St Michael’s, an Anglican church. “This Church was blowen up with powder Febr ye 16th Anno 1645 and rebuilt AD 1651”.  This happened during the Battle of Torrington, the biggest battle ever fought in Devon. Fairfax and Cromwell defeated  the Royalist army under Lord Hopton gaining command of the South West. The Royalists who held the town had stored 80 barrels of gunpowder  in the church. The Roundheads as they captured new ground looked for a suitable place for their prisoners and shut them up in the church. Somehow the explosion resulted, with great loss of life. In the churchyard a cobbled mound covers a mass grave. The mound said to contain the remains of 60 Civil War Royalist prisoners.


Claude Ewart Leate and Frank George Grier Morris D.S.O.

Location: St Michael and All Angels, Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8EA

great-torrington-devon-st-michael-and-all-angels-wwi-cross-c-e-leate
Claude Ewart Leate

Details on cross:

 

All on metal GRU tags

29992 PTE C E LEATE

8 – SOMERSET LIGHT

10-7-17

 

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): PAINTED. Inscription on GRU tag

Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 8250
Cross beam width: 4100
Width of wood: 700
Thickness or depth: 200

Other information
Mounting to wall: metal plate at top screwed to cross and wall
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Slight wear to the base
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Brown matt paint
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition

Notes and observations:
Located in NW corner of north aisle, just off the floor, hidden by furniture.

Leate also appears on nearby Roll of Honour

CWGC: Private Claude Ewart Leate. Service No: 29992
Date of Death:10/07/1917 Age:23
Regiment/Service:Somerset Light Infantry 8th Bn.
Grave Reference: II. B. 28.
Cemetery: MESSINES RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of George and Donna Leate; husband of Mary Sophia Leate, of ” Torreville “, New St., Great Torrington, Devon.

On his CWGC headstone the doubtless heartfelt inscription from his wife Sophie reads:

“O God of Love O king of peace, Make wars throughout the wars to cease.”

The lines taken from the hymn of the same name by H W Baker.

(NS)

Survey and photographs courtesy of  John Vigar
Date of survey: 12th September 2016

Photo of Church Nifanion, Wikimedia Commons CCASA3

great-torrington-devon-st-michael-and-all-angels-wwi-cross-fgg-morris-dso
Frank George Grier Morris

Details on cross:

GRU Tag and paint

R.I.P.

IN MEMORY OF (on scroll)

Lieut. Col. F.G.G.MORRIS D.S.O.

1st BATT. THE BORDER REGt.

KILLED IN ACTION (scroll) 16-8-17

 

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): PAINTED. Tag on top too high up to see

Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height:1160
Cross beam width:710
Width of wood: 100
Thickness or depth: 50

Other information
Mounting to wall: Hook at back
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Splintered base
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): White matt paint
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Paint rubbing off. Top LH corner splintere

Notes and observations:

Located halfway down wall of north aisle. Height about 8ft off ground. Morris also appears on nearby Roll of Honour.

From CWGC:
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Date of Death: 16/08/1917 Age:48
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment 1st Bn. attd. 16th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
Awards: D S O
Grave Reference: II. H. 1.Cemetery:CANADA FARM CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Maj. Gen. Robert Morris (Indian Army) and Sarah Morris, of Devonshire; husband of Mabel Morris.

His CWGC headstone simply reads “for King and country”. (NS)

Survey and photographs courtesy of  John Vigar
Date of survey: 12th September 2016