Welcome to Widecombe-in-the-Moor

HENRY JAMES BROOME 1880 – 1916 Henry was born in Wandsworth SW London to Charles and Emily Broome. He was the eldest of nine children; he had four sisters (Catherine, Emily, Charlotte and Bessie) and four brothers, (Charles, William, Alfred and Arthur). When he left school, Henry obtained employment as a domestic servant with Alexander…

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SAMUEL JOHN CAUNTER 1894 – 1959 Born in Lydford in 1894 Samuel is listed on the 1901 census as living in the village with his parents . By 1911 Samuel was employed as a cowman and was living with Mr French the farmer at Sherrill Farm in Poundsgate. Samuel originally attested for service with the…

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GEORGE COAKER 1889 – 1923 Was born in Widecombe parish in 1889 to parents Jonas Coaker and his wife Mary. George had eight sisters many of whom continued to live in Widecombe parish following marriage to local young men. By 1911 George was living with just his father at Pizwell farm. We have not been…

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WILLIAM HENRY BRAY 1895 – 1984 William was born in June 1895 to parents Harry and Elizabeth, who were living at New Park Cottage, Widecombe. Harry was employed as a thatcher. Together with his half-brother, Harold Reynolds, William attended Widecombe School. By 1911 William had left school, and was working as a general labourer and…

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WILLIAM THOMAS HAMLYN BEARD 1896 – 1963 William Beard was born in April 1896 to Thomas Beard and Mary Grace Hamlyn. He had one brother (Ernest) and three sisters (Annie, Louisa and Elizabeth) together with one half-sister (Jeannie Hamlyn). The family lived at Little Cator, where Thomas worked as a farm labourer. Like other children…

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Ernest Beard It is somewhat difficult to commence our Book of Remembrance with the details of a Widecombe man about whom we have been unable to trace any Armed Service record. Ernest is listed on the 1918 Electoral register with an (a) denoting a man returning from the armed services but not yet home. By…

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The “Book of the Roll of Honour” is the culmination of five years of research by members of the Widecombe History Group. In 2013, research started to trace the names of men connected to Widecombe who served their “King and Country” during the Great War 1914 – 1918. The original Roll of Honour, prepared in…

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WILLIAM RICHARD BEARD 1891-1973 William was born in Widecombe in August 1891 to James Beard and Eliza French. He had three sisters (Evelyn, Hilda and Bessie Ruth) and two brothers (Oliver and James Henry). William attended Widecombe School between March 1897 and April 1905. During his schooling he lived at Bunhill, Widecombe. When he left…

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