To the Glory of God and in grateful memory of the men of Shute who gave their lives

for their country in the Great War  1914 – 1918

W. Abbott

Name:	ABBOTT, WALTER
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Private
Regiment/Service:	Devonshire Regiment
Unit Text:	4th (Reserve) Bn.
Age:	27
Date of Death:	07/07/1917
Service No:	203327
Additional information:	Son of Charles Abbott, of Seaton Rd., Musbury, Axminster. Devon.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	P. II. G. 8B.
Cemetery:	ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France

J.H. Dimond

Name:	DIMOND, JOHN HENRY
Initials:	J H
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Private
Regiment/Service:	Lancashire Fusiliers
Unit Text:	15th Bn.
Age:	22
Date of Death:	08/04/1918
Service No:	47030
Additional information:	Son of William and S. J. Dimond, of Shute, Devon.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	X. B. 4A.
Cemetery:	WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Nr Boulogne, France

E.A. Dimond

Name:	DIMOND, ERNEST ALBERT
Initials:	E A
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Private
Regiment/Service:	Dorsetshire Regiment
Unit Text:	1st Bn.
Age:	21
Date of Death:	31/12/1917
Service No:	22166
Additional information:	Son of William Henry and Sarah Jane Dimond, of West St., Colyton, Devon. Native of Kilmington, Devon.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	IX. B. 4.
Cemetery:	MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY

Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium

J.G. White

Name:	WHITE, JOHN GEORGE
Initials:	J G
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Sapper
Regiment/Service:	Royal Engineers
Unit Text:	F Coy.
Age:	40
Date of Death:	11/02/1916
Service No:	121030
Additional information:	Son of Mark John and Elizabeth Mary White, of Myrtle Cottage, Shute, Devon. (now called Pear Tree cottage) grandfather of the late Roy Chapple and brother of Victor Mark White ( see below)
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	1360.
Cemetery:	FORT PITT MILITARY CEMETERY

Fort Pitt Military Cemetery, Chatham.

V.M. White

V M White Remembrance Card

White family photos courtesy of Carl Vivash, great grandson.

Name:	WHITE, VICTOR MARK
Initials:	V M
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Rifleman
Regiment/Service:	The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)
Unit Text:	1st/5th Bn.
Age:	30
Date of Death:	25/09/1917
Service No:	51228
Additional information:	Son of Mark John and Elizabeth Mary White, of Shute, Axminster; husband of Helena Sarah White, of Dyers Green, Shute, Axminster.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	III. C. 11.
Cemetery:	ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France

S. Webber

There are three S. Webbers mentioned in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission – all from the Devonshire Regiment : Sidney, Stuart and Sam. Can anyone shed any light on which one is our S. Webber?

Possibly Sidney Webber:

Rank:  Private

Service No:   30549

Date of Death:   04/10/1918

Regiment/Service:   Devonshire Regiment  1st Bn.

Panel Reference:   Panel 38 to 40.

Memorial:   TYNE COT MEMORIAL

 

And in the Second World War 1939 – 1945

H. Glasper

Name:	GLASPER, HARRY
Initials:	H
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Captain
Regiment/Service:	Durham Light Infantry
Age:	31
Date of Death:	18/04/1945
Service No:	230149
Awards:	M C
Additional information:	Son of Thomas and Sarah Jane Glasper; husband of Kathleen Mary Glasper, of Seaton Junction, Devon.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	7. G. 15.
Cemetery:	HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

More details to follow shortly. Many thanks to Steve Gosling for acquiring some information from the Commonwealth War Graves Records and to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Carl Vivash for the use of  the cemetery photos.

As a mark of respect, Merv and Marie Prideaux put some poppies and candles on the Memorial on the 4th of August 2014 at 10pm as a gesture of remembrance on behalf of the community. Our thanks to them.

 

Brian Lavender reports:

“LEST WE FORGET”

This production, compiled and directed by the renowned Elisabeth Miller, was a commemoration of the First World War and was staged in Shute Church on Friday 3^rd and Saturday 4^th October in Stockland Church, in front of large audiences. It consisted of readings, poems, songs, music and sketches performed by three teams, “The Tommies”, “The “Girls” and The “Readers”.

 

Christopher Balcomb, Ian Craig, Michael Dods, Tony Drew, Brian Eddy and Charles Holme comprised the Tommies who marched and sang several WW1 songs, acting some sketches about the War showing the irrepressible nature and sense of humour of our soldiers, even in great adversity. One scene enacted the reputed Christmas truce when British and German troops came together to sing “Stille Nacht” and played football before resuming the killing of each other.

The Girls, representing “those that had been left behind” comprised Gay Atkinson, Rozanne Bulmer, Susan Drew, Margaret Hurford, Susan Moore and Caroline Nunns joined in many of the songs and narrations and added much colour and emotion to the occasion.

Ernest Fox, Nigel Freathy, Hilary Horley, Tim Phillips, Caroline Smethurst, Wendy Urquhart, Ken Wilcox and Philippa Wilks, all eminent orators, read poems, prose, letters and quotes from such people as Rudyard Kipling, Herbert Asquith, George Butterworth, Vivian Smith, John McCrea, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Alan Seeger, Ivor Gurney, Edward Thomas, Robert Binyon, Ewart Macintosh, Charles Sorley and Rupert Brooke. The performance culminated in a rendering of “Where have all the flowers gone” and Caroline Nunns singing “Adieu La Vie” after which the whole company joined in with “And when they asked us (they wouldn’t believe it)”.

 

Elisabeth had rehearsed the production several times in her firm and uncompromising style and stood as Narrator in the pulpit of both churches like an eagle waiting to pounce if anyone put a foot wrong! It was not necessary, however, because she had assembled a very talented and well prepared group and every member performed faultlessly. It resulted in an evening when the horror of the First World War was laid bare, the horrendous loss of life re-emphasised, the stoic nature, bravery and sense of humour in great adversity of our troops was portrayed, and the effects on the girls left behind and the families devastated was reinforced. While there was many a tear shed during some of the readings of letters by soldiers subsequently killed, both audiences showed their appreciation for a powerful and moving performance which reminded every one of the futility of war and the necessity of our politians to do their utmost to avoid it.

Presented with a bouquet and a bottle of Famous Grouse by her admiring cast, Elisabeth thanked them and the audiences, as well as Kathy Laing who led the music and Robert Penzer who arranged the sound and lighting, and those who had helped in so many capacities. Profit from the production was to be donated to the Woodlands Trust Appeal “We will stand for those that fell” by planting 200,000 trees in remembrance of those that died in the Great War.

Rick adds:

We listened to poetry and songs from WW1 and readings presented by the Tommies, the Girls and the Readers with Lis Miller as the narrator – a powerful and moving performance by everyone.  Over £1100 was raised over the two evenings and this was sent to the Woodland Trust for their campaign ( Centenary Woods Appeal “We will stand for those who fell” ) to plant a tree for every soldier who died in WW1. As a result of our donation of £1102, The Woodland Trust is dedicating five trees in our name. The dedication reads: In England’s Centenary Wood at Langley Vale near Epsom, Surrey, there stand five trees dedicated to the Five Alive Mission Community of East Devon  “Lest We Forget” a commemoration of WW1 in word and song October 2014.   Details of the dedication certificate and the location of the wood are available to see in Shute Church.

Lis Miller adds:   We – the company – are thrilled and most grateful for the generous support we received at both Churches which enabled us to send such a worthwhile sum.

 

 

Please note that pictures can be enlarged by left clicking on them once, and then once again for a full screen photo.

Rick Wood.