WW2 100 – 20 October 1940 – A Budleigh Burial in 1940: Corporal Harry Goulty (1898-1940), The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

 Continued from 19 September 1940:

To War in a Wimpy: Pilot Officer David Spencer Cox RAF (1921-40)

  https://budleighpastandpresent.blogspot.com/2020/11/ww2-75-19-september-1940-to-war-in.html

 

 

 




The grave of Harry Goulty in St Peter's Burial Ground, Moor Lane, Budleigh Salterton 

Harry Goulty is not listed on Budleigh Salterton’s War Memorial, and had no apparent family connections in the town. However, parish records indicate that he was living at ‘Holly Bank’ at 1 Sherbrook Hill, off West Hill in Budleigh, at the time of his death.  This would account for his last resting place in St Peter’s Burial Ground, Budleigh Salterton, where his grave is number 530, in Block E, Row 12. 

Incidentally, the parish records copy at Fairlynch Museum also indicate the date of his death as 24 October 1940, rather than 20 October, which is the date on the headstone and as recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

We do have a record from the Forces War Records website stating that he was born on 14 September 1898 in Canning Town, London – birthplace incidentally of actor and former Budleigh resident Reg Varney – but the indications are that he moved from London to Northampton, where he enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment. His Service Number was 5876089.

The Forces War Records website also makes reference to his service in WW1, which would be likely in view of his age.

 




Cap badge of The Buffs Regiment

At the time of his death, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he was serving in the 9th Battalion of The Buffs, also known as the Royal East Kent Regiment. This particular battalion had been formed in July 1940 from a cadre - a group of instructors - in the Northamptonshire Regiment.





'Holly Bank' on Sherbrook Hill, Budleigh Salterton, where Harry Goulty was living at the time of his death. 

None of this explains why Harry was living in Budleigh. Kelly’s Directory for 1939 lists a Mrs McCabe as a resident of ‘Holly Bank’. Researchers on the Devon Heritage website, where his surname is misspelt, were evidently unable to discover the circumstances of his death, with the comment ‘Nothing more yet confirmed.’    

 

 

The next post is for Second Lieutenant John Francis Burkinshaw Martin (1921-41) 51st (The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Field Regiment, who died on 7 January 1941 while serving in North Africa.

You can read about him at  

https://budleighpastandpresent.blogspot.com/2020/12/ww2-75-7-january-1941-their-only-son.html




These ‘orphans’ are listed on Budleigh Salterton War 

Memorial, but have not been identified. Their first names, 

date of death and service numbers are not known. 

They are recorded on the Devon Heritage website as 

'Not yet confirmed’  

If you know anything which would help to identify them,

please contact Michael Downes on 01395 446407.

 


F.E. Newcombe

P. Pritchard

F.J. Watts


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