Dawlish World War One Project

In 1908, when the Volunteers became part of the newly formed Territorial Army, two longstanding Devon volunteer units merged to form the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. Based on Plymouth, the 5th recruited from the south-west of the county. The outbreak of war found them at their annual camp on Woodbury Common, Exeter. They never returned.

The 1/5th sailed for India 9 October 1914, landing Karachi 11 November 1914. Came under orders of 3rd (Lahore) Divisional Area at Multan. December 1915 moved to Lahore.
4 April 1917 : landed at Suez, Egypt.
25 June 1917 : transferred to 232nd Brigade, 75th Division. This was formed at Moascar on 14th April 1917.

The Western Times of Friday 28 September 1917 reported: ‘Pte. Reg.Blackmore, Devons, son of Mr & Mrs Blackmore, Frederick Cottages, Dawlish, has been dangerously wounded in Egypt. His parents received official news on Tuesday. Pte. Blackmore went to India on the outbreak of war, being a Territorial Volunteer. He was a fine athlete, and a member of Dawlish Football Club. Previous to the war he was engaged as a printer with an Exeter firm.’

Reginald Charles Blackmore was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Dawlish (N.A.district, vol 5b, page 92) and after leaving school worked as a compositor for a printer. In 1911 he lived with his parents at 2 Frederick Terrace with his sister Elizabeth /Ellen Cole, who was married and with her daughter Phyllis Ethel Cole (1908- ) and son Charles Reginald Cole (1910- ). (see Document below for greater detail)