Mabe Memorial Garden
The war memorial for Mabe is in the Memorial Garden, next to the WI Hall.
MABES WORLD WAR I DEAD – BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
EVANS, Alfred. (France and Flanders) Private. 24708. 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Killed in action 31st August 1918 aged 30. Remembered with Honour on Vis-En-Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France (Panel 6).*.
Born: 1888 in Mabe, son of Thomas Henry and Elizabeth Evans. Lived in Longdowns.
KEMP, Arthur. (France and Flanders) Corporal. 3566. 2nd Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company. Killed in Action on 9th January 1917 aged 27. Born in 1890, son of John and Elizabeth Jane (nee Jennings) Kemp, of ‘Greenlands’, Haslemere, Surrey. Native of St. Stythians, Cornwall. Interred in Beaumont-Hamel British Cemetery, Somme, France (B.31.). Listed on War Memorial outside Mabe Parish Hall, previously sited at Halvosso Chapel. Now also listed on Stithians War Memorial.
TRESIDDER, Arnold. (India) Lance Corporal. 200433. 2nd/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Died 24th October 1918 aged 25. Interred in Delhi War Cemetery (8. B. 18).
Born: Stithians 1893, son of Grace and Thomas Tresidder.
TREVAIL, Arthur (Artie) Evelyne. (France and Flanders) Sergeant. 16193. D Battery, 93rd Battalion, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in Action on 12th October 1916 aged 24. Born in Truro in 1892 and enlisted at Truro, Cornwall. Son of Charles and Martha (nee Thomas) Trevail of Quay Street, Truro; husband of Alice Johns (formerly Trevail) of Calamankie, Longdowns, Penryn. Interred in the Guards Cemetery, Somme, France (XI.N.1) and listed on Royal Regiment of Artillery Memorial, Stithians and on both Truro Methodist Church and Truro War Memorials. Also, on War Memorial outside Mabe Parish Hall, previously sited at Halvosso Chapel.
WARREN, Norman. (France and Flanders) Private. 225375. 1st Battalion, Royal (London Regiment) Fusiliers, attached to 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Killed in Action on 18th September 1918 aged 29. Born in Mabe in 1889, son of John and Ellen (nee Richards) Warren of Burnt House, Mabe, Cornwall: husband of Beatrice Maud Mary (nee Mallett) Warren, of 87 The Terrace, Penryn. Remembered with honour on Vis-En-Artois Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France (Panel 10).*
WINN, Charles. (France and Flanders) Private. 53207. 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in Action on 22nd September 1918 aged 18. Born in Longdowns and enlisted at Bodmin while resident at Penryn, Cornwall. Son of Edward and Sarah (nee Tresidder) Winn of Trolvis, Penryn. Interred in the Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France (I.J.11). Listed on Stithians War Memorial and on War Memorial outside Mabe Parish Hall, previously sited at Halvosso Chapel.
*It is highly likely that Alfred Evans and Norman Warren were both killed at The Battle of Amiens (often referred to as the Third Battle of Picardy), which began on 8th August 1918, the opening phase of the Allied offensive (later called the Hundred Days Offensive) which would ultimately lead to the end of the First World War. As both soldiers are only remembered on the panels, it is probable that their remains were either never found, or could not be identified.
Also, not listed on the War Memorial as he did not ‘die in action’ is Frances James Beard, who nevertheless should be remembered as he served in WW1 and was still serving his country at the time of his death .
BEARD, Francis James. Stoker K/10768. Royal Navy, HMS Emperor of India. Died at Malta Hospital on 3rd August 1921 from heatstroke and Malaria aged 28. Interred at Kalkara Naval Cemetery, Malta. Born in Budock in 1893, son of William Francis and Annie (nee Rule) Beard.
Francis joined the Navy at Devonport on 13 Mar 1911, just after his 18th birthday. He was a stoker and served on several ships, including HMS Fox (his photograph was taken then, in 1915 at the age of 22). He served throughout the First World War and was awarded the usual war service medals. Having signed on for 12 years, he continued his naval career after the Great War, spending some time on a Russian ship in the Black Sea, the Slava in 1919. In the summer of 1921, he was serving on HMS Emperor of India when he became ill, and was taken to the Naval Hospital in Malta.
MABES WORLD WAR II DEAD – BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
BURLEY, Thomas Paul. (Italy) Private. 14610189. 9th (The Kings Own Yorkshire Dragoons) Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, killed at Anzio on 29th April 1944 aged 19. Born 1924, son of Charles Edward and Ann Paul (nee Bone) Burley, of Higher Spargo, Mabe, Cornwall. Interred at the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio, Italy (II. F.1.).
CAMPBELL, Clifton James. Corporal. 1276311. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 1st January 1945, aged 33. Son of Neil and Mary Elizabeth Campbell; husband of Phyllis Jose Edina Campbell of Falmouth. Interred in St. Laudus Churchyard, Mabe, Cornwall.
LAWREY, Martin. Paymaster Commander, HMS Courageous, Royal Navy. Killed in action on 17th September 1939 aged 42. Born in 1897, son of William John and Alice (nee Penna) Lawrey, husband of Emily Elizabeth Gilbert (nee Gosling) Lawrey. Resident of Anton Veor, Mabe.
On the evening of 17 September 1939, HMS Courageous was on patrol off the coast of Ireland. Two of her four escorting destroyers had been sent to help a merchant ship under attack and all her aircraft had returned from patrols. During this time, the aircraft carrier was stalked for over two hours by German U-boat U-29, commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Otto Schuhart. The carrier turned into the wind to launch her aircraft. This put the ship across the bow of the submarine, which fired three torpedoes. Two of the torpedoes struck her port side before any aircraft took off, knocking out all electrical power, and she capsized and sank in 20 minutes with the loss of 519 of her crew, including her captain. The survivors were rescued by the Dutch ocean liner Veendam and the British freighter Collingworth. Although the two escorting destroyers counter attacked U-29 for four hours, the submarine escaped.
MEDLYN, Matthew Robert. (Italy) Private. 5442363. 2nd/4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in Action on 21st January 1944, aged 29. Born 1915, son of Thomas Henry and Maud Mary (nee Laverty) Medlyn, of Chynoweth, Mabe, Cornwall. Interred in Minturno War Cemetery, Italy (VIII. A. 17.). Most likely killed in the landings at Nettuno as part of ‘Operation Shingle’ prior to the Battle for Anzio.
TREMAYNE, Melville John. Sergeant Air Gunner. 1587786. 158 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Killed in Action on 3rd June 1944, aged 20. Born in 1924, son of John Henry and Frances Lily (nee Francis) Tremayne of ‘Eastleigh’, Penryn, Cornwall. Interred in Evreux Communal Cemetery, France (Row B, Grave 30). The Halifax B Mk III Heavy bomber he was in was shot down while on a raid prior to ‘Operation Neptune’ (‘D Day’), the Normandy Invasion, which commenced three days later. Also listed on the RAF Memorial, London.
If anyone knows of any other family members or relatives who may be able to help with gaining or correcting details of those who gave their lives in both wars, and later conflicts if any, please contact me.
Pete Tisdale
June 12th 2014.
Updated August 18th 2020.
