Sandy Park Memorial

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Rugby Club are hoping that Chiefs supporters and the local community can help them in their quest to find out additional information they are seeking with regards to the War Memorial that is currently located within the County Suite at the club's Sandy Park Stadium.

Regular visitors to the Devon venue will know that a special memorial plaque is currently located within the County Suite to commemorate former Exeter Rugby players who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

Now, Chief Executive Tony Rowe OBE is calling on club supporters and the local community at large to help aid the request for information on the 11 former players who lost their lives in  WWI.

"We obviously know there were a number of former players who were involved in active duty during WWII and sadly did not return home, but we've also been told recently there were 11 players who were involved during WWI and did not return home. As a club, we not only want to find out more about these people, but we also want to acknowledge their ultimate sacrifice they made by having a new commemorative plaque installed in their honour within the club.

Already Mr Rowe has been in detailed dialogue with local historian Roy Hough, who has been able to compile a list of former players who lost their lives in WWI that had playing links to the club.

What we would  like to do is trace their living relatives if possible, we have some information on these players but any further information on the personnel listed below or any information that is missing would be welcomed by the club.

Those with information are asked to contact Exeter Chiefs Communications Manager Mark Stevens by email at [email protected]


WORLD WAR I


GEORGE HOWARD BICKLEY
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 4/10/1917
Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Age: 25
Panel Reference: Panel 154 ro 159 and 163A
Additional Information: Son of H.O Bickley, JP of Holm Lea, Lyme Regis, Dorset. Formerly Lt Devonshire Regiment


HARRY JOHN CARRINGTON
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 290544
Date of Death: 19/7/1918
Regiment/Service: Middlesex Regiment 1st/10th Bn
Age: 25
Panel Reference: Face 7

JAMES HENRY COOK
Rank: Rifleman
Service No: 5/4856
Date of Death: 3/7/1915
Regiment/Service: King's Rifle Corps
Age: 28
Additional Information: Son of Charles Henry and Ellen Cook of 68 Buller Road, St Thomas, Exeter, Devon


GEOFFREY HERBERT CULVERWELL
Rank: Private
Service No: 1694
Date of Death: 10/6/1916
Regiment/Service: Devonshire Regiment
Age: 21
Panel Reference: Panel 11
Additional Information: Son of the late Mr and Mrs E Culverwell of Minehead, Somerset

WILLIAM SETTEN GOFF
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 22/4/1918
Regiment/Service: Royal Welsh Fusiliers 7th Bn
Age: 36
Additional Information: Brother of Charles W Goff of 27 Woburn Square, Bloomsbury, London

 

S E HUCKLEBRIDGE
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 7/3/1919
Regiment/Service: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 21st Bn
EMRYS JONES
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 1829
Date of Death: 22/11/1915
Regiment/Service: Devonshire Regiment 1st/4th Bn
Panel Reference: Panel 11


MAURICE HARRY DONNE PARSONS
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 18/7/1916
Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Artillery 'O' Bty 5th Bde
Age: 35
Additional Information: Eldest son of the late HJD Parsons of Exeter, husband of Louisa Mary Parsons of 'The Elms' Clevelands, Exeter


CHARLES EDWARD TUDOR-JONES
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 15/12/1915
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps 3rd Sqdn & East Lancashire Regiment
JOHN LEONARD VEITCH
Rank: Major
Date of Death: 21/5/1918
Regiment/Service: Devonshire Regiment 7th Bn attd 1st Bn
Age: 31
Additional Information: Son of Peter Christian Masyn Veitch and Harriet Veitch (nee Drew) of Exeter


ALBERT HENRY WEBBER
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 20793
Date of Death: 1/91/1918
Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment 2nd Bn
Age: 30
Additional Information: Son of John Cleave Webber of Tiverton, Devon; husband of Eveelyn A Webber of Park Lane, Swindon