Who's behind the project
The website www.devonremembers.co.uk is a permanent digital memorial to those people from the Clinton Devon Estates towns and villages, who served their country in the Great War of 1914-1918.
It is also intended as a resource for local historians, schools and anyone researching this era and the impact of war on the communities of East Devon and North Devon.
It is hoped that over time family, friends or local historians may wish to add to the workof the dedicated volunteers from Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Newton Poppleford, Otterton, Colaton Raleigh, Merton and Huish who have collated these important stories for future generations – Lest We Forget.
We also hope that other communities across Devon will be interested in joining this project.
Thanks
Special thanks must go to the Fairlynch Museum in Budleigh Salterton and to all the volunteers and historians who have worked so tirelessly, researching and collating a wealth of information. They are the inspiration behind this project. Also to the Lord Clinton Charitable Trust and Clinton Devon Estates who have kindly funded this memorial website.
Contributors to the website include Sheila Jelley, Margaret Brett, Jane Bennett, John Haggar, John Hedderly and Philip Collins.
Special thanks must also go to a former pupil of Colyton Grammar School, Richard Scott, who was asked to look into the stories of those named on the school’s Great War memorial.
It was a challenge which the Beer resident found fascinating. Indeed, once that research was complete, he decided to carry on and investigate the stories of those from his home village who fought and died in the global conflict. He also decided to try to tell the stories of those from the community who came home once the Armistice was signed.
He was ably assisted by the descendants of many of those who fought, who were able to add their own memories and documents, including photographs, to the work.
The result is a fascinating archive which we are now pleased to be able to share via www.devonremembers.co.uk. We are indebted to Mr Scott, and to the families who helped him, for allowing us to honour the sacrifices of Beer’s 1914-18 generation.
Your story
If you have a World War One story to tell relating to an individual or family from East Devon or North Devon or you would like to contribute information to the website, please email: mail@devonremembers.co.uk
The local history volunteers at the Fairlynch Museum were supported in their research by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, whose assistance is also gratefully acknowledged.
We are also proud to be part of the wider Devon Remembers project, whose website can be found here. It is being organised by Devon County Council, the Royal British Legion, 43 Wessex Brigade, the Community Council of Devon, Exeter City Council, DAISI and others. Its aims are to:
- recognise and pay tribute to the sacrifice and contribution that the people of Devon made during and after the war
- bring communities together to discover stories about their past and forge new relationships for the future
- create a legacy collection of images, objects and documents which contribute to the national archive
- help the younger generation understand the experiences of the conflict and the effect it had on their community
- highlight funding and resources available for communities to have their own remembrance activities.
Devon Remembers also want communities across Devon to get involved and tell others what they are doing locally. Email devonremembers-mailbox@devon.gov.uk to let the project know what your school or community group is doing.
You can find out about the events and projects it is involved with on its News page.
The Devon Heritage Centre holds all types of historical archives relating to the county of Devon and the City of Exeter. You can download a guide to undertaking World War One Research at the Heritage Centre here.
