Private Henry Frain

Private Thomas Henry Adams

Private Henry Frain

Private Albert Ernest Luxton

As so many soldiers would enlist locally, it would not be unusual for Torrington soldiers to serve together, most notably in the Devonshire regiment. What is more remarkable is the distances travelled by men who may only have rarely travelled beyond their own local areas, particularly when you bear in mind the choices of transportation of the time. Even travelling relatively short distances to destinations, such as from Great Torrington to Barnstaple, would require a train ride. Let us use Thomas Henry Adams as an example. Thomas’ journey to faraway places is astonishing. Thomas was born in 1889 and lived his early family life in the village of Langtree, some miles from Great Torrington. His father, George Adams, was an agricultural labourer; his mother, Grace, had no occupation listed in census information. The Adams family had established roots and a long history with Langtree. As well as Thomas, there were seven other sons and daughters between the couple.

The first census where Thomas is listed in 1891 showed the family living at Stapleton Cottage, Langtree, before moving into the village by 1901 and the family can be found at Buda Cottage. His father passed away the following year, which led to his mother moving to another of her son’s residence by 1911 at Brandis Corner. By this time, Thomas had married Alice Grace, the eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Sanders of Sandy Lane, Langtree in 1909. By the 1911 census, they had moved to New Buildings Cottage, Langtree and were living with their first son, Herbert William, born in 1909. Their second son, also named Thomas Henry, who was born some years later in November 1914. Tragically, as Thomas enlisted in October 1914, it is most likely that he would have never seen his youngest son before leaving for war.

Although , the 1911 census lists Thomas’ occupation as “farm labourer”, he had since moved on to work as an agent for Pearl Insurance Co. Based in Barnstaple, numerous references to this company can be found in newspapers of the time from the early 1880s through to the 1940s. Indeed, such was the size of the firm that there are even records of their own league cricket side. The most recent reports show that the Adams family had moved into Torrington and taken up residence in Mill Street.

In October 1914 Thomas enlisted with the Royal North Devon Hussars. The enlistment place is noted as Barnstaple, where they were based. This was the beginning of a journey that would take him across three continents, but despite travelling this far from home, he wouldn’t be going alone.

Henry Frain was born in 1895. He first appears on census data in 1901 living in a household as grandson to the head of the house, Thirza Edwards, born in Bridgerule. By this time, the household was also made up of four of her children, there were nine children between her and her departed husband, William Henry Frain, an agricultural labourer born Frithelstock, who passed away in 1901. In addition there were also two grandchildren in the household, Alice and Henry Frain. Judging by the various birthplaces of his siblings noted on the census data, including Newton St Petrock and Buckland Brewer, the family had moved a number of times in their younger years.

Due to the record keeping, or rather lack of it at this time, tracing parents should be taken with a degree of caution. Although Henry is listed as a ‘grandson’ in the 1901 census information, his ‘parent’ on the school enrolment form is listed as ‘William Frain’. As there are two generations of William Frain in the same household, father and son, it could feasibly be either, particularly as no marriage record can be uncovered for the son.

Both grandchildren, Henry and Alice, are registered as attending Bulkworthy Council School. Although long since closed, the building remains in Bulkworthy. Newspaper reports from the time identify the building as also doubling as a polling station for election duties, donating sandbags to the war effort via the Mayor of Barnstaple and holding various school fetes, which were noteworthy in their local successes. He is later documented as attending Great Torrington Bluecoat School, where his guardian is noted as his aunt, Alice Frain, and a year later at Great Torrington Council School, this time with “W Frain” as the registered parent.

By the 1911 census, Henry was living in Langtree, at a property called Collacott, where he resided as a servant for the Trewin family. The Trewin family were farmers and Henry’s job is listed as a horseman on a farm. There is no evidence of Henry marrying before the war started, the irony being that he was too young to have married but he wasn’t too young to fight for his country.

Henry Frain also enlisted early in the war in Great Torrington joining the Royal North Devon Hussars during one of their recruitment drives through the local communities.

Born in 1889, Albert Luxton was the only child of Ernest and Ann Luxton (nee Smale). The 1891 census has them residing at 203 New Street, Great Torrington. In 1896 Albert began Great Torrington Council School for boys; his parent’s name is rather informally listed as ‘Ern’.

Albert’s father was killed on 3rd March 1900 following a road traffic collision; he was 34 years old. Ernest, who was a cab driver in the employment of Mr Hackwill of the Globe Hotel, would transport guests to and from the train station using a four- wheel horse drawn dogcart. As the reports in local papers outline, on the morning of 8th March, when returning from the train station after transporting a guest, the cab reached Whites Lane when the horse bolted. As a result, Ernest was thrown from the carriage that overturned and partially landing on top of him. Ernest was crushed against the railings in front of Mr Glubb’s house on the corner of Potacre Street. “Luxton was a remarkably steady man and greatly liked both as a driver and a man, his sudden death spread quite a gloom over the town. Great sympathy is felt for the widow and child.”[1] Despite being taken to the Cottage hospital and receiving medical attention, a fracture to the base of his skull led to him dying from his injuries. Ernest is buried in the Torrington cemetery.

As a result, the widowed Ann and Albert can be found moved to 37 South Street in the 1901 census living with the her mother-in-law. Probably only two or three years later Albert was apprenticed to a Torrington grocer R.M.Snow & Company of South Street, Great Torrington. By the 1911 census Albert had moved to Barnstaple and was in the employment of local grocer Yeo, Ratcliffe & Dawe at 6 Gammons Lane where he also boarded. In the same year he married Edith Huxtable in Williton, Somerset. Edith, born in 1888, was from Timberscombe, and at that time was in domestic service at Torrington as a children’s nurse. Albert and Edith resided at 6 Gloster Road, Barnstaple, where their two children were born, a daughter Lynda May at the end of 1911 and a son Morley Albert on the 3rd of March 1915. Albert also enlisted to the Royal North Devon Hussars in Barnstaple. However, it seems Albert remained in Barnstaple until at least the 17th of November 1915, so he would have had at least 9 months with his new born son.

The three soldiers from Great Torrington would soon be commencing on an epic journey.

[1] North Devon Journal. March 8th 1900. ‘Fatal Accident At Torrington’.

Albert’s father was killed on 3rd March 1900 following a road traffic collision; he was 34 years old. Ernest, who was a cab driver in the employment of Mr Hackwill of the Globe Hotel, would transport guests to and from the train station using a four- wheel horse drawn dogcart. As the reports in local papers outline, on the morning of 8th March, when returning from the train station after transporting a guest, the cab reached Whites Lane when the horse bolted. As a result, Ernest was thrown from the carriage that overturned and partially landing on top of him. Ernest was crushed against the railings in front of Mr Glubb’s house on the corner of Potacre Street. “Luxton was a remarkably steady man and greatly liked both as a driver and a man, his sudden death spread quite a gloom over the town. Great sympathy is felt for the widow and child.”[2] Despite being taken to the Cottage hospital and receiving medical attention, a fracture to the base of his skull led to him dying from his injuries. Ernest is buried in the Torrington cemetery.

The three soldiers from Great Torrington would soon be commencing on an epic journey.

[2] North Devon Journal. March 8th 1900. ‘Fatal Accident At Torrington’.

Albert Luxton as a young man

Royal North Devon Hussars

The Royal North Devon Hussars, also known as the Royal North Devon Yeomanry, were a territorial force. Although the unit had previously seen combat during the Boer War, the following years of peacetime had seen a change in its role with the intention of being a home defence force during potential wartime conflicts. The further intention was that serving members would not be obligated to serve in missions on foreign soil. However, with the declaration of war in August 1914 there was a rush for enlistment by a groundswell of young men wishing to serve their country, many of whom were already associated with territorial forces. As a result the Yeomanry was mobilised but allowing for volunteers to travel and fight abroad but also retain a second string for home service.

The hasty enlistment process at this early stage was largely boosted by national pride, an overwhelming surge of patriotic duty, the draw of camaraderie and lure of adventure as well as general expectation from peers. Torrington served as an assembly point for the locally based squadron. The troops were served with large crowds and a heroes send-off on the day of ‘D Squadron’s’ leave, which comprised of some 150 troops. From a temporary stage erected in the Square, the troops were addressed by the Mayor, Me Alderman Webber, as well as numerous others from the local ‘great and good’. The Squadron, which was reported as being “a very fine lot of fellows and horses” were told “I feel confident that you will do your duty, not only as Englishmen, but also as men from North Devon”. He concluded by saying “God speed, and may you return to those near and dear to you with the satisfaction that you have ‘played the game’ as Englishmen should”; loud applause followed. A rendition of the national anthem by the Town Band concluded proceedings, but there was a further send-off to be had.

The squadrons from Torrington and South Molton joined their comrades in Barnstaple. On the day of their departure the North Devon Journal reported that crowds turned out in their “thousands” to bid farewell to the regiment. The troops, fully donned in their khaki uniforms and mounted on horseback, made their way from their headquarters in Summerland Street, through the Square and over the Longbridge to the railway station. The men were noted as being in good spirits, no doubt buoyed by the cheers of adulation and patriotic songs ringing out. The Yeomanry, which made up part of the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade, were moved to the garrison town of Colchester for training and preparation in September 1914. Here the Yeomanry was placed under Third Army of Central Force.

By October 1914, once the foreign contingent of the Yeomanry had enlisted satisfactory numbers, efforts began to boost the numbers to establish a second Regiment for reserve duties. Again reported in the North Devon Journal in October, a preference for the ‘best men’ was requested. The article elaborated that “old members, farmers’ sons and hunting men of superior education being specially welcomed”[3]. The presumption was that these groups would likely have had horse riding experience lessening the burden of having to train soldiers for horseback combat. There was also the added assumption that higher levels of education would correlate to men being better officers. The recruitment drive of advertisements in local papers was accompanied by regular updates of those who had enlisted, almost acting as a back-slapping exercise from the populas via the conduit of local media.

In September 1915 the men of the regular Yeomanry, still part of the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade were dismounted and their intended use adjusted for foot soldier use. In the same month they would move out of Colchester to see their first action. It would be a baptism of fire.

[3] North Devon Journal. October 1st 1914. ‘Royal North Devon Hussars’.

Royal North Devon Hussars leaving Barnstaple

Gallipoli Campaign

The Battle of Gallipoli, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign, was an attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to their allies in Russia with the aim of using an amphibious landing to capture the Turkish capital of Constantinople. The premise of the operation laid in the stalemate of trench warfare in Europe and the need for a new offensive in another area rather than continuing seemingly futile and fruitless operations in Belgium and France. Success of the operation would effectively render Turkey out of the war.

Fighting in the Dardanelles, both at land and sea, lasted from February 1915 to January 1916. The operations began badly with a failed naval attack, which saw the naval commander, Admiral Sackville Carden, replaced in the early stages by Vice-Admiral Sir John de Robeck. Despite this initial failure, further preparations commenced for a ground invasion, which commenced on 25th April 1915. Two beachheads were forged despite fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army; Helles, on the southern end of the Gallipoli peninsula and at Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast. However, progress was checked by the defenders determined opposition and no further progress inland could be made and an impasse was reached.

In an attempt to break the beleaguered deadlock, a further landing was commissioned for Suvla Bay, again on the Aegean coast in August. Despite seemingly taking the enemy by surprise and meeting little resistance, shocking mismanagement by the British Commander, even comparatively speaking against other errors across all theatres of the wider conflict, led to a similar deadlock to the other two attacks.

When thinking of Gallipoli, the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand troops often spring to mind first especially as the engagement is annually commemorated with ANZAC day. Indeed, Gaba Tepe was later commonly referred to as Anzac Cove as testament to the torrid task the ANZAC faced in their first active military mission. However, it should also be remembered that the British input, both with men committed and casualties sustained, far exceeded those of their Antipodean counterparts. The sheer horror of the conditions faced by both sides is unimaginable. The topography of the battlefield coupled with the close quarter fighting would have meant bodies of the fallen could not be retrieved and buried. In the oppressive heat of summer, flies and vermin would have thrived causing sickness of biblical proportions, particularly dysentery, diarrhoea, and typhoid. The depth of winter would have added its own weight of problems. Estimates suggest that of the over 213,000 British casualties, 145,000 were caused by sickness.

The overall situation was assessed by the British Government and deemed futile to continue operations in the Dardanelles. It was agreed that on 7th December evacuation of the peninsula would commence. The last troops left a month later. History would remember the Gallipoli offensive as an unmitigated disaster and heads would roll at the highest echelons of British command, most notably the first lord of the British Admiralty, one Winston Churchill, whose door the blame largely fell.

Suvla Bay

From Colchester, the men of the Yeomanry travelled to Liverpool where they embarked the commandeered cruise liner RMS Olympic. If the ship looks familiar, it’s because it was built to a similar specification to her sister ship, White Star Line’s RMS Titanic. Sailing from Liverpool, the cruiser stopped briefly at the Greek port of Moudros before setting sail again, this time for Gallipoli.

The regiment landed at Suvla Bay on 9th October, two months after the original landings and were to act as relief to the incumbent beleaguered forces. The regiment was redeployed a number of times in the early stages. First being attached to the 11th Northern Division, where they were assigned to trench digging detail, but in November, after being attached to the 2nd Mounted Division, they were involved in their first action. By December, as part of the overall abandonment of the ill-fated operation the regiment were withdrawn to Imbros, a small island off the Gallipoli peninsula that was used as a staging post by the Allies.

Egypt

The regiment were immediately moved on to Egypt where they set foot on their third continent in the space of eighteen months. Following absorption to other units and not being fortuitous enough to return to mounted duties, they instead served in the defence of Western Egypt. Eventually, the decision was made to fuse the Royal North Devon Hussars with the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. And so, the 16th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment was born.

The Battle of Jerusalem: The attack on El Foka

Invasion of Palestine had begun and operations to capture the city of Jerusalem commenced on 17th November 1917. The 16th Devons had left Gaza on the 22nd and it took about a week to arrive at their staging post in Latron. Despite being held in reserve for the early stages of battle, on the 1st December they were pushed forward and reinforced the Fife and Forfar’s at El Foka.

On 3rd December they were called into action. In the early hours of the morning, they began their assault. The terrain traversed was appalling; soldiers scrambled their way over broken ground with steep climbs whilst moving from terrace to terrace. By 3.00am they were in a place to storm the town and within 30 minutes El Foka had been seized and the Ottoman forces fled despite early staunch resistance. However, before the Devons had time to fortify their position, the Turks unleashed wave after wave of counter attacks desperate to win back the town. Neither side gave no quarter; the fighting was ferocious. By first light, although still standing their ground, it became obvious how insecure their tenure was; they were partly flanked from an elevated position one side and the deep ravines gave the Turks perfect defilade from shot and shell to the other. Realising the hopelessness of their situation the order was sounded to withdraw.

The aftermath

This single failed military action cost the 286 casualties. By the end of fighting on the 3rd December the three lads from Torrington, Adams, Frain and Luxton, were amongst the dead; killed in action. All three died in the same battle on the same day.

Thomas Henry Adams’ grave can be found at the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Palestine (Now the West Bank - Israel). His wife chose the inscription for the headstone, which reads “He hath done what he could”. A second headstone can be found in Langtree Cemetery, which he shares with his father, George. Poor communications of the time often led to either mixed messages or late accounts of deaths. Originally, the North Devon Journal, 27th December, had reported him injured, as he previously had been during the Dardanelles conflict. But by 3rd January the news of his death was published [4]. Aged 29, he left a wife and two small children. Thomas’ family lives on; many of his more distant relatives still live in Great Torrington. His grandchildren have been traced to Roborough and Yeovil. They were kindly able to send images of the 'Death Penny' and commemorative certificate, which they have on display.

[4] North Devon Journal. January 3rd 1918. ‘North Devon War Items’.

Adams' headstone in Langtree

Commemorative certificate

Adams' 'Death Penny'

Private Henry Frain also suffered from the Dardanelles campaign, on 30th December 1915 it was reported that he had been hospitalised as a result of frozen foot and dysentery [5]. His war grave is located at Ramleh War Cemetery near Tel Aviv. Henry’s death was reported in the North Devon Journal on 24th January 1018. Langtree held a memorial service for the fallen soldiers of the village, including Frain and Adams; muffled peals were rung on the bells before and after the service. Henry Frain’s name can be found on the war plaque of Langtree, which commemorates the brave men of the village who gave the supreme sacrifice. Although he had no wife or children, his wider family descendants can be found scattered around North Devon.

[5] North Devon Journal. December 30th 1915. 'North Devon War Items'.

Article from the Western Times giving details of Henry Frain's memorial service

Langtree Memorial

Private Albert Luxton’s death was reported in the North Devon Journal on 3rd January 1918. Albert Luxton’s relatives, who now line in Australia and New Zealand, have been extremely helpful in assisting in the research for this project, which I am extremely grateful for. Indeed, his grandson, David, offered the following thoughts:

“Albert was killed on the 3rd of December 1917, aged 27. The author recalls his father (Morley) understood that Albert, at the time of his death, was a motorbike despatch rider who was killed in the desert by a sniper’s bullet. This would have been at the time of severe fighting early in December 1917 during the taking of Jerusalem from Turkish forces, which was achieved 6 days later on the 9th of December.

Albert Ernest Luxton is buried in Plot E, Grave 96 in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Palestine, (Now the West Bank - Israel). His name is recorded on the Torrington and Barnstaple war memorials, and in the roll of honour of the Devon Regiment in Exeter Cathedral. He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in Torrington cemetery. Albert’s mother Ann continued to live in Torrington and his son Morley Albert recalled spending many happy school holidays with his grandmother at No.6 Castle Street. Ann died at Torrington on the 28th February 1930 aged 66, and is buried with Albert’s father in Torrington cemetery.

After Albert’s death Edith May Luxton moved with her two children to Alcombe, near Dunster, in order to be living nearer her brothers and sisters of the Huxtable family. The children attended Dunster primary school. Edith worked as a housekeeper and never re-married. Later in life she shared a cottage in Alcombe with her widowed sister, Mabel.

Edith May Luxton died at Taunton, Somerset, on 26th Feb. 1968 aged 80 years. Commemorated at Timberscombe, at the Huxtable family grave.”

His name is recorded on the Torrington and Barnstaple war memorials, and in the roll of honour of the Devon Regiment in Exeter Cathedral. He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in Torrington cemetery. A memorial service was held in his honour at the Wesleyan Church at Newport Road in Barnstaple. The service was closed with a rendition of Handel’s Dead March in “Saul”.

Great Torrington Remembers

Private Thomas Henry Adams