Surviving participants in WW1, O - Q
OSMOND Albert John b 12 May 1887, Halberton, eldest of 10 children of John (1861-1944, Ag Lab) and Annie (1867-1933, née Osmant). In 1911 census he was a traction engine driver, single, lived with parents and nine siblings at Catfords Cottage and he worked at Catfords Farm (1m S of SP). In April 1913 he married Louisa Hawkins (b May 1885). They moved to Kings Cottages Lower Town (2018: site of 5-7 Lower Town), which was his home address when he enlisted 7 Jun 1916 on Short Service attestation to the army reserve at Exeter - #WR21181 where he gave his occupation as ploughman. He was mobilised on 6 January 1917, initially as a sapper for the 302nd Road Construction Company in the Royal Engineers, number 228255. However, on 31 January he was transferred to the 306th Road Construction Company, now with number WR 21181, also as a sapper, in which company he remained for the duration of the war. He embarked for France on 2 February 1917. Working initially as a Road Maker, he passed the test for a steam roller driver in March 1918, which gave him a small increase in pay. Albert was wounded in the leg while on active service. He was eventually demobilised to the Army Reserves on 12 November 1919. He returned to SP, living at 4 Kings Cottages, Lower Town, occupation labourer, where he and his wife Louisa had 9 children(including twins).The family still lived there in 1939 but later moved to Boobery. His granddaughter remembers him very fondly, describing him as quiet, but a beautiful man. Albert died in 1963 in Tiverton. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
OSMOND William Henry b 23 Oct 1892, Brithem Bottom, Halberton, 2nd of 10 children of John and Annie, younger brother to Albert (above). He joined the Royal Marines on 11 Jan 1911, service number 15220, giving his parents’ address as Little Catfords Farm. During WW1 he served on the Eclipse and the Orion and was on board the Orion while it was taking part in the Battle of Jutland (31 May to 1 Jun 1916), the biggest naval battle of the war. On 4 Mar 1919 in SP he married Alice Maud Morrell (b 7 Aug 1896), where his occupation was shown as private in Royal Marines. He was invalided out on 16 October 1919 after 8 months back in Plymouth. Three children were born while they were living in Waterloo Cross. In the 1939 register the family lived at Waterloo Cross Cottages, Pugham Crossing where William was a “Farm Carter”. William died 8 Dec 1972, aged 80, and is buried in SP cemetery. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/74614375/family
PARKER William b 11 Jan 1889, bp 20 Mar SP – 2nd/5 children of John Richard 1866 (Hockworthy) -1908 (labourer) and Jessie Jones, b 1868 Holcombe Rogus. In 1911 census William was an Ag Lab living with his younger brother John Richard with their remarried mother Mrs Jessie Taylor and stepfather George Henry Taylor (a farmer) at Mount Pleasant, Whitnage Road, SP. His stepfather’s son by his first marriage was William Henry Taylor, a Major in the Veterinary Corps who lost his life just after WW1 ended. There is more about him earlier in this book.
William Parker enlisted in the Devon Regiment in Exeter 4 Sep 1914, but whist initially accepted, he was discharged 7 weeks later on 23 Oct 1914 as he had hammer toes. However, in the SP 1918 ER, “military section” he lived at “Roberts” on Boobery (2018: number 16) with “NM” after his name, so we suspect he joined the military at a second attempt. In the Spring 1920 ER he was still living with his younger brother John at “Roberts”, but left the village shortly afterwards. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/69315156/family
PARKHOUSE Albert William George B 5 Jan 1891 and baptized 19 Apr 1891 in SP, he was 5th/9 children of Tom Parkhouse, shoemaker and Clara (née Ponsford), a dressmaker. In 1901, the family lived in Boobery (2018: 3-5 Boobery), but by 1911 they had moved to Royal Oak Cottages in Higher Town (2018: the space between 14 and the school). Albert, now 20, worked as an assistant boot-maker for his father. Albert WG Parkhouse had 2 service records: firstly as a private in the Worcester Regiment, no 203226; secondly as private in the Royal Engineers, no 362762. In Mar 1925 in Exeter he married Lillian Victoria Butt (b12 Feb 1901). They had one son born in 1926. In the 1939 register the family lived at Sidmouth St, Seaton where Albert was a “Boot and Shoe Repairer and Retailer”. His elder brother Stanley (a baker) lived with them. Albert died Dec 1983 in Honiton, aged 92. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
PARKHOUSE Stanley Tom b 9 Nov 1889 was 4thof 9 children of Tom (bootmaker) and Clara (dressmaker), elder brother to Albert William George (above). By 1911 Census Stanley Tom had moved to Gold St, Tiverton where he was employed as a baker. He enlisted 21 Feb 1916 at Devonport, M19015, as a cook’s mate. He first saw service at Vivid I – a shore-based installation, then moved to “Suffolk” 17 May 1917. He was finally discharged 31 Jul 1919 and initially returned to live with his parents at Royal Oak Cottages, Higher Town (2018: the space between 14 and the school)until Spring 1923. He was employed as a bootmaker and postman. In the 1939 register he was a baker, living with his brother Albert at Seaton, Devon. He later moved to Torquay, but he did not marry and died Apr 1952, leaving estate £1,163 to his younger brother, Victor Eli Parkhouse (a boot dealer in SP). Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
PEARCE Edward Leslie was b 6 May 1887 in SP and baptized at St John’s on 12 Jun. He was the youngest of three children of Edward Pearce 1855-1950 and Louisa Florence Dunning 1855-1956. Both of his parents had extraordinarily long lives. His father Edward was born in Uplowman and bought up on a series of large farms – his father Thomas was a Yeoman farmer with over 300 acres. In the 1881 census the family were living at Turberfield House, Lower Town, but still running their farm in Uplowman, as well as being lime burners. Edward married in 1884 in Creech St Michael, Somerset to Louisa Florence Dunning, one of 9 children of a gentleman farmer. The newlyweds had three children within 3 years of getting married – the youngest being Edward Leslie. The family lived at Boehill Barton, 1m to the north of SP where they were “gentleman farmers”. In the 1911 census, Edward Leslie, aged 23, was managing the farm on behalf of his father who was temporarily abroad – in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Edward Leslie enlisted with the Devons – private #45696, serving first with the 2ndDevons then later with the 8thDevons. He served in France. He was discharged from the army on 3 Mar 1919. He returned to the village and lived with his parents on their farm at Boehill - he was on E.R. Autumn 1919 to Spring 1925. In Jun 1926 Thakeham, Sussex he married Mildred Dunning Aysh - his first cousin. The married couple returned to Boehill by 1927 and his parents moved out to Morrells in Lower Town. Edward and Mildred left Boehill end 1929 and in 1930 ER were at Pullen’s House, Lower Town whilst his parents had moved over the road to Turberfield House – returning to where Edward lived with his parents in 1881 census. Both Pearce families were still in the same houses in the 1939 register.
Edward Leslie retired from farming by 1950 and died 3 Dec 1961 in Sunnycroft, SP - probate £21,461 to Stanley Pearce and Wilfred Thomas Cook – 2ndcousins. His wife Mildred died 6 years later in 1967, also in SP. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/117056639/family
PEDLER Alice Agnes b 31 Aug 1873 SP, daughter of William Frederick Pedler (Yeoman) and Elizabeth Garnsey Pedler (née Pocock). They lived at Sampford Barton and farmed 350 acres. There were eventually 11 children. She and her sister Mary, pursued careers in nursing – Alice worked at various hospitals in the South East before becoming a trained nurse. She was a Red Cross Volunteer in July 1915. She continued nursing until 1921. She later moved to Rock House, Halberton to live with her sister Mary and they travelled Oct 1932 to South Africa, returning a year later. She died, a spinster, on 12 Nov 1942 in Rock House, Halberton aged 69. There is more about her in the book chapter on Sampford Peverell women. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/famil
William Parker enlisted in the Devon Regiment in Exeter 4 Sep 1914, but whist initially accepted, he was discharged 7 weeks later on 23 Oct 1914 as he had hammer toes. However, in the SP 1918 ER, “military section” he lived at “Roberts” on Boobery (2018: number 16) with “NM” after his name, so we suspect he joined the military at a second attempt. In the Spring 1920 ER he was still living with his younger brother John at “Roberts”, but left the village shortly afterwards. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/69315156/family
PARKHOUSE Albert William George B 5 Jan 1891 and baptized 19 Apr 1891 in SP, he was 5th/9 children of Tom Parkhouse, shoemaker and Clara (née Ponsford), a dressmaker. In 1901, the family lived in Boobery (2018: 3-5 Boobery), but by 1911 they had moved to Royal Oak Cottages in Higher Town (2018: the space between 14 and the school). Albert, now 20, worked as an assistant boot-maker for his father. Albert WG Parkhouse had 2 service records: firstly as a private in the Worcester Regiment, no 203226; secondly as private in the Royal Engineers, no 362762. In Mar 1925 in Exeter he married Lillian Victoria Butt (b12 Feb 1901). They had one son born in 1926. In the 1939 register the family lived at Sidmouth St, Seaton where Albert was a “Boot and Shoe Repairer and Retailer”. His elder brother Stanley (a baker) lived with them. Albert died Dec 1983 in Honiton, aged 92. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
PARKHOUSE Stanley Tom b 9 Nov 1889 was 4thof 9 children of Tom (bootmaker) and Clara (dressmaker), elder brother to Albert William George (above). By 1911 Census Stanley Tom had moved to Gold St, Tiverton where he was employed as a baker. He enlisted 21 Feb 1916 at Devonport, M19015, as a cook’s mate. He first saw service at Vivid I – a shore-based installation, then moved to “Suffolk” 17 May 1917. He was finally discharged 31 Jul 1919 and initially returned to live with his parents at Royal Oak Cottages, Higher Town (2018: the space between 14 and the school)until Spring 1923. He was employed as a bootmaker and postman. In the 1939 register he was a baker, living with his brother Albert at Seaton, Devon. He later moved to Torquay, but he did not marry and died Apr 1952, leaving estate £1,163 to his younger brother, Victor Eli Parkhouse (a boot dealer in SP). Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/54003725/family
PEARCE Edward Leslie was b 6 May 1887 in SP and baptized at St John’s on 12 Jun. He was the youngest of three children of Edward Pearce 1855-1950 and Louisa Florence Dunning 1855-1956. Both of his parents had extraordinarily long lives. His father Edward was born in Uplowman and bought up on a series of large farms – his father Thomas was a Yeoman farmer with over 300 acres. In the 1881 census the family were living at Turberfield House, Lower Town, but still running their farm in Uplowman, as well as being lime burners. Edward married in 1884 in Creech St Michael, Somerset to Louisa Florence Dunning, one of 9 children of a gentleman farmer. The newlyweds had three children within 3 years of getting married – the youngest being Edward Leslie. The family lived at Boehill Barton, 1m to the north of SP where they were “gentleman farmers”. In the 1911 census, Edward Leslie, aged 23, was managing the farm on behalf of his father who was temporarily abroad – in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Edward Leslie enlisted with the Devons – private #45696, serving first with the 2ndDevons then later with the 8thDevons. He served in France. He was discharged from the army on 3 Mar 1919. He returned to the village and lived with his parents on their farm at Boehill - he was on E.R. Autumn 1919 to Spring 1925. In Jun 1926 Thakeham, Sussex he married Mildred Dunning Aysh - his first cousin. The married couple returned to Boehill by 1927 and his parents moved out to Morrells in Lower Town. Edward and Mildred left Boehill end 1929 and in 1930 ER were at Pullen’s House, Lower Town whilst his parents had moved over the road to Turberfield House – returning to where Edward lived with his parents in 1881 census. Both Pearce families were still in the same houses in the 1939 register.
Edward Leslie retired from farming by 1950 and died 3 Dec 1961 in Sunnycroft, SP - probate £21,461 to Stanley Pearce and Wilfred Thomas Cook – 2ndcousins. His wife Mildred died 6 years later in 1967, also in SP. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/117056639/family
PEDLER Alice Agnes b 31 Aug 1873 SP, daughter of William Frederick Pedler (Yeoman) and Elizabeth Garnsey Pedler (née Pocock). They lived at Sampford Barton and farmed 350 acres. There were eventually 11 children. She and her sister Mary, pursued careers in nursing – Alice worked at various hospitals in the South East before becoming a trained nurse. She was a Red Cross Volunteer in July 1915. She continued nursing until 1921. She later moved to Rock House, Halberton to live with her sister Mary and they travelled Oct 1932 to South Africa, returning a year later. She died, a spinster, on 12 Nov 1942 in Rock House, Halberton aged 69. There is more about her in the book chapter on Sampford Peverell women. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/famil
PEDLER Mary – b 7 May 1868 to William Frederick Pedler (Yeoman) and Elizabeth Garnsey Pedler (née Pocock) of the Barton, SP. She trained at the University College Hospital, London 1892-1898 and joined the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service General Hospital in 1903 as a nursing Sister. She became Assistant Matron, in the same order. Her next position was Acting Matron at the Military Hospital, Magdalen Camp, Winchester. She received a Royal Red Cross Award, which was published in the London Gazette on 23/2/1917, and was decorated by HM King at Buckingham Palace on 31/3/1917. The citation stated that she already held both the South Africa medals. She retired Jan 1921 and lived at Rock House, Halberton with her sister Alice. They travelled together to South Africa for a year in 1932/33. She died at Rock House, Halberton 15 Mar 1955. There is more about her in the book chapter on Sampford Peverell women. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/family
PEDLER Walter George b 27 Nov 1871 SP, bp 1 Jan 1872, 4th/8 children of William Frederick Pedler (Yeoman, lived at The Barton, SP) and his wife Elizabeth Garnsey Pedler. In 1881 census he lived with his parents and siblings at Sampford Barton, where his father was a farmer of 350 acres. By 1891, aged 20, he had moved to Hay in South Wales where he was employed as a clerk. He is assumed abroad by April 1901 as he was nowhere in the UK census. He may well have been Sgt Walter George Pedler who served in Bulawayo in the S African police during the Boer War, 1899-1902. In 1906 he sailed to Quebec with brother Herbert – both show occupation as farmers. In Jun 1915 he left South Africa, which was now his permanent residence and returned to the UK where he enlisted in the ASC, then aged 44, as a sergeant DM2/117923. A September 1917 newspaper article reported that “Sergt W Pedlar, ASC, Sampford Barton” was home on leave. On 30 Aug 1919 he received the Victory Medal and also the British War Medal. He returned to Pretoria, South Africa after the war and made occasional trips to the UK where he stayed at Rock House, Halberton – where his sisters lived. His final journey back to England was in Apr 1953, aged 81. He died in the Tiverton area in Q3 1955. His probate showed £4k of assets in the UK but probate was managed in Pretoria, South Africa, where his main estate and permanent residence was situated. He remained single all of his life. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/107786313/family
PERRY Charles John – b Mar 1881 Holcombe Rogus 4th/7 children to James Perry 1849-1897 (Carpenter) and Jane Vickery 1857-1928. Charles was a furniture maker who lived in Holcombe in 1911 census. In Apr 1913 in SP he married Clara Dunn, youngest of 11 children of William Charles “Cocky” Dunn, a shoemaker who lived in SP. Charles and Clara settled in SP and he appeared in Boobery in the 1915 Electoral Roll. Their son William was born in SP in 1914. Charles appears to have been conscripted in May 1917 and joined the RFC as an airman #80638. A newspaper article of 7thSep 1917 reported that he was home on leave from the RFC. In the 1918 ER he had moved to Higher Town, and they had another son in 1921. They lived there until the Autumn 1924 ER and then left the village. In the 1939 register the family lived at “The Greens, Bradfield, Willand” where Charles was the estate carpenter. Clearly the family later returned to the village as Charles died Mar 1960 in SP whilst his wife Clara died Jul 1970. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75095161/family
PILLAR William Henry b Jun 1892 Sampford Bridge, Burlescombe first son to William (Railway Packer) b1862 SP and Mary (née Young, b 1866). Their younger son, Arthur John Pillar, lost his life in France & Flanders aged 18 - just 2 months before the end of the war. The family lived at Jersey Cottage in the 1901 census census and had moved to Boobery (2018: site of number 7) by 1918. William signed up 5 Sep 1914 to the 5thSomerset Light Infantry Regiment – private 2364. He was discharged as medically unfit to continue to fight (section xvi) 7 Mar 1916 and sent back to the UK. He married Q2 1918 to a Winifred Esther Authers in Burlescombe. (Registered as ANthers in Wellington, Somerset). They had one son. In the 1939 register the family lived at Snow Cottage and William was employed by GWR. William died Sep 1967 in Exeter; his wife Winifred died in 1980 in Whiteball, Wellington, Somerset – where the family lived. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/68538081/family
PONSFORD Arthur b 9 Nov 1889 SP, 3rdof 9 children of Jesse and Fanny, brother to Charles (below). In 1901 the family was in Higher Town (2018: part of 30 HT) and in 1911 he was a farm labourer on Batten’s Farm, Halberton. He signed up with the 8thDevons as Private 17728, and was reported as “home on furlough from the trenches” in August 1917. On 25 Feb 1919 he was transferred to Z reserve. He was awarded the standard two medals – the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He returned to SP to work as a labourer and in 1923 lived at Higher Town and by 1926 in Boobery. On 5 Jun 1928 in SP he married Evelina Pillar (b Oct 1893). They lived in Higher Town until 1932 and then left the village. In the 1939 register Arthur and Evelina lived at Hopkins Cottage, Halberton, where Arthur was a Road repair man. Arthur died Dec 1964 in the Tiverton area. His wife Evelina died 5 years later in 1969 in Holcombe Rogus. The death was registered in Wellington. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75159961/family
PONSFORD Charles b 4 Mar 1887 SP 2ndof 9 children of Jesse Ponsford (1864 SP, Railway Packer, d 1909) and Fanny Hunt (1862-1918), Seamstress. In 1901 he was living at a Diocesan house boys home in Frome, Somerset. In 1911 census he was a gardener, living with his widowed mother and 5 siblings back in SP in a Lower Town cottage (2018: site of 16 Court Way). He enlisted into the 11thSomerset Light Infantry (Private 265413) and served in France. He transferred to Z reserves 9 Feb 1919. In 1923 he lived in Higher Town, SP, single, occupation labourer. In the 1939 Register he lived at 1 Turnpike Cottage - occupation postman. He had lodgers – his recently widowed sister Alice Scorse b 1891 and her son Charles – b 1916. Charles (Senior) died Dec 1949, aged 62, in SP, having never married. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75159961/family
PONSFORD Edwin William – b 30 Jul 1894 eldest son of Thomas William Ponsford (tailor and fly proprietor) 1849-1918 and Charlotte Westlake Greedy (1860-1917) and brother to Ernest (below). In 1911 census he was a baker’s boy, living with his parents and two siblings at Turnpike Cottage (2018: 1, Turnpike), SP. He enlisted as William Edwin Ponsford in the 6thDevon Regiment, private 4979. He was then transferred to the 11thSomerset Light Infantry #275145 and then transferred again to the Northumberland Fusiliers #206249. He was awarded the standard two medals – the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.Both of his parents died shortly before the end of the war. He returned to the family home at Turnpike Cottage and lived there (per the electoral roll) from Spring 1922 to Spring 1929. In Mar 1929 he married Amy Stone (b Feb 1898) and they moved into Tiverton. In the 1939 register they lived at the stores in the Tiverton district with occupation Baker and Grocer. They did not however have any children. William died in 1971, his wife Amy died 1963. Family tree: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75159961/family
PONSFORD Ernest –b Q3 1896 SP. as John Ernest Ponsford , he had dropped the 'John' by 1911. He was son of Thomas William Ponsford, a tailor and fly (carriage) proprietor and Charlotte Westlake née Greedy. In 1911 census he lived with the family at Turnpike Cottage (2018: 1, Turnpike). He enlisted in September 1914 at Tiverton, into the Devonshire Regiment, firstly as no 3769, then later as no 11891, where his occupation was given as coachman, and passed the medical exam. He was posted to France in September 1915, and then to the Mediterranean in September 1915. He contracted Malaria at Salonika in June 1916 and was hospitalised several times as a result - in Malta and elsewhere. After several recurrences of the malaria, he was despatched back to the UK in February 1919 to hospital in Epsom, then he was discharged from military service in April 1919. He returned to SP and lived initially in Higher Town, then moved to Turnpike by 1924. In Sep 1929, in Tiverton, he married Beatrice Ellen Channing (b 20 Nov 1900) and they moved to 9 Council Cottages (later named Beaufort Close) SP. They had 3 children in the 1930s. In the 1939 Register they lived at 2, Coronation Cottages on Lower Town. Ernest was a “general Mason”. Ernest died aged 63 in Exeter in Sep 1959. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75159961/family
PONSFORD Herbert b Apr 1896 SP, 6th/9 children of Jesse and Fanny - younger brother to Charles and Arthur above who also served. In the 1911 census Herbert was a “Yard Boy” on a farm, but lived with his widowed mother and siblings in Lower Town, SP (2018: site of 16 Court Way). He enlisted early 1915 and joined 8thDevons (like his older brother Arthur). Private #10641. He first saw active service 25 Jul 1915 in France. In a newspaper report of 5 Nov 1915 he had been severely injured – shot 7 times but the bullets had initially hit a “pocket testament” which cushioned the impact into his body. He recovered and continued to fight in France, but in Feb 1917 he was reported to be home on leave with a poisoned hand. In Jun 1918 a newspaper reported that “Mrs F Ponsford, of Higher Town, Sampford Peverell, has received news from Germany that her son, Herbert Ponsford, who was previously reported missing, was a prisoner of war. On 17 Mar 1919 he was transferred to the Z reserve. He was awarded the standard two medals: the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In Jan 1921 he emigrated to Australia. Family tree:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/75159961/family