12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, funeral

recently i was given a photo which showed a funeral taken place at Budleigh Salterton in East Devon during 1941, it shows two coffins being taken into the graveyard

so i thought i would try and find the graves and so went to Budleigh Salterton and asked around and got directions.

the same entrance taken at a slightly different angle. After 15 minutes we found the graves set together but made different


I presume one grave stone has been paid for by the family whilst the other is a more usual war grave, could anyone shed any light as to what happend to these two men? as the heading on the original photo can't be taken as the truth.

 

Hello reddevon
re the headstones
The family would have the choice of a CWGC headstone or have a private family stone.


HOLLOWAY, STANLEY JOHN

Rank:
Private
Service No:
5627659
Date of Death:
03/07/1941
Age:
27
Regiment/Service:
Devonshire Regiment

12th Bn.
Grave Reference
Sec. F. Grave 148.
Cemetery
BUDLEIGH SALTERTON CHURCH CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of George and M. Holloway, of Hounslow, Middlesex.

WOOLACOTT, CLIFTON ERNEST

Rank:
Private
Service No:
5619427
Date of Death:
03/07/1941
Age:
20
Regiment/Service:
Devonshire Regiment

12th Bn.
Grave Reference
Sec. F. Grave 147.
Cemetery
BUDLEIGH SALTERTON CHURCH CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James Thomas Woolacott and Elise Jane Woolacott, of Totnes.

Budleigh War Memorial 1939 to 1945


regards
clive

 

Being that the NoK were at different parts of the country I would say they were killed with the unit at or near where they are buried. You may find there were more casualties but the families requested them to be buried near the family home.

I suspect there may be a mention in this:

WO 166/4205 12 Devonshire Regiment. 1940 Nov.- 1941 Oct.

Nice 'Then and Now' by the way

 

At this time the 12th Battalion were stationed at Littleham camp a couple of miles from Budleigh Salterton and not far from Woodbury Common where the marines train today, so i guess they were training what with both dying on the same day, but how?

 

Well, the photo caption says possibly two brothers but it would appear they were cousins, with different parents.
It also attribute cause of death to land mine, so that would indicate they were on a beach which is where most land mines were in the UK.
Local paper may have an archive, try asking at Budleigh Salterton library or family/local history group...
Interestingly, the younger has the earlier Service Number of the two....

 

i have recently spoke to a Sid Manley a veteran member of the 12th battalion and he could remember this funeral and said he was actually in the photo he thinks he was second or third from the left, he remembers that they stepped on a mine on Budleigh Salterton beach.

 

A lot to bear for one family at the same time.