Exeter, his wife Florence predeceased him in 1982. Family tree www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/116827186/family
FOXFORD Albert Edward b 24 Apr 1887 SP; youngest of 4 sons of James Foxford (ag lab/lime burner/gardener) (b 1850 Molland) and Jane Kerslake (1841-1901). Lived in Higher Town (2018: 15 Higher Town) in 1901 census with parents and 2 surviving brothers. Widowed father still in SP in 1911, and Albert gave SP as his home address when he signed up 19 Feb 1917 to Royal Engineers (#240325) for road building. Gave his occupation as steersman on tractor. Served in France. In hospital Sep 1917 and Jan 1918. Demobilized 26 Mar 1920. In Q2 1920 he married Ethel F Sleeman in Redruth, Cornwall. She died 8 years later in Redruth. He continued to live in Cornwall, whilst his parents still lived in SP. Albert died Jun 1958 in Penzance, Cornwall. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
On 27 May 1918 his younger brother, Herbert Reginald Fewings lost his life in France and Flanders - near Reims. See the earlier section on those who died for more details. After the war Percy followed in the family tradition and became a farmer - at East Worlington, Witheridge, just south of where his grandfather used to farm. In Sep 1928 at St Thomas, Exeter he married Florence Rhoda Hore (b Dec 1901, Exeter), daughter of Frederick George Hore, a Brass finisher and Alice Vicary. In the 1939 Register Percy lived at Prospect Park, Exeter where he was a “hire car proprietor”. Percy died in 1986 in Exeter, his wife Florence predeceased him in 1982. Family tree www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/116827186/family
FOXFORD Albert Edward b 24 Apr 1887 SP; youngest of 4 sons of James Foxford (ag lab/lime burner/gardener) (b 1850 Molland) and Jane Kerslake (1841-1901). Lived in Higher Town (2018: 15 Higher Town) in 1901 census with parents and 2 surviving brothers. Widowed father still in SP in 1911, and Albert gave SP as his home address when he signed up 19 Feb 1917 to Royal Engineers (#240325) for road building. Gave his occupation as steersman on tractor. Served in France. In hospital Sep 1917 and Jan 1918. Demobilized 26 Mar 1920. In Q2 1920 he married Ethel F Sleeman in Redruth, Cornwall. She died 8 years later in Redruth. He continued to live in Cornwall, whilst his parents still lived in SP. Albert died Jun 1958 in Penzance, Cornwall. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
GALE Lewis b 7 Feb 1892 Bampton, Devon was the eldest of 8 children (3 died as infants) of George Robert Gale (an Ag Lab from Bampton) and Blanche Banbury of Templeton. Lewis’s brother Walter (1894-1916) was the first SP man to lose his life in WW1. The family moved to SP around 1900 and lived in a cottage in Lower Town (2018: site of 16 Court Way). In the 1911 census Lewis was working as a blacksmith. A recruitment meeting was held early Sep 1914, 2 months into the Great war, in the courtyard of St Boniface Home in Lower Town. Twenty men from the village signed up, including both Lewis and Walter Gale. They both joined the 8thDevon Regiment (Lewis Private #10803) and both first saw active service in France 25 Jul 1915. Exactly two months later, in the battle of Loos, both brothers were involved in a poisonous gas incident – from their own side. It was the first time the British had used poisonous gas and it did not go to plan. Fortunately both survived, but nearly a year later Walter was to lose his life whilst helping wounded colleagues from the battlefield. Lou (as he was known) Gale visited the parents of Arthur Bass when he was home on leave in September 1917. The young men of Sampford obviously kept in touch with each other and their friends’ families.
Lewis survived the rest of the war and was discharged from the army 25 Mar 1919. He returned to the village, lived in Boobery in Spring 1920, then moved back with his parents at Jersey Cottage by Spring 1921. The whole family then left the village before Spring 1922 and moved towards Wellington, Somerset. In Dec 1929 in Tiverton, aged 37, Lewis married Annie Maunder (1894-1944). At exactly the same time & place his younger brother, William Harold Gale, married Violet Mabel Maunder – younger sister of Annie. Lewis and Annie did not have any children. In the 1939 register he lived at Leonard Moor, SP with Annie, occupation Council Roadman. Lewis died Mar 1976 in Exeter, aged 84. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76011902/family
GLANVILLE Ira b 1 Jun 1888 Plymtree, Honiton – one of 13 children of William Glanville (b 1845, Ag Lab) and Elizabeth (b 1852). He was a bricklayer / mason and lived in Plymtree with his parents until just after 1911 census. On 13 Mar 1913 in SP he married Florence Elizabeth Morrell (b 1886), dr of John Morrell, ag lab. They lived in SP and had a son Ira Morris / Maurice on 3 Feb 1914 but the baby died aged just 2 months old and they had no more children. In 1915 Electoral Roll they lived at Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town). He enlisted in Exeter on 9 Dec 1915 aged 27 years and 192 days – reg no 177232 then 3072787. He joined the Royal Engineers and was then transferred to the 16thBattalion of the Tank Corps on 19 Jan 1918. He served for 2 years 5 months in England and 2 months in France – leaving Southampton for Le Havre 9 Sep 1918 and then suffered from infected nerves in left leg caused by explosive – medical report dated 18 Oct 1918. He was returned to England Nov 1918 and treated in a military hospital in Devonport with burns to thumb and fingers on left hand – possibly the same incident which damaged his left leg. His medical report said he was healed 20 Dec 1918 but in Jan 1919 still had “inability to flex left ankle completely. Fott cold. No pain.” He was transferred to the army reserve, “Class Z”, 18 Feb 1919. The Glanvilles continued to live in Higher Town until 1926. Ira died Jul 1927 in Tiverton hospital aged just 39 and his wife Florence left the village shortly afterwards.
GOFFIN Wilfred John - b 9 Jan 1892, SP. Youngest of 7 children of Frederick Goffin (1851-1932) plumber and Elizabeth Ponsford Farr (1851-1923). Wilfred worked for GWR for a week and then became an engineer’s fitter, living with his parents at Turnpike (2018: number 8) in the 1911 census. Wilfred signed up to the RN 11 Aug 1913 at Devonport for a period of 12 years as a fitter and turner. He was initially based on VIVID II, a shore-based training facility, before moving around many different vessels. Leander Nov13-Oct14, Indefatigable Oct 14-Jul15 (this ship was sunk in Battle of Jutland 1 year after he had left with all but 2 of the 1,079 crew killed), Diligence (Marmaduke) Jan16-Oct16, Dalhousie (Royal Indian Ship based in Basrah) Dec 16-Mar18, Dolphin Aug 18-Oct18. He then had several more years’ service - repairing / maintaining RN ships in the dockyards. He appeared on the SP 1919 absent electoral voters list with ref ERA III M6488 HMS Revenge. Last service date was 15 Nov 1927. In 1920, aged 28, he married Alice Jane Dodd (1893-1977) in Plymouth. They had one daughter, Audrey Hilda (1922-2005). In the 1939 Register Wilfred lived in Plymouth, occupation “Armament Fitter” (retired RN Pensioner). He died Sep 1967 in Plymouth, aged 75. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GOFFIN William – b 10 Feb 1870 in SP to George Goffin (ag Lab at Whitnage farm) and Elizabeth Trevelyan. He was 7thof 8 children, but three older siblings all died as infants in 1864 in a scarlet fever epidemic which decimated the younger population of the village and surrounding areas. William enlisted in the RN 29 Apr 1885 as a 15-year-old. His mother had died 18 months previously. He first saw service on HMS Impregnable as a cabin boy. He gradually rose through the ranks – ordinary seaman, able seaman, leading seaman and was made Petty Officer Apr 1894, aged 24. His “last” service on his first tour of duty was on HMS Ganges on 31 Oct 1898, three weeks after the birth of his first son (who also later served in the RN).
William re-enlisted less than a month after his previous term with the RN. His second tour of duty started on HMS Thunderer and ended 12 years later in Nov 1910 on HMS Blake where his rank was shown as Boatswain. At the age of 40 he then re-enlisted in the Royal Fleet Reserve and had the rank of Chief Boatswain. During WW1 he was the Chief Warrant Officer at the HM Naval Base at Stornoway. On 4 Jul 1921, aged 51, he retired “for good” from the RN with rank Lieutenant. He married in Aug 1897 at SP to Lily Trevelyan who was his first cousin. They lived at Chains Cottage (2018: 8 Chains Road) and had three children, the eldest of whom also served in the RN in WW1 (see below). William died Nov 1949 in SP, aged 79, nine years after his wife Lily died. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GOFFIN William Charles – b 11 Oct 1898, SP. Oldest son of William Goffin (1870-1949, RN career) and Lily Trevellyan (1875-1940) and lived at Chains Cottage (2018: 8 Chains Road). Before the war he was a fitter and turner. He signed up, aged 18 ½, in Mar 1917 to the RN serving on the land-based President II which provided accounting services etc to the RN. He was based at Crystal Palace (andRND training centre), then Cranwell (an RNAS training centre) and finally Wormwood Scrubs (an airship station). Last accounting service date 31 Mar 1918. On 1 Apr 1918 he transferred to the newly-formed RAF, Air Mech I #227675 then from 1919-1920 was a turner. In Nov 1919 he was in Baghdad, then HQ India. 1921 promoted to LAC (still a turner); March 1922 went from Iraq to Port Said, Egypt in 208 Squadron until finally discharged 14 Jun 1923. In Mar 1925 in Biscot, Bedfordshire he married Winifred Maud Tew. They had 3 children in Luton, then the family moved back to Devon in the late 1940’s. William died Dec 1978 in Tiverton, aged 80. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GUNN Ernest George b 20 Feb 1899 Rackenford, eldest of 5 children of Allen George Gunn (b 1862 S Molton) and Emma Pincombe (b 1879 Rackenford). His father was originally a thatcher, but by the 1911 census he was manager of the Hare and Hounds Inn, Lower Town, SP (2018: 11-17 Lower Town). On 31 Jan 1916, aged nearly 17, he started work with GWR as a cleaner. He enlisted 7 Sep 1916 in the Bedfordshire Regiment, aged 17, and served in France. He was discharged 3 Jun 1919 and awarded the silver medal badge. After the war he returned to SP. On 19 Oct 1921 at St Johns he married (declaring occupation as chauffeur) Beatrice May Gale, b 9 Jul 1898 Bampton, but who lived with parents in SP from just after birth. Beatrice had an elder brother, Walter Gale, who lost his life in 1916 in France during WW1 and a brother Lewis Gale who also served with the 8thDevons. In the 1939 Register Ernest lived with his wife Beatrice at Westcott Cottage, Westleigh – his occupation lorry driver. Ernest G Gunn died there on 16 Dec 1984 with probate £48,957 to his widow Beatrice who died in 1988. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76011902/family
Lewis survived the rest of the war and was discharged from the army 25 Mar 1919. He returned to the village, lived in Boobery in Spring 1920, then moved back with his parents at Jersey Cottage by Spring 1921. The whole family then left the village before Spring 1922 and moved towards Wellington, Somerset. In Dec 1929 in Tiverton, aged 37, Lewis married Annie Maunder (1894-1944). At exactly the same time & place his younger brother, William Harold Gale, married Violet Mabel Maunder – younger sister of Annie. Lewis and Annie did not have any children. In the 1939 register he lived at Leonard Moor, SP with Annie, occupation Council Roadman. Lewis died Mar 1976 in Exeter, aged 84. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76011902/family
GLANVILLE Ira b 1 Jun 1888 Plymtree, Honiton – one of 13 children of William Glanville (b 1845, Ag Lab) and Elizabeth (b 1852). He was a bricklayer / mason and lived in Plymtree with his parents until just after 1911 census. On 13 Mar 1913 in SP he married Florence Elizabeth Morrell (b 1886), dr of John Morrell, ag lab. They lived in SP and had a son Ira Morris / Maurice on 3 Feb 1914 but the baby died aged just 2 months old and they had no more children. In 1915 Electoral Roll they lived at Higher Town (2018: 30 Higher Town). He enlisted in Exeter on 9 Dec 1915 aged 27 years and 192 days – reg no 177232 then 3072787. He joined the Royal Engineers and was then transferred to the 16thBattalion of the Tank Corps on 19 Jan 1918. He served for 2 years 5 months in England and 2 months in France – leaving Southampton for Le Havre 9 Sep 1918 and then suffered from infected nerves in left leg caused by explosive – medical report dated 18 Oct 1918. He was returned to England Nov 1918 and treated in a military hospital in Devonport with burns to thumb and fingers on left hand – possibly the same incident which damaged his left leg. His medical report said he was healed 20 Dec 1918 but in Jan 1919 still had “inability to flex left ankle completely. Fott cold. No pain.” He was transferred to the army reserve, “Class Z”, 18 Feb 1919. The Glanvilles continued to live in Higher Town until 1926. Ira died Jul 1927 in Tiverton hospital aged just 39 and his wife Florence left the village shortly afterwards.
GOFFIN Wilfred John - b 9 Jan 1892, SP. Youngest of 7 children of Frederick Goffin (1851-1932) plumber and Elizabeth Ponsford Farr (1851-1923). Wilfred worked for GWR for a week and then became an engineer’s fitter, living with his parents at Turnpike (2018: number 8) in the 1911 census. Wilfred signed up to the RN 11 Aug 1913 at Devonport for a period of 12 years as a fitter and turner. He was initially based on VIVID II, a shore-based training facility, before moving around many different vessels. Leander Nov13-Oct14, Indefatigable Oct 14-Jul15 (this ship was sunk in Battle of Jutland 1 year after he had left with all but 2 of the 1,079 crew killed), Diligence (Marmaduke) Jan16-Oct16, Dalhousie (Royal Indian Ship based in Basrah) Dec 16-Mar18, Dolphin Aug 18-Oct18. He then had several more years’ service - repairing / maintaining RN ships in the dockyards. He appeared on the SP 1919 absent electoral voters list with ref ERA III M6488 HMS Revenge. Last service date was 15 Nov 1927. In 1920, aged 28, he married Alice Jane Dodd (1893-1977) in Plymouth. They had one daughter, Audrey Hilda (1922-2005). In the 1939 Register Wilfred lived in Plymouth, occupation “Armament Fitter” (retired RN Pensioner). He died Sep 1967 in Plymouth, aged 75. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GOFFIN William – b 10 Feb 1870 in SP to George Goffin (ag Lab at Whitnage farm) and Elizabeth Trevelyan. He was 7thof 8 children, but three older siblings all died as infants in 1864 in a scarlet fever epidemic which decimated the younger population of the village and surrounding areas. William enlisted in the RN 29 Apr 1885 as a 15-year-old. His mother had died 18 months previously. He first saw service on HMS Impregnable as a cabin boy. He gradually rose through the ranks – ordinary seaman, able seaman, leading seaman and was made Petty Officer Apr 1894, aged 24. His “last” service on his first tour of duty was on HMS Ganges on 31 Oct 1898, three weeks after the birth of his first son (who also later served in the RN).
William re-enlisted less than a month after his previous term with the RN. His second tour of duty started on HMS Thunderer and ended 12 years later in Nov 1910 on HMS Blake where his rank was shown as Boatswain. At the age of 40 he then re-enlisted in the Royal Fleet Reserve and had the rank of Chief Boatswain. During WW1 he was the Chief Warrant Officer at the HM Naval Base at Stornoway. On 4 Jul 1921, aged 51, he retired “for good” from the RN with rank Lieutenant. He married in Aug 1897 at SP to Lily Trevelyan who was his first cousin. They lived at Chains Cottage (2018: 8 Chains Road) and had three children, the eldest of whom also served in the RN in WW1 (see below). William died Nov 1949 in SP, aged 79, nine years after his wife Lily died. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GOFFIN William Charles – b 11 Oct 1898, SP. Oldest son of William Goffin (1870-1949, RN career) and Lily Trevellyan (1875-1940) and lived at Chains Cottage (2018: 8 Chains Road). Before the war he was a fitter and turner. He signed up, aged 18 ½, in Mar 1917 to the RN serving on the land-based President II which provided accounting services etc to the RN. He was based at Crystal Palace (andRND training centre), then Cranwell (an RNAS training centre) and finally Wormwood Scrubs (an airship station). Last accounting service date 31 Mar 1918. On 1 Apr 1918 he transferred to the newly-formed RAF, Air Mech I #227675 then from 1919-1920 was a turner. In Nov 1919 he was in Baghdad, then HQ India. 1921 promoted to LAC (still a turner); March 1922 went from Iraq to Port Said, Egypt in 208 Squadron until finally discharged 14 Jun 1923. In Mar 1925 in Biscot, Bedfordshire he married Winifred Maud Tew. They had 3 children in Luton, then the family moved back to Devon in the late 1940’s. William died Dec 1978 in Tiverton, aged 80. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
GUNN Ernest George b 20 Feb 1899 Rackenford, eldest of 5 children of Allen George Gunn (b 1862 S Molton) and Emma Pincombe (b 1879 Rackenford). His father was originally a thatcher, but by the 1911 census he was manager of the Hare and Hounds Inn, Lower Town, SP (2018: 11-17 Lower Town). On 31 Jan 1916, aged nearly 17, he started work with GWR as a cleaner. He enlisted 7 Sep 1916 in the Bedfordshire Regiment, aged 17, and served in France. He was discharged 3 Jun 1919 and awarded the silver medal badge. After the war he returned to SP. On 19 Oct 1921 at St Johns he married (declaring occupation as chauffeur) Beatrice May Gale, b 9 Jul 1898 Bampton, but who lived with parents in SP from just after birth. Beatrice had an elder brother, Walter Gale, who lost his life in 1916 in France during WW1 and a brother Lewis Gale who also served with the 8thDevons. In the 1939 Register Ernest lived with his wife Beatrice at Westcott Cottage, Westleigh – his occupation lorry driver. Ernest G Gunn died there on 16 Dec 1984 with probate £48,957 to his widow Beatrice who died in 1988. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/76011902/family