Roll of Honour - Somerset

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

CANNINGTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Bob Child 2007

As with all cities, towns and villages in the United Kingdom, men from Cannington were involved in the First World War. Unfortunately Cannington was not one of the ‘Thankful Villages’ where all who left were to return to their village when peace finally returned in 1918.

In February 1919 a War Memorial committee was formed in the village for the purpose of raising monies by public subscription for a War Memorial to be erected and also for a plaque to be placed in St Mary‘s Church on which the names of those who had fallen would be recorded, in order that they would not be forgotten. Mr. Bouverie of Brymore House donated land to the village at the junction of Rodway and the High Street for the erection of the memorial, and fund raising began.

At a Special Meeting of the Parish Council in May 1920 it was announced that the sum of £275. 15s. 6d (£275. 77p) had been raised and that the War Memorial had cost £251. 14s. 8d (£251. 73p). At this meeting Mr Bouverie also offered extra land at the site for a play area, however it was pointed out that this was not allowed by law and therefore the War Memorial land only was passed over. Trustees were appointed responsible for the upkeep of the Memorial, these were to be: The Vicar, The Church Wardens and the Chairman of the Parish Council.

The memorial was unveiled on 11th November 1921. At this time the Memorial was enclosed within railings and a howitzer shell stood to the rear. These were removed during metal scrap collections in World War Two and the metal used in the war effort. They were not replaced.

Initially the Memorial stood forward of its present location. During the building of the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Roadway had to be widened during the course of which the Memorial was moved to its present location in Fore Street.

The tablet on the front of the Memorial records a total of 20 names from the First World War. Subsequently a further six names were added in respect of residents lost in the Second World War with a further name being added at a later date.

At the end of 2005 it was noticed that the lettering cut in the base was becoming unreadable due to the type of stone that had been used for the construction of the Memorial. It was decided that a base cleaning and re-cutting of the lettering should be undertaken and this has now been carried out by Stooks Memorials of Taunton.

With the completion of this work the Memorial should carry on reminding residents of those from our village who gave their lives in order that we might enjoy today’s freedom.

1914-1918

ALLEN	F J	No further information currently available
BARRETT	Benjamin	Private 16876, 1st battalion, prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 13 June 1915. Aged 35. Born cannington, enlisted Taunton, resident Bridgwater. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
CHALKER	Edwin George	Private 10032, 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire. Died 28 August 1916. Aged 19. Born Milborne, enlisted Cheltenham. Son of John and Edith Chalker, of Cannington, Bridgwater. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot B. Row 26. Grave 15.
CHEDGEY	Harry Charles	Private PLY/10045, Plymouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died 27 June 1915. Son of Charles and Maria Chedgey, of High St., Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset; husband of Emma Chedgey, of 34, East St., Stonehouse, Plymouth. No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey. Panel 2 to 7.
CHEDGEY	Tom [George]	Private 22976, 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Died 18 May 1915. Aged 27. Born 31 March 1888 in Cannington. Son of Charles and Maria Chedgey, of High St., Cannington, Somerset. Cook by trade. Unmarried. Enlisted and passed fit 26 September 1914 at Valcartier, Canada. Height 5 feet 11 inches, girth 41 inches, complexion light, eyes blue, hair light; religion Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1660 - 23
CROCKER	Archibald George	Private 10119, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Killed in action 29 October 1914. Aged 21. Born Cannington, enlisted Taunton, resident Glastonbury, Gloucestershire. Regular soldier at outbreak of war. Son of Archibald and Ellen Crocker, of 7, Mill Rd. Terrace, Glastonbury, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 11.
ELWORTHY	Fred	Private 177242 (77242 on CWGC), Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died in India 1 November 1918. Aged 33. Born Tiverton, Devon, enlisted Exeter, resident Cannington (SDGW lists as Kennington). Son of George and Maria Tucker, of East St., Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset. Formerly R/355023, Royal Army Service Corps. Commemorated on KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, India. Face 11. Note: The KIRKEE MEMORIAL commemorates more than 1,800 servicemen who died in India during the First World War, who are buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan* where their graves can no longer be properly maintained. This total includes the names of 629 servicemen whose remains were brought from Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery for re-interment here in 1960.
FLOWER	Charles	Sergeant 4389, 3rd Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died in United Kingdom 27 February 1916. Aged 37. Husband of E. A. Flower, of Horn Hill, Cannington, Bridgwater. Buried in the Old Ground, South, HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD, FROME, Somerset.
FOX	Andrew Michael	Sergeant 7837, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died in the UNited Kingdom 20 April 1915. Aged 43. Husband of Kathleen Fox, of 8, Torrens Square, Stratford, London. Served in the South African Campaign. Buried in CANNINGTON CEMETERY, Cannington, Somerset. Grave Roman Catholic 534.
FOX	A M (Junr)	No further information currently available
GARDNER	Anthony Charles James	[Transcribed as A G GARDNER] Private 69440, Tank Corps. Died 18 October 1918 in United Kingdom. Enlisted Bridgwater. Formerly 23146, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Buried in CANNINGTON CEMETERY, Cannington, Somerset. Grave Roman Catholic 529.
GIBBS	Harry	Sergeant 9331, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Killed in action 28 May 1915. Born Durleigh, Bridgwater, enlisted Taunton, resident Cannington. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
KNIGHT	Clement	Private 16960, 8th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died of wounds 2 July 1916. Born Overstowey, enlisted taunton, resident Cannington. Buried in DAOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION , Somme, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 8.
LOVERIDGE	Elias Walter	Private 54273, 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 11 June 1917. Born and resident Cannington, enlisted Bridgwater. Formerly 164340, Royal Field Artillery. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 36 and 38.
MARTIN	William Charles	Private 466617, "D" Company, 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died 30 October 1917. Aged 36. Born 26 April 1886 in Somerset. Son of Thomas H. and Elizabeth Martin, of Myrtle House, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset; husband of Bertha Martin, of 7243, 106th St., Strathcona, Alberta, Canada. Surveyor by trade. Enlisted and passed 17 July 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Height 6 feet 1 inch, girth 37 inches, complexion fair, eyes blue, hair fair; relgion Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 24 - 28 - 30. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 6000 - 5
NAPPER	Reginald Charlie	Private 45943, 8th Battalion, princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Died of wounds 23 October 1918. Born Cannington, enlisted Taunton, resident Bridgwater. Formerly 37459, Devonshire Regiment. Buried in HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, Nord, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 5.
NURTON	John Stanley	Private 19716, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry). Died 13 March 1918. Aged 23. Born Taunton, enlisted Caerphilly, Glamorgan, resident Bridgwater. Son of Frederick Nurton, of Stradlings, Cannington, Somerset. Buried in HAM BRITISH CEMETERY, MUILLE-VILLETTE, Somme, France. Plot I. Row B. Grave 9.
TUCKER	William	Private 10364, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died of wounds 21 August 1918. Aged 22. Born Aller, enlisted Taunton, resident Cannington (Carmingtonn on SDGW). Son of James and Angelina Tucker, of Gurney St., Cannington, Bridgwater. Buried in BAC-DU-SUD BRITISH CEMETERY, BAILLEULVAL, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row A. Grave 24.
WADE-GERY	Robert Hugh	Captain, 1st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 17 July 1916. Aged 31. Buried in NORFOLK CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT, Somme, France. Plot I. Row B. Grave 93.
WINSBORROW	Leslie William M	[Listed as W L M WINSBORROW on memorial but CWGC and Medal Card list L WM and L W respectively] Private 161692, 32nd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died 3 February 1919. Aged 21. Son of Mrs. G. Whitby, of Swan Hotel, North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset. Buried in BELGRADE CEMETERY, Namur, Belgium. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 10.
1939 - 1945
BARRETT	Leonard Joseph	Lance Corproal 5675550, 8th Battalion (City of London Regiment), Royal Fusiliers/ Died 14 September 1943. Aged 23. Buried in SALERNO WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot II. Row C. Grave 45.
BUNFIELD	Harold [Bernard]	Private 5575949, Gloucestershire Regiment. Died 7 July 1944. Aged 22. Son of William Charles and Violet Bunfield. Buried in KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, India. Plot 8. Row E. Grave 12. Note: KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY was created to receive Second World War graves from the western and central parts of India where their permanent maintenance could not be assured. The cemetery contains 1,668 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
LOOK	John [Edward]	Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1865658, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 2 February 1945. Aged 28. Son of Harry and Ellen Look; husband of Vera Look, of Cannington, Somerset. Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY, Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany. Plot 8. Row G. Grave 18.
LYE	Mervyn [Courtney]	Sergeant (Air Gunner) 649159, 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died in United Kingdom 22 October 1943. Aged 21. Son of Frederick John and Olive Alberta Lye, of Cannington. Buried in CANNINGTON CEMETERY, Cannington, Somerset. Grave 1242.
WILLIAMS	Edward	Gunner 1103265, 136 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 7 February 1944. Aged 28. Son of Edward and Emily Williams, of Cannington, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on RANGOON MEMORIAL, Myanmar (Burma). Face 3.
WHITE	J	possibly James WHITE, Engineer Officer, S.S. Borderdene (Bridgwater), Merchant Navy. Died 10 January 1942. Aged 47. Son of James and Emma White; husband of Ruth White, of Bridgwater, Somerset. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 17.

Last updated 15 November, 2007

War Memorials Trust