Category Archives: In South Hill Parish

South Hill Remembers J.H. Dennis


John Henry Dennis was born in Flushing on 20 Jun 1876 and joined the Royal Navy in April 1896 as a Stoker. He married Mary Selina Rogers, Aaron Roger’s sister, on 21 April 1903 in Kinsale in Ireland. By 1908 they were living in Valentine Row Callington with their baby daughter, Lavinia. In November 1915 John Henry Dennis joined HMS Wallington, a ship patrolling the icy waters around the east coast. His service certificate states:

DD* 8th February 1916 (Accidentally drowned, but no evidence to show how deceased got into the water). Verdict of Inquest “Found drowned” *Discharged Dead

South Hill Remembers Aaron Rogers | South Hill Connection (south-hill.co.uk)

Callington – Cornwall War History (cornwallfhs.com) 

Callington War Book

South Hill Remembers Aaron Rogers


Aaron Rogers was born on 30 April 1880 in (Templebrady) Crosshaven, County Cork in Ireland, the fifth of eight children.  His father, Plymouth born Aaron Rogers Snr, was in the Royal Navy and was based in Ireland. In January 1896 Aaron, a servant boy, followed his widowed father and joined the Royal Navy as a Seaman, enlisting at Devonport and joining HMS Vivid.

The 1911 census states that both were living at 2 Stoke Terrace in Kelly Bray, Aaron a Seaman and his father a Naval pensioner. During WW1 Aaron was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the battle at Gallipoli and is mentioned in the London Gazette of 15 May 1916. His service certificate states that he was invalided out of the Royal Navy in 1920 and the reason given was ‘Disease of the brain’. Aaron died 10 Feb 1921 aged 40 at Northcote, Honiton and is buried in South Hill at St. Sampsons.

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South Hill Remembers W. N. Stephens


Private William Nicholas Stephens Aged 28 The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

Born 1888 son of Stephen and Harriet Stephens, of 1 Pear Tree Row, Callington.

(Pear tree bungalows Well Street.)

Died: Monday 18 September 1916 (aged 28)

ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE

Enlisted at Dartmouth, Devon

Died of wounds, Flanders, Interred Etaples Military Cemetery, France

Parish War Memorial and Callington War Memorial

Callington – Cornwall War History (cornwallfhs.com)

BROTHER Maurice also fell Born 1892 died 27 May 1919 Aged 27

1st/5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment,

interred Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany.

Callington War Book
Callington Book

South Hill Remembers J.G. Doney


Private John Garfield Doney The London Regiment. Son of William & Martha Doney, Wagmuggle. (Enlisted Liskeard Formerly 24375, 9th D.C.L.I.)

Life story: John Garfield Doney | Lives of the First World War (iwm.org.uk)

SIBLING: Emma Doney Born 1888

SIBLING: William E Doney  Born 1893

John Garfield Born  South Hill, Cornwall APRIL 1895

EMPLOYMENT: Waggoner St Ive 2nd APRIL 1901

Living: St Ive, their own address 2nd APRIL 1911

SERVICE: British Army Private

  • Served in both the D.C.L.I. (service number: 24375) and then Private 6390 the London Regiment, 1st/7th (City of London) Battalion.
  • Died whilst serving in the London Regiment on 15/9/1916

Sources: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1668383

Killed in Action Flanders, France Source:7337738Source:1668383 15th Sep 1916 aged 21

Head stone inscription Golberdon

In loving memory of William Doney
the beloved husband of Martha
who died at Wagmuggle South Hill

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Climate Change Action Group


South Hill Climate Change Action Group
The next meeting of the group will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th November at
the Parish Hall, Golberdon.
The purpose of the meeting is to write a Climate Action Plan for our parish.
We have plenty of ideas of what could be done.

Now is the time to turn those ideas into a practical plan with clear targets and timescales.
All are welcome.
David Skelton dave@pencashna.com 07776 386 828

My EV Experiment – three months in.


I’ve always liked cars, and I’ve had all sorts. Big cars, little cars, new cars, vintage cars, diesel cars, petrol cars … but all with one thing in common. An engine. With the move to Electric Vehicles gathering pace, and with an outright ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) cars from 2030, I wondered whether I would like electric motoring. Could I live with reduced range between having to refuel, refuelling (or charging) taking hours rather than minutes? What are they actually like to drive and more importantly, what are they like to live with as a means of transport?

I wanted a way to find out without committing to buy one. Certainly, I wasn’t prepared to jump into EV ownership and part with my ICE car without understanding the day to day first. My solution? Lease one. If I like it, I can look around to see what to save up for. If I don’t, then just get the leasing company to take it away. So it was that a shiny red Kia Niro appeared on my driveway in July, courtesy of an offer from EDF. After all, they want to sell electricity…  Here’s my view after the first three months.

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Nov 19th. Walk. St. Ive.


8 miles circular walk, mainly quiet roads and some footpaths to start crossing fields.

From Golberdon: Lane to Trewoodloe House, follow the footpath across the fields to Berrio. Turn left at the road & follow to the junction at Kerney bridge.

Take the Pensilva road, up the steep hill until you reach Scrawsdon Farm entrance on your right with a footpath sign! Follow this to Mill Lawn.

At the road turn right and go through the wood to the junction and turn left, to Charaton Cross. Go straight over towards Gang. At the next junction keep left, and pass an old granite horse trough.

At the next junction ( GANG ) the road on the left, is the route back, via Bicton Bridge and back to Golberdon. But turn Right and follow this road all the way to the main road and the church on the Right.

The church is now owned by the owners of the Old Rectory, opposite, who are renovating it into a museum to Emily Hobhouse.

The Church tower with bold setback buttresses is unique in Cornwall for its 12 pinnacles instead of the usual four. A sundial above the main porch door is dated 1695. Inside look up, the roof is original woodwork with carved angels and one green man.

The modern glass in the window is a memorial to Archdeacon Hobhouse. rector from 1844-1895 and responsible for the restoration and a remarkable benefactor to the parish. He was also father of Emily known as The Angel of Mercy for her work among the Boor women and children in South Africa during the Boor war. A lot of information about Emily and her charitable work can be found in the church.

READ MORE about Emily Hobhouse here > Emily Hobhouse – The British Empire