John Mortimore - Coldstream Guards

This picture is of John Mortimore, born at Neadon, Manaton on 28 April 1891. He was the youngest of his mothers 4 children, Susan nee Neck, married to George Mortimore (1865-1936). In the 1901 census when 10 he was living at East Mill, Manaton. On 9th January 1915 he enlists in the Coldstream guard "for the duration" with his address being Gratnar, Manaton and his mothers Deal Cottage Manaton. He was posted to France in November 1915, survived through the early war, including the Somme, but was severly wounded on the 19th June 1917. Sent home he was hospitilised and returned to France on 1st April 1918, for the last few desperate months of the war, being discharged on 22nd April 1919. The photograph was probably taken 1918/19 as the insignia are more appropriate for two years or more service. On 27th December 1920, he married Ivy Edwards in the Congregational Chapel, Newton Abbot, with his address being Mill Cottage, Manaton. By 1920 he had moved to Coffinswell, where his daughter Barbara was born. Later he farmed Widdicombe Farm, now a caraven site on the Paignton ring road. He loved horses, ploughed with horses and used horses for haulage. He never learned to drive a tractor. He retired to Chipley Cottages, Bickington where he died on 30th October 1973, aged 82. Ivy died 16th March 1978 aged 76.