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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon |
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The Exeter Higher Cemetery has some unusual features. This large cemetery is zoned into specific areas for defined groups such as Church of England, Dissenters, Catholics and so on. Therefore bodies are rarely buried in a single large plot. Also curious is that some of the First World War burials are marked by simple markers, bearing only the name of the soldier.
Of the 217 First World War burials in Exeter Higher Cemetery, more than 180 form two war graves plots near the entrance. The Second World War plot contains most of the 121 Second World War burials. The rest of the graves are scattered throughout the cemetery. The Second World War plot also contains 62 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish and German.
A Memorial located near the two chapels includes the names of those buried in War Graves on plaques around the base of the Memorial.
A very comprehensive website, http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Exeter/ExeterHCWarMemorialIndex.htm,
provides details of the cemetery and the names of all those commemorated.
Additionally, Ann Brewitt (<ann.brewitt@btinternet.com>) has conducted
some research into the Exeter Higher Cemetery Memorial,
and her notes are attached beow.
One soldier who served with the Yorkshire Regiment is buried in this cemetery.
We are very grateful to Linda Lear (<linda@lear20.eclipse.co.uk>), Ann Brewitt (<ann.brewitt@btinternet.com>) and to Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>) for providing photographs of this soldier's headstone, and of the First World War burial memorial.
The Commonwealth War Grave headstone for Private F J Spettigue of the Yorkshire
Regiment
Photo : Ann Brewitt (<ann.brewitt@btinternet.com>)
Private Frederick John Spettigue. 42461. 9th Battalion
the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 154303 R F A. Son of Mrs. Jessie Spettigue,
of 20, Paris St., Exeter. Died at home 21 September 1917. Aged 19.
Born Exeter, Enlisted Exeter.
(For further information on this soldier, see http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Exeter/ExeterHCWarMemStoV.htm
The War Memorial in Exeter Higher Cemetery Commemorating Those Buried in the
Cemetery
Photo : Linda Lear (<linda@lear20.eclipse.co.uk>)
Private
Spettigue's Name on the War Memorial that Commemorates Those Buried in Exeter
Higher Cemetery
Photo : Ann Brewitt (<ann.brewitt@btinternet.com>)
The Commemoration on the War Memorial in Exeter Higher Cemetery
Photo : Linda Lear (<linda@lear20.eclipse.co.uk>)
The
Two Chapels and the Commemorative War Memorial in Exeter Higher Cemetery
(Photo : Norman Cummings, <norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
The First World War Graves by the Memorial in Exeter Higher Cemetery
(Photo : Norman Cummings, <norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
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Exeter Higher Cemetery War Memorial
The War Memorial at Higher Cemetery has some unusual features.
Although it might seem, from the photo of the memorial, that the men named
are buried around the memorial, this is not so. This large cemetery is zoned
into specific areas for defined groups; therefore bodies are rarely buried
in a single large plot. http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Exeter/HCWarMemoriallIndex.htm
I have now had the opportunity of researching further with the help of Exeter
City Council bereavement services (Manager) and Devon Heritage (Editor) and
I feel that in all probability, the man in question is buried within this
plot, as we know his burial date, Grid reference, interment number, locality,
and sec.F.149. I have also checked the names of the men F148-F150 on either
side of Frederick John Spettigue and their interment details run in sequence.
History.
The plot of land in front of the chapel was set aside by the Council as a
commemorative plot early in WW1. Sadly it proved too small in the end, and
some of the men had to be buried on the other side of the path.
Military burials took place in the years between 1914 -1922 within the circular
plot of land around the cross, the men found their final resting place within
days of their death. Temporary Markers were put up by the Council and families
were not allowed to put in gravestones of their choice. All the makers were
eventually replaced by the simple granite slabs in place today. The memorial
was unveiled on Thursday 13th July 1922.
I have now been able to locate the grave of this man’s parents and unfortunately
there is not a headstone, I was hoping that there might have been a mention
of him.