Surviving participants in WW1, H - J
HELLYER/HELLIER (Richard) Sidney – b SP 20 Jul 1879, bp 11 Sep, to Nicholas Hellyer (ag Lab b 1824 SP) and his second wife Jane Wright (b 1835, Holcombe Rogus). His parents married Oct 1856 Burlescombe and Sidney was the youngest of 10 children. The family lived in Boobery (2018: 3 Boobery). He initially joined the army in Feb 1896, where he gave his age as 18 yrs 1 month – 18 months older than his true age. He joined the 4thDevonshire Regiment on a short service attestation - no 4697. In 1899 he extended his army service and enlisted for a further 21 years. In Sep 1899 he transferred to the ASC #T15188. In Feb 1900 he was transferred to South Africa where he spent the next 10 years. In 1909 in Johannesburg he married Christina Allan McLaren,b 1883 Hunslet, Leeds to Scottish parents – David McLaren (engine driver) and Jessie Fairey. The family returned to England – Bulford Barracks, Wiltshire, where their first Daughter Jessie was b Sep 1910. In the 1911 census he was at Bulford Barracks, Wiltshire, married, now declaring his year of birth as 1881 and serving as a company quarter master sergeant for the 28thArmy Service Company (ASC). His wife and daughter were also living at the barracks in married quarters. They had a second daughter in May 1912 (Ethel). When WW1 commenced he was posted to France, mentioned in despatches in Dec 1915 and was given the Meritorious Service medal Jan 1917. By 1918 he became Staff sergeant major, but now with dob as 27 Jan 1878! He was demobbed Sep 1920 and then moved to Southampton where he became a transport clerk. His wife Christina died Apr 1939 in Lambeth. In the 1939 register he was shown with another dob – 2 Jul 1878, as a widower, a Clerk for a timber broker and lived in Lewisham. 6 months later in London, aged 60, he remarried - to Ivy Victoria Davis 18 years his junior. She predeceased him in Oct 1962, age 65, whilst Richard Sidney died Mar 1967 in Braintree, Essex, aged 87. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/116240277/family
HESLOP Cyril George- b in Rotherfield, Sussex 7 Feb 1882. In 1901 he and his brother Eric (see below) were living with his widowed mother Leera or Lerra Heslop (née Martin) - b in Calcutta, India and of private means, in Lewisham, London. How they came to be living at “Ivydene” (2018: Worths, 3-5 Turnpike), in 1911 is not known. His occupation was shown as ex- stock-jobbers clerk. However, in 1916 Cyril married Dorothy Wallington b 7 Jun 1886, who in 1911 was running the small private school set up by her retired mother at “Morrells” in Lower Town, SP. Dorothy was also not Devon-born, being from Accrington in Lancashire.
Cyril enlisted in the Northern Cyclists' Battalion in January 1917, but was discharged in September 1918 as “no longer physically fit for War Service” [he suffered from varicose veins]. Interestingly, his 'trade' was given as 'Director' and the address of next-of-kin [wife, Dorothy Heslop] was 40, Mercers Road, Holloway, London. In the 1939 register Cyril and his wife Dorothy were at Hendon, Middlesex. Occupation : Managing Director window cleaning company. Cyril and Dorothy clearly returned to Devon at some point after the War because they both died in Honiton – Cyril in 1960 (aged 78) and Dorothy in 1968 (aged 82). Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74092134/family
HESLOP Eric Charles - B in Hornsey 20 Jan 1881 to Charles Henry Heslop and Leera or Lerra Heslop (née Martin), parents were mechanical engineers and lived in 1881 at Rotherfield Sussex, with Leera’s widowed mother, Louisa L Martin (annuitant of private means). In 1901 census in Lee, Lewisham, London Eric lived with widowed mother and once again widowed grandmother. In 1911 census he lived in “Ivydene”, (2018: Worths, 3-5 Turnpike) with his widowed mother (b in Calcutta) and his younger brother Cyril; occupation shown as ex-stockjobbers clerk. A possible military record is for a Lieutenant Eric Charles Heslop in the Manchester Regiment, but another man with this same name was born in Manchester in the same year. There is also a Private E.C. Heslop in the Durham LI, wounded in 1916. He returned to SP and is shown in Gregory’s Directories. He married, aged 49 in 1930 to the 16-year-old Pauline Faye Price (b 12 Apr 1914) at St Thomas (Exeter); she was the daughter of Reginald J.S. Price and his wife Ellen Frances (née Bodenham). In the 1939 register he lived with his wife Pauline at Priscillas Tea Rooms, Alton, Hants where he was the proprietor. Eric died in Alton, Hampshire in Jun 1955 (aged74) leaving effects valued at £434 to his wife Pauline, who died in Surrey in 1974 (aged 60). Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74092134/family
HEYWOOD Henry Edward – b 30 Dec 1895 SP (bp St John’s 19 Feb 1896) to John Heywood (carpenter/wheelwright/farmer) and Susan Elizabeth. Henry was the youngest of 5 children and lived in Kerslake House (2018: Chains Road) in 1901 and in Boobiers (Turnpike) in 1911 – when his father had changed his career from master wheelwright to farmer. Henry was helping on the farm. He signed up but we have not found a definite military record. He may be 210787/204046 in the Devons and then the S Staffs – no birth info to say for sure. A newspaper report in Feb 1917 reported him home on leave with a poisoned hand. In the 1918 electoral roll he has the suffix “NM” but gave his home address as Boobiers, SP. His parents continued to live there until 1924 when his mother died. His father moved away 18 months later. Henry moved to Somerset (Brent Knoll) where he was a railway signalman, living with the “Fox” family. Surprisingly though in 1946, aged 50 and a bachelor, he went to Gothenburg in Sweden and married the 45-year-old spinster Margareta Wahlstedt. They returned to Somerset and there is a burial record in Sep 1977, Weston-super-Mare for Margareta and in Dec 1957 for Henry.
HEYWOOD Walter Arnold - b 1894 Taunton was next eldest brother to Henry (above). Walter and indeed his elder brother John Baker Heywood b 1891, lived in SP up to 1911, in Kerslake House, Chains Road, and Boobiers, Turnpike (2018: 14 Turnpike), but emigrated to New Zealand around 1912 where he became a shepherd. Four years later, in 1916, Walter later joined the New Zealand Infantry 4thBattalion #14813 and sailed to Europe and fought in France. He was wounded in the Messines battle and had his foot smashed. A newspaper report dated 4 Jan 1918 stated that his parents lived in SP but he was recovering in a hospital in Bethnal Green, London. He recovered and returned to New Zealand. He died in 1947 in Horowhenau, New Zealand.
HINE Frederick William – b 24 Apr 1898, Sampford Arundell, Somerset to William James Hine (platelayer GWR) and Alice Stone. He was the 2ndof 5 children. The family lived in one of the two Jersey Cottages in SP. His elder brother, Robert Thomas Hine lost his life on 8 Oct 1917 in Flanders. We have not been able to find a definite military record, but he may be Frederick Hines, Private in the Devons, 203875, or Private Frederick Wm Hine SE/1946 in the RAVC who served in France from December 1914 onwards. We know he signed up as he shows on 1918 electoral Roll as serving with the military, address shown as Lower Town. After the war he worked as fireman for GWR, based in Taunton 1920-1939. In Jun 1927 Taunton he married Nora Lavinia Baker (22 May 1905-1995). They had 4 children. In the 1939 register Frederick, his wife Nora and one son lived at Roman Road, Taunton. He is probably the Frederick W Hine who died in1966 in Taunton. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/68296702/family
HODDER Charles – b 22 Jan 1892 SP to Frank Hodder (aka Otter) and Sarah Drew. He was older brother to Frank and cousin to Charles Henry (see below). He also had an older brother Thomas who served – but Thomas used his mother’s maiden name and was therefore known as Thomas Drew - see earlier in this list.
In the 1901 and 1911 Census Charles lived in a Lower Town cottage (2018: site of 16 Court Way) with his parents and siblings. In 1911 he was a packer with GWR. Shortly after the census he moved to Worle, Axbridge, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. On 18 Nov 1915 he enlisted with the Somerset LI (Machine Gun Corps) with reg # 26699. He was posted to France and served with the BEF from May 1916. On 1 Sep 1916 he was promoted (unpaid) to Lance Corporal. On 28 Mar 1917 he was transferred to 38thBattalion and reverted to Private. He was discharged in Nottingham on 11 Mar 1919 to Z reserves.
He gave his home address on discharge as Cockymoor Farm, South Brewham, Somerset. In Dec 1919 in Axbridge, Weston-S-M he married Ada Maud Williams (née Davis, b 1882) whose husband had died in 1914 leaving her with 4 young children to bring up. Charles and Ada did not have any more children. In the 1939 register they lived at Church Road, Weston-S-M with two children from Ada’s first marriage. Charles’occupation shown as general labourer (heavy work). Charles died in Dec 1948 in Weston-S-M, aged 56. His wife Ada lived for a further 20 years and died Sep 1968. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HODDER Charles Henry- b 6 Oct 1889 SP as Charles Henry OTTER. He was the second illegitimate son of Lucy Otter (b Feb 1868). He was first cousin to the brothers Charles Otter (later Hodder) and Frank Hodder, who were both born in SP and served in WW1 – see records above and below. NB Many researchers have got Charles Henry Hodder and Charles Hodder muddled up!! In the 1891 census Charles Henry and his older brother William Frank were being looked after by their widowed grandmother Sarah Otter in Higher Town (2018: 8 – 10). Charles’ mother, Lucy, had moved to Bridgwater in Somerset and was working as a domestic servant and lodged there in 1891 census. 4 months later, in Axbridge, she married Henry Palmer who was 20 years older than her. They had three children in close succession and in the 1901 census Charles was living in Hutton, Somerset with his mother, stepfather and step siblings.
Charles Henry Hodder enlisted in September 1908 initially in the 10th(Princess of Wales Own) Hussars. In the 1911 census he is with the military unit, stationed in India. On his return he married Lillian Ann Parsons in Weston-super-Mare in October 1914, before serving two tours of duty with the B.E.F., returning in January 1919. He was discharged in September 1920 and awarded the usual 3 medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Charles and Lillian had two children (Lucy 1916, Charles 1919) prior to his discharge from War service and four more afterwards - born between 1921 and 1931. In the 1939 register he lived with his wife Lilian and 4 of his 6 children in Weston-Super-Mare. His occupation was foreman at a coal and timber yard. Charles died in Weston-super-Mare in May 1963, aged 71, having outlived his wife by 8 years. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HODDER Frank b 1 Jul 1897 SP to Frank Hodder (previously Frank Otter) and Sarah Drew. In the 1911 census he had left his parents’ Lower Town cottage (2018: site of 16 Court Way) and was working as a farm servant (Cow Boy!) to the Gater family at Jersey farm. He had two elder brothers who served in the war – Thomas Drew and Charles Hodder above, but we have been unable to find his military record. He may be 4469/18824, Machine Gun Corps then Devon Reg (medal card found on thegenealogist website but no birth or date details so can’t be sure). He was home on leave in Feb 1917 according to a newspaper report with “frozen feet”. A Western Times report on 17 Aug 1917 stated that he had been wounded a second time. On discharge he returned to the village and lived with his widowed mother Sarah in Lower Town from 1920 until her death in 1928. He continued to live in Lower Town and in Jun 1929 in Tiverton he married Florence Annie Pook, b 11 Sep 1900 Blackborough, d of Philip and Sarah Ann Pook.
The newly weds lived in Lower Town up to 1934. In the 1939 Register they lived at Laurel Cottage, Higher Town, SP. Frank gave his occupation as “Permanent Way Labourer”. At some later stage they moved to Weston-super-Mare, close to where his brother Charles lived. Frank and Florence do not appear to have had any children. Frank died Sep 1972 in Weston=-S-M, whilst Florence died 10 years later in 1982, also in Weston-S-M. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HOLLOWAY Samuel Cromwell b 28 Mar 1896 SP to Samuel Holloway (butcher and grocer) and Susanna Kerslake Bowden. In 1911 the family lived at Higher Town (2018: 14 Higher Town) where they ran Holloways shop. Cromwell signed up 27 Aug 1915 in Exeter, Reg No 89195 -WX CC Hation (RAMC) – unit 32MAC. Within 1 month of signing up he was treated for gonorrhoea. His home address was given as 36 Parr Street, Exeter, where there was also a Stanley Holloway living. After 16 months in the UK he was posted to Salonika, Greece and worked there as a cook for the duration of the war. Whilst serving he contracted Malaria, after 9 months in Salonika in Sep 1917. His medical record indicates that in 1917 he also was treated for syphilis. He had 7 further documented attacks of malaria, the last in a B.M.H. in the UK in 13 Jan 1919. He was “disembodied” 12 Apr 1919 under paragraph 392 section xvi(a) –medically unfit for further service and was assessed as being 20% disabled, receiving a weekly pension of 5s 6d. In Autumn 1919 he was on the absent voters electoral roll, home address given as Mount View, Higher Town, SP.
In 1915, before enlisting, he got engaged to a Taunton girl, Gladys Minnie Evans. He sent her love letters and poetry while on service in Macedonia. She moved to London but in 1920 he jilted her and informed her by letter that he had married someone else! There was a court case in May 1920 (where he neither appeared nor was represented) for breach of promise, and the scandal was reported in newspapers across the country. He was found guilty and ordered to pay £100 damages. He moved to St Pancras, London - on ER 1921.
In Dec 1938, age 42, he married Annie Hayes in St Pancras, London – 18 years after the birth of their daughter. Both Annie and her daughter however used the surname “Holloway” from 1920. In the 1939 Register Samuel lived at Mornington Crescent, St Pancras, occupation butcher, with his wife Annie and daughter, who was then a hospital ward orderly. In 1950 he was on the Stepney ER. No death record found. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
HURFORD Lionel George – b 5 May 1898 in SP, third child of John Charles Hurford (a GWR Packer/Platelayer) and Loveday (née Sandercock). He lived in Higher Town (2018: in or near number 40) with his parents and siblings in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. On the “Royal Navy Register of Seamen's Services 1900-1928”, Reg # K28848, his date of birth is recorded as 5 May 1897-so he declared himself to be exactly one year older than he actually was. His occupation was first given as “Horse Driver” later changed to “Engine Driver (stationary)”. He served on three separate vessels: HMS Vivid II 8.11.1915 -2.2.1916 (shore based), HMS Centurion 3.2.1916 -18.2.1916 (shore-based), HMS Vivid II 19.2.1916 -25.4.1916 (shore based), HMS Bellerephon 26.4.1916 -16.7.1919 (Battle of Jutland et al). He did not return to the village. He married Ivy Parkhouse (b 30 Nov 1897 in SP, daughter of shoemaker Tom Parkhouse) in London in 1922. In the 1939 register he was a civilian carpenter living at the Barracks, London Road, Hertford. He died in Hertford aged 51 on 23 Dec 1949. Lionel and Ivy had five children (3 boys and 2 girls) between 1923 and 1934.
HUTCHINSON Jack – b Apr 1896 Tiverton was the 4thof 6 surviving children of John Hutchinson (Farm Carter, b 1861 Hastings, Sussex) and Augusta Ann Bird (b 1865, Shaldon). In the 1901 census the family lived in the Lowman Ward of Tiverton – at Putson Cross. Before 1911 Jack (aka John) had left home, but his parents and 3 siblings still lived there. By 1913 his parents had moved to Kings Cottages, Lower Town, (2018: site of 5-7 Lower Town) where they stayed until the end of 1924. Jack enlisted in the Devon Regiment as private #11909 and first saw active service in France on 22 Sep 1915. Later he was promoted to Lance Corporal – recorded as HuNtchinGson. He was included on the 1919 absent voters list as Corporal J. Hutchinson #11909, 10thDevon Regiment and gave his address as Lower Town, SP – where his parents lived. He does not appear on any subsequent Electoral Roll for SP. He appears to have married a Lily Gardner (b 5 May 1885) in Mar 1920 in Tiverton. In the 1939 register they lived at Rembarton Cottage - Cullompton where his occupation was “farm Carter”. Lily must have died shortly after this register. In Mar 1941, Tiverton Jack remarried to an Edith Charlotte Smith. Jack died in Jun 1959 in Halberton, Tiverton, aged 62, leaving probate to his widow Edith Charlotte.
HUTCHINSON Sidney, b 16 May 1892, Uffculme, was the elder brother of Jack (above) and 1stchild of John and Augusta. He was still living with his parents in 1911 census, aged 18 at Putson Cross, Lowman Ward, Tiverton where his occupation was Carter on Farm – just like his father John. By 1913 his parents had moved to Kings Cottages, Lower Town, (2018: site of 5-7 Lower Town) where they stayed until the end of 1924. In Jan 1912, aged 19 years 8 months, Sidney signed up for 12 years military service with the 15th Hussars #8077– Hussars of the Line. He was invalided out on 27 Jul 1912 as being medically unfit for further service. There is a record later in 1912 for him as a Chelsea Pensioner. He must have re-enlisted - as on 1 Dec 1917, Shoesmith Sydney (sic) Hutchingson (sic sic) was home on 10 days leave from France after 15 months service - to attend the wedding of his sister Augusta (same name as his mother) to Francis George Evans (a sailor). A Sidney Huchinson, Reg #J71673 received the standard victory war medal at the end of the war – but this is a Navy Record – so as he was previously recorded as serving in France – an Army, not Navy theatre of war, he may have changed regiments once again. In Oct 1914 Tiverton, an ordinary Seaman J71673 called Sidney Hutchinson married a Beatrice Maud Bradford (b Jan 1895 Exmouth). They had two children. In the 1939 register they lived at Shillands, Tiverton where Sidney was employed as a Crepe Worker, Textile. Sidney died 5 Mar 1969 in Tiverton.
HESLOP Cyril George- b in Rotherfield, Sussex 7 Feb 1882. In 1901 he and his brother Eric (see below) were living with his widowed mother Leera or Lerra Heslop (née Martin) - b in Calcutta, India and of private means, in Lewisham, London. How they came to be living at “Ivydene” (2018: Worths, 3-5 Turnpike), in 1911 is not known. His occupation was shown as ex- stock-jobbers clerk. However, in 1916 Cyril married Dorothy Wallington b 7 Jun 1886, who in 1911 was running the small private school set up by her retired mother at “Morrells” in Lower Town, SP. Dorothy was also not Devon-born, being from Accrington in Lancashire.
Cyril enlisted in the Northern Cyclists' Battalion in January 1917, but was discharged in September 1918 as “no longer physically fit for War Service” [he suffered from varicose veins]. Interestingly, his 'trade' was given as 'Director' and the address of next-of-kin [wife, Dorothy Heslop] was 40, Mercers Road, Holloway, London. In the 1939 register Cyril and his wife Dorothy were at Hendon, Middlesex. Occupation : Managing Director window cleaning company. Cyril and Dorothy clearly returned to Devon at some point after the War because they both died in Honiton – Cyril in 1960 (aged 78) and Dorothy in 1968 (aged 82). Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74092134/family
HESLOP Eric Charles - B in Hornsey 20 Jan 1881 to Charles Henry Heslop and Leera or Lerra Heslop (née Martin), parents were mechanical engineers and lived in 1881 at Rotherfield Sussex, with Leera’s widowed mother, Louisa L Martin (annuitant of private means). In 1901 census in Lee, Lewisham, London Eric lived with widowed mother and once again widowed grandmother. In 1911 census he lived in “Ivydene”, (2018: Worths, 3-5 Turnpike) with his widowed mother (b in Calcutta) and his younger brother Cyril; occupation shown as ex-stockjobbers clerk. A possible military record is for a Lieutenant Eric Charles Heslop in the Manchester Regiment, but another man with this same name was born in Manchester in the same year. There is also a Private E.C. Heslop in the Durham LI, wounded in 1916. He returned to SP and is shown in Gregory’s Directories. He married, aged 49 in 1930 to the 16-year-old Pauline Faye Price (b 12 Apr 1914) at St Thomas (Exeter); she was the daughter of Reginald J.S. Price and his wife Ellen Frances (née Bodenham). In the 1939 register he lived with his wife Pauline at Priscillas Tea Rooms, Alton, Hants where he was the proprietor. Eric died in Alton, Hampshire in Jun 1955 (aged74) leaving effects valued at £434 to his wife Pauline, who died in Surrey in 1974 (aged 60). Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74092134/family
HEYWOOD Henry Edward – b 30 Dec 1895 SP (bp St John’s 19 Feb 1896) to John Heywood (carpenter/wheelwright/farmer) and Susan Elizabeth. Henry was the youngest of 5 children and lived in Kerslake House (2018: Chains Road) in 1901 and in Boobiers (Turnpike) in 1911 – when his father had changed his career from master wheelwright to farmer. Henry was helping on the farm. He signed up but we have not found a definite military record. He may be 210787/204046 in the Devons and then the S Staffs – no birth info to say for sure. A newspaper report in Feb 1917 reported him home on leave with a poisoned hand. In the 1918 electoral roll he has the suffix “NM” but gave his home address as Boobiers, SP. His parents continued to live there until 1924 when his mother died. His father moved away 18 months later. Henry moved to Somerset (Brent Knoll) where he was a railway signalman, living with the “Fox” family. Surprisingly though in 1946, aged 50 and a bachelor, he went to Gothenburg in Sweden and married the 45-year-old spinster Margareta Wahlstedt. They returned to Somerset and there is a burial record in Sep 1977, Weston-super-Mare for Margareta and in Dec 1957 for Henry.
HEYWOOD Walter Arnold - b 1894 Taunton was next eldest brother to Henry (above). Walter and indeed his elder brother John Baker Heywood b 1891, lived in SP up to 1911, in Kerslake House, Chains Road, and Boobiers, Turnpike (2018: 14 Turnpike), but emigrated to New Zealand around 1912 where he became a shepherd. Four years later, in 1916, Walter later joined the New Zealand Infantry 4thBattalion #14813 and sailed to Europe and fought in France. He was wounded in the Messines battle and had his foot smashed. A newspaper report dated 4 Jan 1918 stated that his parents lived in SP but he was recovering in a hospital in Bethnal Green, London. He recovered and returned to New Zealand. He died in 1947 in Horowhenau, New Zealand.
HINE Frederick William – b 24 Apr 1898, Sampford Arundell, Somerset to William James Hine (platelayer GWR) and Alice Stone. He was the 2ndof 5 children. The family lived in one of the two Jersey Cottages in SP. His elder brother, Robert Thomas Hine lost his life on 8 Oct 1917 in Flanders. We have not been able to find a definite military record, but he may be Frederick Hines, Private in the Devons, 203875, or Private Frederick Wm Hine SE/1946 in the RAVC who served in France from December 1914 onwards. We know he signed up as he shows on 1918 electoral Roll as serving with the military, address shown as Lower Town. After the war he worked as fireman for GWR, based in Taunton 1920-1939. In Jun 1927 Taunton he married Nora Lavinia Baker (22 May 1905-1995). They had 4 children. In the 1939 register Frederick, his wife Nora and one son lived at Roman Road, Taunton. He is probably the Frederick W Hine who died in1966 in Taunton. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/68296702/family
HODDER Charles – b 22 Jan 1892 SP to Frank Hodder (aka Otter) and Sarah Drew. He was older brother to Frank and cousin to Charles Henry (see below). He also had an older brother Thomas who served – but Thomas used his mother’s maiden name and was therefore known as Thomas Drew - see earlier in this list.
In the 1901 and 1911 Census Charles lived in a Lower Town cottage (2018: site of 16 Court Way) with his parents and siblings. In 1911 he was a packer with GWR. Shortly after the census he moved to Worle, Axbridge, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. On 18 Nov 1915 he enlisted with the Somerset LI (Machine Gun Corps) with reg # 26699. He was posted to France and served with the BEF from May 1916. On 1 Sep 1916 he was promoted (unpaid) to Lance Corporal. On 28 Mar 1917 he was transferred to 38thBattalion and reverted to Private. He was discharged in Nottingham on 11 Mar 1919 to Z reserves.
He gave his home address on discharge as Cockymoor Farm, South Brewham, Somerset. In Dec 1919 in Axbridge, Weston-S-M he married Ada Maud Williams (née Davis, b 1882) whose husband had died in 1914 leaving her with 4 young children to bring up. Charles and Ada did not have any more children. In the 1939 register they lived at Church Road, Weston-S-M with two children from Ada’s first marriage. Charles’occupation shown as general labourer (heavy work). Charles died in Dec 1948 in Weston-S-M, aged 56. His wife Ada lived for a further 20 years and died Sep 1968. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HODDER Charles Henry- b 6 Oct 1889 SP as Charles Henry OTTER. He was the second illegitimate son of Lucy Otter (b Feb 1868). He was first cousin to the brothers Charles Otter (later Hodder) and Frank Hodder, who were both born in SP and served in WW1 – see records above and below. NB Many researchers have got Charles Henry Hodder and Charles Hodder muddled up!! In the 1891 census Charles Henry and his older brother William Frank were being looked after by their widowed grandmother Sarah Otter in Higher Town (2018: 8 – 10). Charles’ mother, Lucy, had moved to Bridgwater in Somerset and was working as a domestic servant and lodged there in 1891 census. 4 months later, in Axbridge, she married Henry Palmer who was 20 years older than her. They had three children in close succession and in the 1901 census Charles was living in Hutton, Somerset with his mother, stepfather and step siblings.
Charles Henry Hodder enlisted in September 1908 initially in the 10th(Princess of Wales Own) Hussars. In the 1911 census he is with the military unit, stationed in India. On his return he married Lillian Ann Parsons in Weston-super-Mare in October 1914, before serving two tours of duty with the B.E.F., returning in January 1919. He was discharged in September 1920 and awarded the usual 3 medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Charles and Lillian had two children (Lucy 1916, Charles 1919) prior to his discharge from War service and four more afterwards - born between 1921 and 1931. In the 1939 register he lived with his wife Lilian and 4 of his 6 children in Weston-Super-Mare. His occupation was foreman at a coal and timber yard. Charles died in Weston-super-Mare in May 1963, aged 71, having outlived his wife by 8 years. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HODDER Frank b 1 Jul 1897 SP to Frank Hodder (previously Frank Otter) and Sarah Drew. In the 1911 census he had left his parents’ Lower Town cottage (2018: site of 16 Court Way) and was working as a farm servant (Cow Boy!) to the Gater family at Jersey farm. He had two elder brothers who served in the war – Thomas Drew and Charles Hodder above, but we have been unable to find his military record. He may be 4469/18824, Machine Gun Corps then Devon Reg (medal card found on thegenealogist website but no birth or date details so can’t be sure). He was home on leave in Feb 1917 according to a newspaper report with “frozen feet”. A Western Times report on 17 Aug 1917 stated that he had been wounded a second time. On discharge he returned to the village and lived with his widowed mother Sarah in Lower Town from 1920 until her death in 1928. He continued to live in Lower Town and in Jun 1929 in Tiverton he married Florence Annie Pook, b 11 Sep 1900 Blackborough, d of Philip and Sarah Ann Pook.
The newly weds lived in Lower Town up to 1934. In the 1939 Register they lived at Laurel Cottage, Higher Town, SP. Frank gave his occupation as “Permanent Way Labourer”. At some later stage they moved to Weston-super-Mare, close to where his brother Charles lived. Frank and Florence do not appear to have had any children. Frank died Sep 1972 in Weston=-S-M, whilst Florence died 10 years later in 1982, also in Weston-S-M. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/118211823/family
HOLLOWAY Samuel Cromwell b 28 Mar 1896 SP to Samuel Holloway (butcher and grocer) and Susanna Kerslake Bowden. In 1911 the family lived at Higher Town (2018: 14 Higher Town) where they ran Holloways shop. Cromwell signed up 27 Aug 1915 in Exeter, Reg No 89195 -WX CC Hation (RAMC) – unit 32MAC. Within 1 month of signing up he was treated for gonorrhoea. His home address was given as 36 Parr Street, Exeter, where there was also a Stanley Holloway living. After 16 months in the UK he was posted to Salonika, Greece and worked there as a cook for the duration of the war. Whilst serving he contracted Malaria, after 9 months in Salonika in Sep 1917. His medical record indicates that in 1917 he also was treated for syphilis. He had 7 further documented attacks of malaria, the last in a B.M.H. in the UK in 13 Jan 1919. He was “disembodied” 12 Apr 1919 under paragraph 392 section xvi(a) –medically unfit for further service and was assessed as being 20% disabled, receiving a weekly pension of 5s 6d. In Autumn 1919 he was on the absent voters electoral roll, home address given as Mount View, Higher Town, SP.
In 1915, before enlisting, he got engaged to a Taunton girl, Gladys Minnie Evans. He sent her love letters and poetry while on service in Macedonia. She moved to London but in 1920 he jilted her and informed her by letter that he had married someone else! There was a court case in May 1920 (where he neither appeared nor was represented) for breach of promise, and the scandal was reported in newspapers across the country. He was found guilty and ordered to pay £100 damages. He moved to St Pancras, London - on ER 1921.
In Dec 1938, age 42, he married Annie Hayes in St Pancras, London – 18 years after the birth of their daughter. Both Annie and her daughter however used the surname “Holloway” from 1920. In the 1939 Register Samuel lived at Mornington Crescent, St Pancras, occupation butcher, with his wife Annie and daughter, who was then a hospital ward orderly. In 1950 he was on the Stepney ER. No death record found. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
HURFORD Lionel George – b 5 May 1898 in SP, third child of John Charles Hurford (a GWR Packer/Platelayer) and Loveday (née Sandercock). He lived in Higher Town (2018: in or near number 40) with his parents and siblings in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. On the “Royal Navy Register of Seamen's Services 1900-1928”, Reg # K28848, his date of birth is recorded as 5 May 1897-so he declared himself to be exactly one year older than he actually was. His occupation was first given as “Horse Driver” later changed to “Engine Driver (stationary)”. He served on three separate vessels: HMS Vivid II 8.11.1915 -2.2.1916 (shore based), HMS Centurion 3.2.1916 -18.2.1916 (shore-based), HMS Vivid II 19.2.1916 -25.4.1916 (shore based), HMS Bellerephon 26.4.1916 -16.7.1919 (Battle of Jutland et al). He did not return to the village. He married Ivy Parkhouse (b 30 Nov 1897 in SP, daughter of shoemaker Tom Parkhouse) in London in 1922. In the 1939 register he was a civilian carpenter living at the Barracks, London Road, Hertford. He died in Hertford aged 51 on 23 Dec 1949. Lionel and Ivy had five children (3 boys and 2 girls) between 1923 and 1934.
HUTCHINSON Jack – b Apr 1896 Tiverton was the 4thof 6 surviving children of John Hutchinson (Farm Carter, b 1861 Hastings, Sussex) and Augusta Ann Bird (b 1865, Shaldon). In the 1901 census the family lived in the Lowman Ward of Tiverton – at Putson Cross. Before 1911 Jack (aka John) had left home, but his parents and 3 siblings still lived there. By 1913 his parents had moved to Kings Cottages, Lower Town, (2018: site of 5-7 Lower Town) where they stayed until the end of 1924. Jack enlisted in the Devon Regiment as private #11909 and first saw active service in France on 22 Sep 1915. Later he was promoted to Lance Corporal – recorded as HuNtchinGson. He was included on the 1919 absent voters list as Corporal J. Hutchinson #11909, 10thDevon Regiment and gave his address as Lower Town, SP – where his parents lived. He does not appear on any subsequent Electoral Roll for SP. He appears to have married a Lily Gardner (b 5 May 1885) in Mar 1920 in Tiverton. In the 1939 register they lived at Rembarton Cottage - Cullompton where his occupation was “farm Carter”. Lily must have died shortly after this register. In Mar 1941, Tiverton Jack remarried to an Edith Charlotte Smith. Jack died in Jun 1959 in Halberton, Tiverton, aged 62, leaving probate to his widow Edith Charlotte.
HUTCHINSON Sidney, b 16 May 1892, Uffculme, was the elder brother of Jack (above) and 1stchild of John and Augusta. He was still living with his parents in 1911 census, aged 18 at Putson Cross, Lowman Ward, Tiverton where his occupation was Carter on Farm – just like his father John. By 1913 his parents had moved to Kings Cottages, Lower Town, (2018: site of 5-7 Lower Town) where they stayed until the end of 1924. In Jan 1912, aged 19 years 8 months, Sidney signed up for 12 years military service with the 15th Hussars #8077– Hussars of the Line. He was invalided out on 27 Jul 1912 as being medically unfit for further service. There is a record later in 1912 for him as a Chelsea Pensioner. He must have re-enlisted - as on 1 Dec 1917, Shoesmith Sydney (sic) Hutchingson (sic sic) was home on 10 days leave from France after 15 months service - to attend the wedding of his sister Augusta (same name as his mother) to Francis George Evans (a sailor). A Sidney Huchinson, Reg #J71673 received the standard victory war medal at the end of the war – but this is a Navy Record – so as he was previously recorded as serving in France – an Army, not Navy theatre of war, he may have changed regiments once again. In Oct 1914 Tiverton, an ordinary Seaman J71673 called Sidney Hutchinson married a Beatrice Maud Bradford (b Jan 1895 Exmouth). They had two children. In the 1939 register they lived at Shillands, Tiverton where Sidney was employed as a Crepe Worker, Textile. Sidney died 5 Mar 1969 in Tiverton.
JOHNSON Alfred b Q4 1895 Kingstone, Uttoxeter, Staffs. In 1901 census he lived at Heath Union Workhouse, Uttoxeter with elder brother John b 1892 and younger brother Ernest (see below). No parents were shown, but our research shows them to have been Henry Johnson, plate layer and Elizabeth (née Plant) from Manchester. In 1911 census, Alfred and his younger brother Ernest (see below) were at St Boniface Home for Waifs and Strays. His age was recorded as 14, but was in fact 15. He signed up before May 1915, initially in the ASC as M2/077750, serving in France , then transferred as a private to Ox & Bucks Light Infantry #33817. In 1919 Electoral Roll he was at West Pitt farm, in 1921 ER at Wharf Cottage and in 1922-1927 ER at Higher Town. He left the village in 1928. He may be the Alfred Johnson who was doing munitions work in Uttoxeter, Staffs in 1939. Family tree: http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/75014822/family
JOHNSON Ernest (aka Jack) b 5 May 1898 Kingstone, Uttoxeter, Staffs – younger brother to Alfred above. 1901 census he was at a workhouse in Uttoxeter (no parents) and by 1911 he was at St Boniface home for Waifs and Strays in Lower Town. He enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry (date unknown, but during WW1 as he received WW1 medals) # 26677/0338. He served with the 8thplatoon and was in Acre, Egypt on 2 Nov 1919, where he sent a postcard to Ivy Nester Trevellyan, of Wharf House, SP (2018: Fairview Cottage) who was 16 at the time. Her father, James Trevellyan, had died in the war (see earlier for more details). In 1921 and early in 1922 he was still serving with the Somerset Light Infantry – in India. In the 1922 electoral roll Ernest was recorded as NM with home address Wharf Cottage, Turnpike - occupiers Edith Ann Trevelyan and Edwin and Sarah Vickery. On 22 Apr 1924 SP, Ernest (a gardener) married Ivy (see photo above) who later became a teacher. By 1935 Edith Trevellyan and her daughter Ivy (Ernest’s wife) had completed the purchase of Woodbine Farm, Culmstock. The family lived there until their deaths. Ernest died Feb 1986 and his wife Ivy died two years later. They did not have any children. Family tree: http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/75014822/family
There are many more phots of Ernest Johnson on this page
There are many more phots of Ernest Johnson on this page