The Altarnun War Memorial stands beside St Nonna’s Church, a granite cross in a granite landscape, recording the names of those from this moorland parish who died in the two World Wars. The memorial is unusual in its completeness: a small rural community, yet with losses spread across the Royal Navy, the Army, the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and the Australian Imperial Forces. Most striking of all is the inclusion of a young woman, Frances Joyce Chapman — a rarity on any parish memorial, and almost unheard of in Cornwall. Her presence reflects the breadth of wartime service and the community’s decision to honour her contribution.
The names below follow the order of the memorial itself: all the men of the First World War first, followed by the three individuals commemorated from the Second World War. Each biography is drawn from parish records, military files and contemporary accounts, with no embellishment or invention. Interestingly the memorial also lists all those from the parish who served not just those who died.
GEORGE TREHANE DEACON
Born 1883 at Rosehill Villa, Altarnun, son of John and Eliza Deacon. The family later lived at Egloskerry. George worked as a domestic gardener before becoming a postman in Falmouth. He first enlisted with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (7860) in 1902, serving three years with the colours and nine in the Reserve. Recalled in August 1914, he served with the 1st Battalion, ‘A’ Company, 14th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Killed in action on 5 December 1914. A stretcher bearer wrote to his mother describing his death and night-time burial. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, and on the Egloskerry and Falmouth memorials.
JOHN TURNER
Born 1879 at Webbs Cottage, Hendra, Altarnun, son of John and Thomasine Turner. His father was a mason. John joined the Royal Navy as a Chief Stoker (282625) and was serving aboard HMS Dartmouth when a boiler exploded on 15 March 1915, killing him. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, and on the Altarnun and Bolventor memorials.
ALFRED HODGE
Born 1899 at Jolls Ground, Trewint, Altarnun, son of Thomas and Christiana Hodge. Enlisted at Launceston with the Royal Berkshire Regiment (34703), 5th Battalion. Killed in action during the Battle of Cambrai on 30 November 1917. His body was never identified; commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Panel 8.
THOMAS COURTICE VENNING
Born 1879 at Chillaton, Devon, son of John and Selina Venning. Worked as a waggoner at Trebullom Farm, Altarnun. A Wesleyan, Sunday School teacher and Band of Hope member. Enlisted at Launceston with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 6th Battalion (26543). Killed by shellfire at the Battle of Arras on 6 May 1917. Buried at Wancourt British Cemetery, Plot I.C.5.
WILLIAM THOMAS JEFFERY
Born 1889 in Launceston. Served with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 7th Battalion (26327). Killed in action on 16 August 1917, possibly during the Battle of Langemarck. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial and the Roche War Memorial.
WILLIAM WARRING
Born 1882 at Rosemayne Farm, Altarnun, son of John and Margaret Warring. Worked as a waggoner at Trezibbet Farm. Enlisted at Hilsea with the Dorset Regiment (18403), later transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (26626). Killed in action on 9 April 1917 during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. Buried at Neuville‑Vitasse Road Cemetery, Plot C.21.
ELI PETHICK
Born 1891 at Trewint, Altarnun, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Pethick. Joined the Royal Navy (J1209) in 1909. Served aboard submarine HMS Maidstone (D2). Lost in the North Sea on 1 December 1914, probably sunk by a German torpedo boat near Borkum Island. No survivors. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
EDWIN JOHN WHALE
Born 1894 at Penpont, Altarnun, son of John and Mary Whale. Joined the Royal Navy in 1911 but was invalided out. Emigrated to Canada in 1913. Enlisted with the Canadian Infantry, 28th Battalion (886399). Killed in action on 21 August 1917 at the Battle for Hill 70. Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial and the Shobrooke War Memorial.
CHARLES SHEPHERD SYMONS
Born July 1892 at Brazacott, North Petherwin, only son of William and Norah Symons. Worked on his uncle’s farm at Trerithick, Altarnun, and was a Wesleyan preacher. Enlisted with the 1st Devon Yeomanry, later transferred to the Devonshire Regiment, 5th Battalion (345310). Served in Egypt and was killed in action during the Battle of Amiens on 24 August 1918. Commemorated on the Vis‑en‑Artois Memorial and the Altarnun War Memorial.
GEORGE WHALE
Born 1897 at Penpont, Altarnun, younger brother of Edwin. Orphaned by 1911 and living with his sister at Shobrooke. Enlisted at Bodmin with the Hampshire Regiment (34059), later transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 1st Bucks Battalion (33547). Killed in action in Italy on 29 October 1918 during the Allied advance on the Asiago Plateau. Buried at Barenthal Military Cemetery, Plot 2, Row A, Grave 8.
FRANCES JOYCE CHAPMAN
Born 1 February 1918, daughter of Samuel George and Rosalie Hellen Chapman. The family lived at Treneglos and later at Newhay Hill Cottage. In 1939 Joyce was living at The School House, North Hill, assisting the Mitchell family. She died in Southampton in 1944, aged 26, probably of pneumonia. She is believed to have worked for the NAAFI, possibly at a munitions facility, though no documentary evidence survives.
Her inclusion on the Altarnun War Memorial is highly unusual: rural parish memorials almost never record women, and rarer still civilians. Joyce is also commemorated at St Torney’s, North Hill.
ANTHONY McDIARMID
Born 1919 at West Farm, Altarnun, son of Arthur Hallam and Esther McDiarmid. Emigrated to Australia in 1939. Enlisted with the Australian Infantry (NX31697). One of the prisoners aboard the SS Montevideo Maru when it was sunk by USS Sturgeon on 30 June 1942, unaware it carried POWs. No survivors. Commemorated in Australia and at Altarnun.
HOWARD PHILLIPS
Born 1923 at Altarnun, son of William and Elizabeth Phillips. Served with the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment (5349383), 1st Battalion. Later promoted to Sergeant. Died of wounds on 14 December 1944 while serving at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy. Buried at St Nonna’s Church, Altarnun.
