Devon-born casualties from the 8th Battalion in the Devonshire Cemetery

DEVON - BORN CASUALTIES FROM THE 8th BATTALION IN THE DEVONSHIRE CEMETERY

The headstones placed in the Devonshire Cemetery at Mametz by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission do not mark actual graves. These men were buried where they had fallen late on in the evening of July 1st 1916 by a working party led by the Padre; the headstones were added later.

153 men of all ranks are commemorated in the Devonshire Cemetery, all but two being members of the 8th and 9th Battalions of the Devonshire Regiment. Driver Fred Lambert and Sergeant D. Wright, both of the Royal Field Artillery, were interred here later.

21 of the men from the 8th Battalion who lie here are believed to have been born in Devon. A further 44 Devon-born men from the 9th Battalion are also buried in the Mametz Cemetery.

BIRTHPLACE	RANK	FORENAMES		SURNAME	AGE	DIED

Ashreigney	Private	Sidney		BOUNDY	25	1 Jul 1916
Crediton	Private	Sidney	George	MORRISH	27	1 Jul 1916
Dawlish	Private	William		BROWNING	19	1 Jul 1916
Exeter	Private	Francis	Joseph	HETTISH	31	1 Jul 1916
Exmouth	Private	Henry		HOLMAN	27	1 Jul 1916
Hatherleigh	Private	Thomas		BOWDEN	31	1 Jul 1916
Honiton	Private	Robert		HARENBURG	17	1 Jul 1916
Lynton	Private	Percy	Douglas	MURLEY	20	1 Jul 1916
Newton Abbot	Private	William	Henry	GOUGH	22	1 Jul 1916
Marystow	Private	Herbert		ROWLAND	20	1 Jul 1916
Ottery St.Mary	Private	Fred		BATTEN	20	1 Jul 1916
Plymouth	Private	Robert		CLAYTON	?	1 Jul 1916
	Private	Reginald	Victor	CONNETT	19	1 Jul 1916
	Private	Alfred		HITCHCOCK	37	1 Jul 1916
	Private	Frederick	George	OXFORD	22	1 Jul 1916
	Sgt.	John	Henry	RAMSEY	?	1 Jul 1916
Sidbury	Private	George	Robert	CHANNING	26	1 Jul 1916
Tiverton	Cpl.	Samuel		ROBERTS	21	1 Jul 1916
	Private	Joseph	William	PRIOR	27	1 Jul 1916
Torquay	Private	John		BASSETT	33	1 Jul 1916
Totnes	Private	Frederick	Henry	BOWDEN	29	1 Jul 1916

Officers of the 8th Battalion who lie here are

Captain Geoffrey Philip Tregelles aged 30

2nd Lieutenant Percy Francis Gethin aged 42*

2nd Lieutenant John Frederick Rew aged 25

2nd Lieutenant Robert Henry Walter Davidson aged 31

* Percy Francis Gethin (1874 - 1916) was an artist of distinction and renown. He specialised in etchings and lithographs and fortunately for the people of Devon, through a generous bequest, it is possible to see the original of this work plus five others at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. Other works by him can be seen at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Etching - "Travelling Circus"

by Percy Francis Gethin

Date unknown