This page identifies all of the soldiers and sailors that we know of from Bratton Clovelly, or in some way related to Bratton Clovelly, who served from 1800 to the start of WWI.
If anyone identifies omissions or errors, please contact us. Also, if anyone knows more about these soldiers and can offer further information on them including photos, we’d appreciate hearing from you.
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| Surname | Given Name | Est Birth & Death | Est Service Dates | Conflicts | Regiment(s) | Died or Wounded | Bratton Clovelly Family Residences | Relationship to Parish | Other Information | Sources |
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| Ashton | Ivor John | 1895-1969 | 1912-1914 | Private, Royal North Devon Hussars, Service No 73374 | Other Medical | Bratton Mill | Resided at Bratton Mill when he returned from the service in 1914, remaining with his mother in Bratton Clovelly until 1921. | Born in Milton Damerel in 1895. Son of John Ashton (farmer) and Lucy Sandercock. With parents in Milton Damerel in 1901 and also in 1911 working on the farm. Discharged from service in 1914 for sickness, with residence listed as The Mill, Bratton Clovelly. Received the Silver Badge. Remained with mother at Bratton Mill until 1921, according to the Bratton Clovelly Voters Lists. Married Stella M R B Rogers in Holsworthy in 1942. Ivor died in Liskeard, Cornwall in 1969. | Silver Badge Roll Transcription, findmypast.co.uk WWI Pension Records, ancestry.co.uk Bratton Clovelly Voters Lists UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Breyley | Walter | 1893-1970 | 1913-1914 | Private, Devonshire Regiment, 6th Battalion, Service No 1744 | Other Medical | Risdon, Boasley | Born in Bratton Clovelly about 1893. With parents at Risdon Farm in 1901 ('Brealey'). | Son of Richard Paige Breyley (farmer) and Emma Gay. In Sourton in 1911 as a farmworker for a Voaden family. Living at Boasley Farm when he enlisted, working for G Gratton. Medically discharged in 1914. Married Ivy Gladys H Chown in the Okehampton District in 1916. In 1929, when he was applying for work with the Post Office, he requested a copy of his medical papers but they could not be found. Died in Exeter in 1970. | WWI Pension Records, ancestry.co.uk UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Dufty | Thomas | 1843-? | 1860-1871 | Devon Artillery Militia | Broadcroft | Identified as a soldier in the 1871 census, residing at Broadcroft with his parents. | Born in Jacobstowe, Devon in 1843. Son of John Dufty (farmer) and Elizabeth Ward. With parents in Beaworthy in 1851 and 1861. Served in the Devon Artillery Militia. Applied to become a Royal Marine in 1864 but was not accepted. Parents at Broadcroft from 1869-1874 according to the Voters Lists. | Bratton Clovelly Voters Lists UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Durrant | William | 1859-1909 | 1878-1898 | Leading Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy, Service No 103848 | William's children Winifred and Frederick are baptised in Bratton Clovelly in 1901 and 1902. | Born in Shebbear in 1859. Son of William Durrant (farmer) and Charlotte Isaac. With parents in 1861 ('Durant'), Isaac grandparents in 1871. Stoker aboard HMS Thetis in the Pacific in 1881. It appears that William adjusted his birth date to 1857 for his naval service. With wife Louisa Emma and daughter in Thrushelton in 1901. Identified as a Naval Pensioner in the 1901 census and the baptism records of his children at St Mary's Church. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms Bratton Clovelly Board School Admissions UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Ellis | Richard | c 1814-1866 | 1834-1841 | Royal Marines | Born in Bratton Clovelly circa 1810-1814. | Possibly Richard Ellis born 1810, son of John and Elizabeth Ellis. Joined the Royal Marines in 1834 at age 21. Puchased discharge for £20 in 1841.With wife Eliza in Kelly, Devon in 1851, working as an agricultural labourer. Also in 1861, with grandson William Thomas Bickle.Richard died in the Okehampton District in 1866. | Royal Marines Attestation Forms, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Flood | John | c 1825 | 1847-1855 | Gunner, 11th Battalion, Royal Artillery, Service No 722, 4th Battalion, Royal Artillery | Born in Bratton Clovelly circa 1825. | Enlisted in 1847 at age 22. At Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, Kent in 1851. Transferred to the 4th Battalion in 1855. | Statements of Service, TNA UK Censuses |
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| Gill | John Maunder Henry Webb | 1856-1935 | 1883-1916 | Major, 3rd Battalion and 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment | Eversfield | As a relative and lifelong friend of Thomas Ellis Manning, Thomas left Eversfield Manor to John in his will. He did extensive repairs for Mrs Elizabeth Manning (nee Jones) beginning in 1909 and inherited the manor in 1913 upon her death. He is listed as the lord of the manor in the 1919 Kelly's Directory, the same year that the manor was sold. | Born circa 1856 in New South Wales, Australia. Son of John Maunder (cattle man) and Elizabeth Gill. With widowed mother in Chelteham, Gloucestershire in 1881, working as a civil engineer. The London Gazette reports that he became a lieutenant in 1883 and captain in 1899. in Whitchurch, Devon in 1891, living by independent means. Recruitment Officer for Exeter during World War I and featured in the papers when he tried to get an exemption for his kennelman, William Thomas Downes. Lord of the manor, Eversfield, in Kelly's 1919 Directory. Married Flora Margaret Frances Sannia Dulton Vanghan Colt in South Kensington, London in 1921. As Flora was the daughter of Rev Sir Edward Harry Dutton Colt, 8th Baronet Colt of St James, Westminster, John is identified in the British Peerage. John died in Taunton in 1935. | London Gazette 6 Feb 1883 Western Times, various articles 1919 Kelly's Directory The Peerage, www.thepeerage.com Theophilus Jones, F.S.A., 1759-1812 : the historian and his family, http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/ (contains description of his descendant Elizabeth Jones Manning as well as information on Major Gill) UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Gorle | John Tayler | 1822-1888 | 1840-1860 | Captain, 10th Regiment of Foot (before 1846), 28th Regiment (1848), 40th Regiment (before 1861) | Metherel Tower | John died at Metherel Tower in 1888 as reported in the Christchurch Star. Identified as an Army Captain in his son Richard's marriage record in Bratton Clovelly in 1909. | Born in Kempsey, Worcestershire in 1822. Son of John and Ann Gorle. Became an Ensign in 1840 according to the Army Lists. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1841 and to Captain 1847, according to the London Gazette. Received the Sutlej Medal with Sobraon clasp in 1846. The Sutlej Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1846, for issue to officers and men of the British Army and Honourable East India Company who served in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46 (also known as the First Anglo-Sikh War). This medal was the first to use clasps to denote soldiers who fought in the major battles of the campaign. Married Frances Moore in Worcestershire in 1848. With wife and children in Worcestershire in 1861, late Captain in the Army. John died in 1888 while residing at Metherel Tower. | Halhed Genealogy & Family Trees, http://www.halhed.com/t4r/getperson.php?personID=I3714 Christchurch Star Transcriptions 1888, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ (reports John's death at Metherel Tower) Bratton Clovelly Marriages London Gazette Sutlej Medal, Wikipedia |
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| Griffin | Charles | 1840/41-1911 | 1856-1879 | Second China War | Quartermaster, Royal Navy, Service No 19588 | Bucket's House | Married Maria Voaden Smallacombe of Bratton Clovelly. Identified as a naval pensioner living at Bucket's House, Bratton Clovelly in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. | Born in Devonport in 1840/41 (BMD says 1840, service records says 1841). Son of John and Susan Griffin. With parents in Devonport in 1841. Errand boy for uncle Edward Egg in 1851. Joined as a boy sailor aboard the Impregnable in 1855. Awarded the China Medal (Second China War) for service aboard the Volcano as a Boy 1st Class 1857-1859. Ordinary Seaman in 1859, Leading Seaman in 1865 and Quartermaster in 1870 according to his service record at The National Archives. Quartermaster aboard HMS Fly in Nova Scotia in 1871. Married Maria Smallacombe in St Germans, Cornwall in 1873. Pensioner in 1881 with wife and children in Dartmouth. In Thrushelton in 1891. Farmer in Bratton Clovelly in 1901 ('Griffen'), with wife and grandson. Charles died in 1911. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA UK Naval Medals, ancestry.co.uk UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| James | Richard | 1864- | 1880-1891 | Anglo-Egyptian War | Able Seaman, Royal Navy, Service No 113098 | Other Medical | Northcombe | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1864. With parents Richard and Grace James at Northcombe Farm in 1871, where his parents lived from 1850-1875. | Son of Richard James (farmer) and Grace Piper. Boy sailor aboard HMS Royal Adelaide in 1881. Richard's service records from The National Archives identify the many ships that he served on. Received the Egyptian Medal while serving aboard HMS Iris in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882. Richard was invalided in Plymouth in 1890. We don't know his whereabouts once he left the Royal Navy. | Register of Seamens Services, TNA UK Naval Medals, ancestry.co.uk Bratton Clovelly Voters Lists UK Censuses |
| James | Thomas | 1869-1899 | 1889-1894 | Driver, Army Service Corps, Service No G/8777 | Northcombe | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1869. With parents Richard and Grace James at Northcombe Farm in 1871. Baptised at St Mary's in 1875. | Son of Richard James (farmer) and Grace Piper. Enlisted in 1889, transferred to the Reserves in 1894. Died at Castle Inn, Beaworthy in 1899. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Lock | George | 1834- | 1861 | Soldier | Village | Identified as a discharged soldier in the Bratton Clovelly 1871 Census. | Son of John (labourer) and Sarah Lock. With parents in the Village in 1841. George's parents were in the Bratton Clovelly Poor House in 1851, while George was working in Germansweek as an agricultural labourer. Whereabouts unknown in 1861, presumably he was in the service. With wife Eliza Maria | Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses |
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| Lockhart | William | 1859-1939 | 1878-1903 | Shipwright, Royal Navy, Service No 107215 | Eastlake | Identified as a Royal Navy shipwright when he married Charlotte Hortop of Eastlake, Bratton Clovelly in 1888. | Born in Birmingham in 1859. Son of Archibald William Lockhart (tailor) and Sarah Vale. With parents in Birmingham in 1861, also in 1871 working as a brass founder. Carpenter's Crew aboard HMS Cambridge, a gunnery ship, in Devonport in 1881. Promoted to Shipwright in 1886 according to his service records at The National Archives. Married Charlotte Hortop at St Mary's in 1888. With wife in Devonport in 1901, working as a grocer shopkeeper. William died in Launceston, Cornwall in 1939. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA Bratton Clovelly Marriages UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Luxton | John | 1833-1922 | Stoker, Royal Navy | Broxcombe | Born at Broxcombe in Bratton Clovelly. Married Grace Luxton at St Mary's in 1860. | Son of Roger Kerslake Luxton and Susanna Northcott. His wife Grace Luxton was the daughter of James. With wife and son in Stoke Damerel in 1861, labourer in HM Dock Yard. With wife and children in 1871, working as a stoker. Fireman stoker at a stationery engine factory in Stoke Damerel in 1891.With wife and children in Devonport in 1911, old age pensioner, retired Royal Navy stoker. John died in Devonport in 1922. | Bratton Clovelly Baptisms ('Luxon') Bratton Clovelly Marriages UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Martyn | James | c 1815-1889 | 1837-1837 | 5th Battalion, Royal Artillery | Village | Born in Bratton Clovelly and lived in the Village for his lifetime. Both James and his wife Susanna Harris were buried at St Mary's. | Probably baptised in 1815, the son of William (farmer) and Mary James. Enlisted in 1837 and purchased his discharge in 1837. It's possible that he didn't serve any time. Married Susanna Harris in Torrington, Devon in 1840. With wife and children in Bratton Village in 1851-1861, working as an agricultural labourer. James remained with his wife in the Village until Susanna died in 1884 and then James died in Okehampton Union Workhouse in 1889. | Statements of Service, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms Bratton Clovelly Burials UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Murrin | John Henry | 1887-1971 | 1904-1912 | Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy, Service No 231935 | Married Charlotte Glover at St Mary's in 1908. They lived in Thrushelton, but several of their children were baptised at St Mary's and attended Bratton Clovelly School until they moved to Bridestowe in 1919. | Also known as 'Henry'. Born in Lifton in 1887. Son of Henry and Mary Jane Murrin. Identified as a sailor aboard HMS Vivid when he married Charlotte Glover in Bratton Clovelly in 1908. His service records show that he joined the Royal Navy in 1904 as a boy sailor, progressing to Stoker 1st class in 1907. Services no longer required in 1912 at which time he was discharged. He and Charlotte lived at Wrixhill Bridge, Thrushelton according to his children's baptism and burial records in the St Mary's, Bratton Clovelly register. The baptism record of one of his children in 1915 identifies that he was serving in the Army Service Corps at that time but the historic records are not clear regarding WWI service. He died in Tavistock in 1971. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA Bratton Clovelly Marriages Bratton Clovelly Baptisms Bratton Clovelly Burials Bratton Clovelly Board School Admissions UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Perkins | Thomas | c 1844-? | 1866-1885 | Private, 65th Foot, York & Lancaster Regiment, Service No 1340 | Other Medical | Thomas' service papers state that he was born in Bratton Clovelly, with his next of kin identified as his mother Mary. | Son of Mary Perkins who was identified as his next of kin in his enlistment papers. Served in the East Indies from 1871 to 1883. Invalided with general debility. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk | ||
| Roberts | William | c 1843 | 1862-1864 | Private, F Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, Service No 5832 | Village | Born in Bratton Clovelly and baptised at St Mary's. With parents Thomas and Ann Roberts in Bratton Village in 1851 and 1861. | Son of Thomas Roberts (blacksmith) and Ann Johns. Enlisted in 1862 at age 19. Discharged for desertion in 1864. With wife Elizabeth A and children in Thrushelton in 1871 and 1881, working as a farm labourer. With wife and children in Plymouth 1891-1911, working as a labourer. | Statements of Service, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Sanders | James | c 1817 | 1837 | Born in Bratton Clovelly. | The only information we have on James is his record of desertion in 1837 which identifies his regiment, birth place, estimated date of birth and that he was a miner. | Army Deserters 1828-1840, findmypast.co.uk | ||||
| Shears | John | c 1773 | 1807-1815 | 14th Foot Soldiers, 3rd Battalion | Born in Bratton Clovelly in about 1773. | The only information we have on John is his service record in the Canada British Regimental Registers of Service at ancestry.co.uk (Canada collection). It states that he was born in Bratton Clovelly, along with his estimated age, physical characteristics, service regiment, attestation date in Devon and discharge date at Chelsea. | Canada British Regimental Registers of Service, ancestry.co.uk | |||
| Smale | Alfred Ernest | 1875-1938 | 1894-1906 | Boer War | Private, 2nd Devon Regiment, Service No 4048 | Little Wrixhill, Little Grindhill, East Grindhill | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1875 and lived there all his life except for his time in the service. With parents in 1881 and 1891 at the Boot & Shoe Shop at Little Wrixhill. After his service, he married Lily Spry in Bratton Clovelly in 1907. With wife and children in 1911, listed as a farmer and driver of the County Council van. Alfred and his wife lived at Little Grindhill until 1920 according to the Bratton Clovelly Voters Lists, from which time their residence was listed as East Grindhill, where his wife Lily had been born. Alfred died in Bratton Clovelly in 1938. | Military records state that Alfred's birth year was about 1872 so he may have been younger than they thought. Son of James (boot and shoemaker) and Mary Smale. Service records are under 'Alfred Ernest Male' on findmypast.co.uk. Farm labourer when he enlisted in 1894. Served in South Africa from 1899-1902. Received the King's South African Medal, always awarded with the Queen's South African Medal. Received Battle Clasps for Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Laing's Nek, as well as State Clasps for Orange Free State and Transvaal. Transferred to Army Reserves in 1902 and discharged in 1906. Identified as a farmer in the Kelly's Directories for Bratton Clovelly from 1910-1935. He may have been non-conformist as his marriage and burial do not appear in the St Mary's registers. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk Kelly's Directories 1910-1935 UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Smale | William Henry | 1872-? | 1891-1907 | Boer War | Driver, Army Service Corps, Service No 10218 | Little Wrixhill | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1872. With parents in 1881 at the Boot & Shoe Shop at Little Wrixhill. | Son of James (boot and shoemaker) and Mary Smale. Served in South Africa. Received South African Medal with 3 clasps.With widowed mother in Tormoham, Devon in 1911, working as a nurseryman. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Soby | William | 1879-1949 | 1898-1910 | Boer War | Sapper, Royal Engineers, Service No 1498 | Higher Voaden | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1879 and baptised at St Mary's in 1880. With parents at Higher Voaden Farm in 1881. | Son of William (farmer) and Elizabeth Soby. With parents in Hittisleigh, Devon in 1891. Occupation listed as turner when he enlisted. Served in South Africa 1899-1902. Awarded the King's South Africa Medal, always awarded with the Queen's South Africa Medal. Received the Battle Clasp for Relief of Ladysmith and State Clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. Steam wagon driver for the miller in Okehampton in 1911. William died in the Okehampton District in 1949. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses UK Births, Marriages & Deaths |
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| Wood | Thomas | 1830-? | 1854-1858 | Able Seaman, Royal Navy, Service No 13511 | Other Medical | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1830 and baptised at St Mary's, although service records give a birth date of 1833. | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1830 and baptised at St Mary's, although service records give a birth date of 1833. Son of James (agricultural labourer) and Sarah Wood. Farm labourer in Broadwoodwidger in 1851. Served on several ships from 1854-1858 before being invalided, according to his service records at The National Archives. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses |
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| Wood | William | 1840-? | 1857-1878 | Senior Gunner, Royal Navy, Service No 35222 | Born in Bratton Clovelly in 1830 and baptised at St Mary's, although service records give a birth date of 1842. | Son of James (agricultural labourer) and Sarah Wood. Joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in 1857 and served on numerous ships until he left the service in 1878, according to his service records at The National Archives. | Register of Seamen's Services, TNA Bratton Clovelly Baptisms UK Censuses |
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| Worth | William | c 1818-? | 1839-1850 | Anglo-Sikh Wars | Private, 29th Regiment of Foot, Service No 1298 | Other Medical | Culmpit | With brother Abraham and his family at Culmpit, Bratton Clovelly in 1851, listed as a soldier on half pay. | Born in Hatherleigh, Devon circa 1818. Son of William (agricultural labourer) and Elizabeth Worth. Labourer when he enlisted in 1839. Served in the East Indies for seven years in numerous battles of the Anglo-Sikh War, including Sutlej, Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Punjaub, Chenab, Chillianwallah and Goojerat. Received medals for the Sutlej and Punjaub Campaigns. Received Good Conduct Ring. Discharged in 1850 as medically unfit. | British Army Service Records, findmypast.co.uk UK Censuses |