Stoke St Gregory - Years of History BACK to Main Site
1915
One hundred and ten years ago, Stoke, along with all rural Somerset communities, were becoming deeply affected by the war, with a mix of patriotic support, personal sacrifice, and growing hardship. The initial enthusiasm was giving way to sobering realities. The Somerset Light Infantry and the West Somerset Yeomanry were prominent local units, and local newspapers published regular updates on casualties. On August 11th The Taunton Courier had reported that 51 Stoke men had joined up, but on Wednesday 6th October the Courier reported the first death of a Stoke soldier: "STOKE ST GREGORY - Casualties. —The exodus of young men from the village during the last thirteen months has brought the great European War home very closely. We regret to record that the sad tidings came last week that George Beck (one of five brothers serving their King and country) had lost his life in France by the explosion of a mine. This is the first death which has occurred to any of the Stoke. Gregory lads, and much sympathy goes out to the bereaved parents and relatives. A memorial service was held in the Baptist Church on Sunday last. News has also come that Frederick Batten has been wounded and is lying in Reading Hospital suffering from fractured leg."
George Beck
Only one week later the Courier was reporting the death of a second local man: STOKE ST GREGORY MAN KILLED. News has been received of the death in action of Private Herbert Miller, of the 7th Battalion Somerset L.I, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller, Curload, Stoke St Gregory. The following letters have been received from officers of the Company;—
Dear Madam, —I greatly regret have to inform you that your son, Private Miller, of the Company under my command, was accidentally killed in the trenches whilst we were in action on the 25th September. All ranks wish to express you their sympathies with you in your loss. He was a very good soldier, and had done extremely well since we have been on active service. He has been buried in the Hospital Cemetery, and his grave will be suitably marked.—Your truly. E. W. Grigg, Captain, commanding A Company, 7th Somerset L.I.
Dear Madam —I writing this to tell you the sad news that your son was killed in the trenches Sunday afternoon, September 26th. I have been his officer since he joined this Battalion, and. on behalf of his mates and myself, wish to say how deeply we grieve his death. At all times, both out here and in England, he did his duty splendidly. In the trenches he gained our respect for the steady and cool way he did all his work. His last act before was struck was to share among his mates cigarettes that he had received in a parcel from England. Dear Madam, may you find consolation in your trouble in knowing that your son nobly gave his life for his country, and that so doing he has gained the greatest prize. Brave mother of brave son, God bless you. —Yours faithfully, S. W. Brown Lieutenant, 7th Somerset L.I.”
The following message sympathy has also been received from Lord Kitchener; —“The King commands me to assure you of the true sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow.”
The cigarettes referred to by Lieut. Brown were sent by Mrs. E. Boobyer, whose husband the deceased was employed by previous jotoining the Army. He was killed by the accidental discharge of rifle. Miller is the second Stoke man give his life for his country.
Herbert Miller
Herbert had been a willow worker like his father. Joseph (originally from Fivehead) and Mary Jane had at least one older daughter, Emily, who had left home, and four younger children. They lived in Huntham Lane. It was their youngest, Annie, who had tragically died in the February.
The Church Bells
1915 also saw a suggestion from a villager that the church bells should not be rung until the end of the war.
On Wednesday December 15th the Taunton Courier published a letter from the lady concerned, but we don't know the outcome.
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CHURCH BELLS AND THE WAR
To the Editor
SIR - If you will allow me a small space in your popular paper I should like to suggest to the ringers of our village (Stoke St Gregory) - Why not let our bells be silent until this dreadful war is ended and there is once more peace on earth? With so many of our brave lads far away engaged in such a conflict and strife, I feel sure there are many aching hearts, that ache still more when they hear the sweet sad sound of the bells and compare it with the sounds their loved ones hear who are gone to fight for us.
I think it only wants just this suggestion for the ringers to see that although it is the usual custom to ring the bells occasionally, it is decidedly out of place to do so now, under the circumstances, and I believe arrangements will be speedily made for the practice to be discontinued. Perhaps, if Stoke St Gregory sets the example, other villages as well will realise that if only out of sympathy and consideration for parents who are sad and anxious, and for the lads who must be sometimes sad and lonely it would be kinder not to ring the bells.
May it be God's will to hasten the bright days of peace when we shall be glad to hear again the merry peals of our dear old village bells, which help us to remember that we may "Rejoice with them that do rejoice". But in the meanwhile is it not our duty to "Weep with them that weep"?
Thanking you for allowing my letter to appear in print, I am, yours truly.
A SOLDIER'S SISTER