West Buckland School’s  Fallen Soldiers of WW1
2016 saw the centenary of The Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War One. Great Britain suffered the greatest number of casualties, including several of the 59 staff and old boys of West Buckland School.

To mark the event, WBS History teacher, Chris Allin kindly shared his research into West Buckland School’s Fallen Soldiers at his Talk and Book Launch on 12^th November.

Mr Allin gave a deep insight into this sad period of the school’s history with a particular focus on Arthur Evans and Henry Talbot Watts.
Arthur was employed at West Buckland as a cricket coach but his primary sport was football, having played for Manchester City and Exeter City. Sargent Evans joined the 24th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers on the Somme in July 1916. Initially, he was listed as missing, presumed captured, but a witness later confirmed his death.

Henry was a pupil at West Buckland from 1897 and 1903 and was cited as ‘one of the finest all-round athletes in the history of the school” in his Obituary found in the 1916 School Register. Captain Watts was tragically killed while leading A Company of the Middlesex Regiment on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.

Chris thanked Foundation Manager, Valerie Bishop for formatting the document, transforming it into a book and Victoria Jeffries and Andy Keech for their help in bringing together years of research.

If you missed the talk but would like to purchase a copy of Mr Allin’s publication, please contact the OWBA/Foundation office on 01598 760188. Copies of the book are priced at £5 (+p&p) – All proceeds go towards the WBS Foundation Bursary programme.