Stoke St Gregory History Pages
World War I
Update 19/01/2025 Click HERE
Casualties
It was reported in the Taunton Courier, on 5th July 1916, that Howard Champion, Private 10431, 7th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, had been killed by a shell at Ypres on 9th June. Born in Stoke, he was the youngest son of Henry and Margaret Champion.
The year before, another Stoke family had suffered a double loss. Not only did Joseph and Mary Miller lose their son Herbert, who died of wounds on active service in France. They were still grieving for their daughter Annie, who had died in February, aged 12.


Bill Chedzoy, who had emigrated to Canada, was one of the luckier ones:
Taunton Courier 24th January 1917
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“Wounded - Much sympathy was felt for Mr and Mrs Samuel Chedzoy, of Meare Green, on their receiving a telegram last week saying their elder son, Private William J Chedzoy, (above) was seriously ill in France, having being wounded in the chest. Then came days of weary waiting and suspense, but they have since heard that is progressing favourably. Private Chedzoy was born and brought up in this village, and was formerly a ringer before going to Canada. He volunteered for service, came over with the Canadians and joined the Battalion of Royal Grenadiers. His father has been sexton in this parish for 42 years."



Village Life - Updated 19/01/2025
In the village itself, apart from the occasional devastating news, life continued more or less as normal. One of the few entries in the school log book is an excerpt from County Council Circular E60 end of 1915: “With a view to economise fuel and light and also to release the older children earlier in the afternoon the County Education Committee has considered it advisable to make a new rule to the effect that in agricultural parishes the Afternoon Session of public Elementary Schools shall be from 1.30 to 3.30 pm." The end of the war is not noted in the school log book. It was closed for two weeks due to an outbreak of inluenza. It was not until 1924 that Armistice day was observed, as it was not until then that the half term holiday was brought back to October.

Willow Leaving Stoke for the Railway Station
When the 1st World War broke out in August 1914, Britain, under Lord Kitchener, recruited a huge volunteer army. In just eight weeks, over three-quarters of a million men in Britain had joined up. The Army was in no way prepared for the huge number of volunteers wanting to fight, and men were often rushed through the official process for joining up. Conditions in training camps were often basic and supplies of equipment were limited. And the Army could not accept every volunteer. All new soldiers had to meet age restrictions, nationality criteria, and pass a medical examination. This filitering of health and physique was a lesson learnt from the Boer Wars, when boatloads of men were shipped to South Africa who were totally unfit for military action. However, in the chaos of early 1914, a blind eye was often turned to official standards. Examinations could be brief and hasty, still allowing many underage or unfit men to slip through into the Army.
The "Your Country Needs You" poster – had encouraged over one million men to enlist by January 1915. But even this was not enough to keep pace with mounting casualties. Within a year of Great Britain declaring war on Germany in August 1914, it had become obvious that it was not possible to continue fighting by relying on voluntary recruits.
The government saw no alternative but to increase numbers by conscription – compulsory active service, and in January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed. This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker. Conscientious objectors – men who objected to fighting on moral grounds– were also exempted, and were usually given civilian jobs or non-fighting roles at the front.
In Stoke, much time was spent trying to convince the local tribunal that certain individuals were vital to local industry and the war effort. A George Pocock was granted exemption on the grounds that he was the only competent boatman employed by the Drainage Board in an area covering 30,000 acres.
Exemption was also granted to Stoke withy grower and basket maker, Edmund Boobyer, on behalf of Herbert Hembrow who looked after the withy boiler. It was argued that 22 women employees were dependent on his work and they were involved in supplying government orders. This was backed up by letters from the Office of Works regarding the supply of baskets to the Pigeon Flying Service and chairs for the Office of Works. Even more important than the baskets was the supply of willow to the large city basketmakers, producing a whole range of goods, from shell cases to military hampers.
Exemptions were often granted for a very limited time, in order to complete work already started, or intil after harvest time. The following are extracts from local newspapers of the time:
"Cuthbert William Woodland (27), willow grower and merchant of Stoke St Gregory, was exempted until the end of June, the military authority agreeing to this."
"Herbert Garland (35), married, of Curload, Stoke St Gregory, willow grower and basket maker, was exemp[ted until 30th June. His father was dependent on him, as well as his wife. One of his brothers had been to the Front."
"John Clifford Brewer (19), bread baker, employed by mr Squire of Stoke St Gregory, who stated that he had just lost his first hand man, who had been taken into the army."
"Walter Winchester (30), farmer, general haulier, and innkeeper, of Boroughbridge and Stoke St Gregory.
An application by Mr Hunt, of Curry Rivel, on behalf of Samuel Alfred Barnett (37) of Woodhill, Stoke St Gregory, who looked after the rhines and droves, was dismissed."
"Mr Ernest W Bellringer, of Stoke St Gregory, owner and driver of a threshing machine, was granted one month’s temporary exemption."
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"Sidney Granfield, aged 33, a willow grower and chair maker, of Stoke St Gregory, asked for a small extension of time, as he was not so far forward with his work as he hoped to be, but his application was refused."
"Mrs Eliza Ann Wyatt of Stoke St Gregory appealed on behalf of Henry Boobyer (39), carpenter, wheelwright, and undertaker, in her employ. He is married, has three children, and resides at Athelney. The appeal was supported by Mr H G Spiller, who explained that appellant’s husband had met with an accident, and was unable to do the work owing to to a wound in the knee. Boobyer stated that the nearest wheelwright was 1¼ to 1½ miles from their shop. He had work in hand which would last for six months. He had been passed for general service. - Dismissed."