War Memorials in St Keverne Parish



The 60th anniversary of VE and VJ days is being celebrated this year (2005) and, as a tribute to those persons from St-Keverne parish who gave their lives in two World Wars, I have produced a biography of those who are remembered on the War Memorials at St Keverne and at Coverack.
Where no details are available, I have simply listed the name but for others there is considerable information much of which comes from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. St Keverne Parish War memorial in the Square was opened on Wednesday 22 September 1920 by Col.Sir Courtnay Vyvyan and was followed by an open air service conducted by Bishop of Truro and Rev Ephraim Mortimer (Methodist minister at St Keverne) and Rev. W. Trembath.

Terry Moyle June 2005.


The First World War 1914-1918


1. Albert Auty - Lance Corporal in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of Sam and Rachel Auty of Mirfield, Yorkshire and husband of Eliza Annette Auty of St Keverne. He died on 17 July 1918 aged 50 at the Norfolk War Hospital at Thorpe St Andrew and was buried at St Keverne on 20 July 1918.
St Keverne War Memorial.

2. William Henry Bonfield - Second Lieutenant Army Service Corps. Son of Walter George and Sarah Bonfield of Kempston, Bedford and husband of Florence Bonfield of Coverack. He died on 26 October 1910 aged 37 and was buried at Adinkerke Military Cemetery, Belgium.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

3. Zoe K Bryan-Daunt - Nurse.
Coverack War memorial

4. James Frederick Carey - Boy Second Class Royal Navy HMS Impregnable. Son of Frederick John and Nora Kathleen Carey of Coverack. He was born on 26 March 1900 and baptised at Coverack Methodist church on 10 July 1900. He died 9 February 1917 aged 17 and was buried at Ford Park cemetery (Plymouth Old cemetery) Plymouth.
Coverack War Memorial.

5. William Edwards - of Coverack. Private.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

6. Thomas J Eustice - of Coverack. Boatswain Royal Navy.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials

7. Frederick John Freathy - Petty Officer Second Class HMS Monmouth. Husband of Emma Freathy and formerly a coastguard of Coverack. Killed at the naval Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914. Name on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

8. Frederick Charles Freathy - Private machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Son of Emma Freathy of Paignton, Devon and formerly of Coverack and of the late Frederick John Freathy of Coverack. He died on 11 December 1917 aged 22 and was buried at the Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery at Villers Plouich, France.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

9. Thomas John Hocking - Private in Royal Berkshire regiment. Son of John and Celia Hocking of St Keverne. He was baptised at St Keverne church on 16 July 1899 and he died on 23 April 1918 aged 19 and was buried at Aire Communal cemetery, France.
St Keverne War Memorial.

10. William James Hocking - Private in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of James Henry and Mary Emma Hocking of Ponsongath Cottage. He was baptised at St Keverne church on 4 April 1895 and died on 7 March 1916 aged 21. He was buried at Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

11. Sydney Wallace Lambrick - Lance Sergeant Royal Fusilers. Son of Samuel and Ada Lambrick. He was born on 17 July 1892 and baptised at St Keverne Methodist church in November 1892. He died on 17 February 1917 aged 24 and is named on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
St Keverne War Memorial and plaque in St Keverne Methodist church.

12. Charles G Lobb
St Keverne War Memorial

13. James Henry Clifford Pearce - Stoker Second Class Royal Navy HMS Vivid. Step son of Mrs SA Pearce, Park an Quatty, St Keverne. He died on 5 June 1915 aged 18 and was buried at St Keverne on 7 June 1915.
St Keverne War Memorial.

14. Mark Llewellyn Retallack - Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve HM Trawler Renarro. Son of Mark James and Ellen Jane Retallack of Trelyn Lane, St Keverne. He was baptised at St Keverne church on 14 August 1896 and died on 10 November 1918 off the coast of Turkey aged 24. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne War Memorial.

15. Archibald Roberts
St Keverne War Memorial

16. Francis James Roberts - Lance Corporal Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of John and Sarah Roberts of Traboe. He died on 30 November 1917 and is remembered at the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France.
St Keverne War Memorial.

17. Ernest Rule - Private Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of Nicholas and Alice Rule of Trelanvean Cottage, St Keverne. He died on 4 October 1917 aged 28 and was buried at the Meteren Military Cemetery, France.
St Keverne War Memorial.

18. James Henry Uren - Private Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Son of Matthew and Mrs GR Uren of Porthoustock. He died on 28 April 1918 aged 22 and was buried at Ramleh War cemetery, Israel.
St Keverne War Memorial.


The Second World War 1939-1945


1. Frank Bonfield - Master at Arms Royal Navy HMS Tamar. Son of William Henry Bonfield (Deceased) and Florence Bonfield of Coverack. He died on 2 October 1942 aged 49 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval memorial.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

2. Richard Simon Bowden - Able Seaman Merchant Navy MV Hesperia. Died 7 February 1945 aged 34 and buried at the Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

3. Thomas Clark - Chief Officer Merchant Navy SS Polperro. Son of John and Kate Clark and husband of Catherine Clark of St Keverne. He died on 6 January 1944 aged 42 and is remembered on Tower Hill memorial, London.

4. Jack (John) Cruze - Boatswain (Bosun) Merchant Navy MV Scottish Minstrel. Son of George Champion and Mary Jane Cruze of Coverack. He was born 28 December 1883 and baptised at St Peters Coverack on 11 December 1885 (first baptism in St Peters). He died on 16 July 1940 and is remembered at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

5. Francis Harvey - Merchant Navy.
St Keverne War Memorial.

6. Adolphus A Hocking - Merchant Navy.
St Keverne War Memorial.

7. William John Pentecost Hocking - Corporal Royal Air Force. Son of Ernest John and Janie Hocking of Laddenvean and husband of Violet Doris Hocking of New Eltham, London. He was born on 2 May 1914 and baptised at St Keverne Methodist church on 19 July 1914. He died on 24 February 1943 aged 29 and was buried in St Keverne churchyard.
St Keverne War memorial.

8. William Thomas Hocking - Chief Stoker Royal Navy HMS Drake. Son of Thomas Henry and Elizabeth Jane Hocking of St Keverne. He was baptised at St Keverne church on 27 September 1885 and died on 26 May 1944 aged 58. he was buried at St Keverne on 31 May 1944.
St Keverne War memorial.

9. Annette Bamford Hunter - Air Raid Warden of Coverack. Daughter of Charles Bamford and Florence Fannie Williamson of North Shields, Northumberland and wife of Squadron Leader Murland Hunter RASF of Coverack. She died in the air raid on Coverack on 17 August 1942 aged 46 and was buried at Coverack on 19 August 1942.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.

10. Richard Stanley Keverne - Petty Officer Stoker Royal Navy HMS Gloucester. Son of William Roberts and Elizabeth Mary Keverne of Treloyan, St Keverne. He died on 22 May 1941 aged 29 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval memorial.
St Keverne War Memorial.

11. Stewart David Lloyd King - Stoker First Class Royal Navy HMS Jupiter. Son of Edward and Lilian Grace King of St Keverne. He died on 27 February 1942 aged 24 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne War Memorial.

12. Richard Henry Retallack - Ordinary Signalman Royal Navy HMS Barham. Son of Harold Edward and the late Ada Retallack of St Keverne and grandson of Elizabeth Mary Trounson Retallack of St Keverne. He was born on 18 September 1923 and baptised at St Keverne Methodist church on 27 November 1923. He died on 25 November 1941 aged 18 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne War Memorial.

13. Henry Smitheram - Stoker First Class Royal navy. Son of Thomas and Emily Charlotte Smitheram of Porthallow. He was born on 28 March 1920 and baptised at Porthallow Methodist church on 10 May 1920. He died on 10 December 1941 aged 21 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne War Memorial.

14. George Herbert White - Chief Petty Officer Royal Navy HMS Hermes. Son of George Herbert and Frances White of Coverack and husband of Tiny A.C. White of Coverack. He died on 9 April 1942 aged 38 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
St Keverne and Coverack War Memorials.


Other Second World war casualties


In addition to Mrs. Hunter, three other people died in the air raid on Coverack on 17 August 1942 and were buried there on 20 August.

1. Leslie Albert Chambers - an evacuee from Enfield aged 12

2. Hilda Mary White - daughter of the village postmistress aged 38

3. John Herbert White - son of Hilda Mary White aged 3.