The war memorial at Chudleigh Knighton records the names of men whose connections to the village are documented through school registers, parish records, census entries, employment in the clay and brick industries, and the surviving military files. Their deaths span Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, France, Belgium, the North Sea and home service in Britain. The memorial gateposts and the tablet in the nave preserve these details in abbreviated form; the fuller records show the extent to which a small industrial village contributed to the First World War.
Lieutenant Guy Ferguson Hughes, Royal Horse Guards, was born in Bengal in 1880, the son of General Sir William Templer Hughes KCB of Dunley House. He was baptised at Umbala and later lived in Chudleigh Knighton with his family. He served as a liaison and reconnaissance officer with the Guards Division Cycle Company and was killed on 21 December 1915 at Lestrem, Pas‑de‑Calais. He is buried at Vieille‑Chapelle New Military Cemetery.
Private George Henry Woodward Howard, born in Tiverton in 1886, grew up at the Level Crossing, Chudleigh Knighton. He attended the village school and worked as a clay worker and stonemason moulder. He served first with the 5th Devons, then volunteered for Mesopotamia and was transferred to the 2nd Dorsets. He was fatally wounded at the Battle of Es Sinn on 30 September 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.
Stoker 1st Class William Francis Setters, Royal Navy, was born in Ipplepen in 1888 and later lived at Underhayes Cottages, Chudleigh Knighton. A career seaman, he served with the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division. He was killed in action on 4 June 1915 during the Gallipoli campaign. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.
Captain Charles John Harcourt Sheepshanks, Devonshire Regiment, was born in 1886, the son of the Revd Thomas Sheepshanks of Stokeleake House (later Finlake). A barrister of the Inner Temple, he was killed in action on 17 March 1916 near Méaulte on the Somme. He is buried in the region and commemorated locally due to the family’s residence at Stokelake.
Private Maurice Vallance, Worcestershire Regiment, was born in Chudleigh Knighton in 1893 and attended the village school. He worked as a glazemaker at the brickworks and lived at Reeds/Bulley’s/Underhayes Cottages. He died of wounds on 4 September 1916 at Auchonvillers on the Somme and is buried in Beauval Communal Cemetery.
Private Samuel Henry Willcocks, Devonshire Regiment, was born in 1878 and baptised at St Paul’s. A claycutter by trade, he was killed in action on 3 September 1916 near Ginchy during the Somme offensive. He has no known grave. A joint memorial service for him and Maurice Vallance was held at St Paul’s on 17 September 1916.
Private Joseph Christopher Wood Perryman, Somerset Light Infantry, was born in Heathfield in 1896 and attended Chudleigh Knighton School. He worked for Badcock and Sons before the war. He was killed in action on 16 September 1916 at Gueudecourt on the Somme. With no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Private William Parker, Devonshire Regiment, was born in North Bovey in 1882 and worked as lead gardener at Stokelake House. He married Violet Claudina Perry of Chudleigh Knighton. He died of wounds on 21 October 1916 at St Omer after being injured near Flers. He is buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.
Leading Seaman John Henry Yeo, Royal Navy, was born in Christow in 1893 and later lived at Gappah, Chudleigh. He served aboard HMS Tiger and was killed at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. He was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Private Alfred William “Dick” Perry, Royal West Kent Regiment, was born in Chudleigh Knighton in 1897 and worked as a pipemaker at the clayworks. He served in India before being transferred to Mesopotamia. He died as a prisoner of war on 28 September 1916 after the surrender at Kut‑al‑Amara. He is buried in Basra War Cemetery.
Private Samuel Feltham Sharp, Gloucestershire Regiment, was born in Chudleigh Knighton in 1890 and attended the village school. A former Devon Constabulary policeman, he enlisted in 1915. He died of wounds on 9 May 1917 east of Fresnoy and is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
Private Neil Troake, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, was born in East Budleigh in 1895 but married a Chudleigh Knighton woman and lived within the parish. He died of wounds on 25 September 1917 and is buried in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck.
Sergeant William Loyd Milton, Devonshire Regiment, was born in 1887 and lived at Beal Farm, Chudleigh Knighton. A pre‑war member of the Royal First Devon Yeomanry, he served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine before being transferred to France. He was killed in action at Ronssoy on 10 September 1918 and is buried in Sainte Emilie Valley Cemetery.
Company Sergeant Major Sydney Gilbert Victor Maddicott, Devonshire Regiment, was born in 1890 and attended Chudleigh Knighton School. A brickmaker and prominent village sportsman, he served with the Royal First Devon Yeomanry. He was killed in the same action as William Milton on 10 September 1918 and has no known grave.
Lance Corporal Norman Frederick Mardon, Worcestershire Regiment, was born in 1889 and attended Chudleigh Knighton School briefly in 1901. A house painter by trade, he was killed in action on 24 September 1918 at Equancourt and is buried in Domino Cemetery, Epehy.
Private William John Pearce, Gloucestershire Regiment, was born in Hennock in 1889 and attended Chudleigh Knighton School. He worked at a motor garage and was active in local church and YMCA groups. He was killed on 30 May 1918 at Romigny and Chambrey and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial.
Private Albert Gale, Labour Corps (formerly Somerset Light Infantry), was born in Chudleigh Knighton in 1883 and worked as a clay miner. He died of pneumonia following influenza on 21 November 1918 while serving in Sussex. He is buried in St Paul’s churchyard under a CWGC headstone.
