War Graves
As part of the Centenary Year, there is currently a project going on in Brompton Regis to research the lives of the men from the parish who died in the Great War. Their names are recorded on the War Memorial in the Churchyard and the aim is to create a more detailed record of their lives and deaths to keep in the village and help ensure they will not be forgotten.
A little known fact about the small village of Brompton Regis is that its Churchyard is an official Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery. This is because one of the men from Brompton Regis who served and died in the Great War was buried here. He was Private Charles W Blackmore who served in the Somerset Light Infantry and who died on 27th October 1917.
So far the military record for most of the men have been found and details of their lives are emerging from the census details of the time. Some of the facts already emerging are very poignant and their remains are surprisingly widely spread across Europe and the Middle East.
If you are a descendent (or know) of any of the men listed below and have any information you could provide about them, or even a photograph, please do get in touch. Thank-you
Sarah Merchant Tel: 01398 341973 e-mail: merchant461@btinternet.com
Click on each name for a summary of their short lives.
Name |
Regiment |
Died |
Age |
| Private Charles Blackmore | Somerset Light Infantry | 27th October 1917 | 20 |
| Serjeant William Henry Cheek (1) | Devonshire | 22nd February 1916 | 30 |
| Private George Henry Chilcott | Devonshire | 1st April 1916 | 21 |
| Private James Harold Colman | Wiltshire | 10th April 1918 | 19 |
| Private John Colman | Royal Army Service Corps | 23rd December 1918 | 31 |
| Lance Corporal Charles Abraham Farmer (2) | Devonshire | 31st July 1917 | 19 |
| Corporal William John Hawkins | Royal Marine Light Infantry | 13th November 1916 | 22 |
| Private Sidney John Jennings | Somerset Light Infantry | 18th August 1916 | 28 |
| Gunner John May | Royal Field Artillery | 22nd December 1916 | 20 |
| Private Tom Rushton | The Queen's Royal West Surrey | 13th October 1915 | 22 |
| Lance Corporal Albert Edward Sowden | King's Shropshire Light Infantry | 25th September 1915 | 24 |
| Lieutenant Fenwick Charles Stevens | King's Own Royal Lancaster | 7th September 1918 | 23 |
| Private Job Tapp | Devonshire | 14th July 1917 | 20 |
| Private David Henry Wensley | Worcestershire | 17th October 1917 | 23 |
| Lance Serjeant Tom Williams (3) | Somerset Light Infantry | 26th April 1917 | 35 |
| Corporal Walter Charles Williams | Devonshire | 25th September 1916 | 20 |
| Private Wilfred John Baker (4) | Australian Infantry | 20th September 1915 | 31 |