100 years ago

1918

January

There was great indignation throughout West Somerset at a proposal to suspend the motor mail service between Taunton and Minehead and the diversion of the mails to the train. Councils and organisations held protest meetings. A public meeting in Williton decided to ask Col Denis Boles MP to interview the Postmaster General.

February

A well-known footballer for Williton and Watchet and a member of staff at the Free Press, Pte W G Carruthers, of Watchet, was killed in action in Palestine. In the campaign, there had also fallen three Washford “Terriers”, all Pals in the same battalion of the Somersets – Pte C Bryant, Torre, Pte Chas Milton, Lower Washford, and Pte E E Milton, St Pancras.

March

Mr M D Sanders, surveyor to Dulverton RDC, said he could do with about ten German prisoners of war for work on the roads. The payment was 5d an hour, 4d of which went to the Government.

April

At Halse, a 15ft high monument in Dorset stone was unveiled and dedicated to soldiers who had fallen on the field of honour. Four names were engraved on it.

May

Huish Champflower Rectory was gutted by fire, only the walls being left standing. No fire fighting appliances were available. The rector, the Rev P W P Hancock, was able to save a large portion of the furniture in the lower rooms.

June

Williton RDC held a special meeting to consider the housing requirements of the working classes after the war. It was decided to put up 86 houses, although parishes had expressed little interest in having them. Mr Luttrell had offered land for the Carhampton and Dunster schemes at £100 per acres, which was roughly the agricultural value.

July

The Minehead-Taunton motor mail made its last journey. It was decked with flags for its departure from Minehead and left “cheerfully hooting its farewells”. Mails would now be carried by train.

August

To mark the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of war, a united service of remembrance was held in the precincts of Cleeve Abbey. It was attended by nearly 1000 people. The singing was conducted by Mr H W Tompkins, organist and choirmaster of Old Cleeve church.

September

Mr John Burgess, chairman of Minehead Urban Council, made an appeal for economy in the use of fuel. The coal situation had become extremely serious.

October

An aeroplane came down on the outskirts of Williton in a field known as Hundred Hill, belonging to Mr AH Stoate. The airman, who had lost his way while flying from Oxford to Filton, was given hospitality by Mr Clifford Haddon, of Stream, and meanwhile police Sgt Woolley looked after the aeroplane. When the airman returned and took off, “the machine rose beautifully”.

November

The end of the Great War found West Somerset people more in the mood to remember Fallen sons than to indulge in celebration on Armistice Day. Church services were hurriedly arranged and in the evening there were impromptu firework displays, but the weather was dismally wet.

December

On the last Sunday evening of the old year, those with Watchet associations who had given their lives in the war were remembered at a special service in St Decuman’s Church. The vicar, the Rev T Hawkes, read a list containing more than 50 names.