4. The Devon Brothers
The Devon Brothers
Saluting their Service - Grahame Old
There were a number of families from Collie and Surrounding Districts who provided more than one son to the War effort during WW1. There are also instances of Collie Boys serving in both the Boer War and WW1.
This is the story of two Brothers, Robert (Bob) and John (Jack) Devon, sons of Scottish immigrants to Collie. Bob served his country during the Boer War and again during WW1, the second brother, Jack served during WW1. Sadly, both brothers were killed in action during WW1.
The Father - JAMES DEVON
James Devon was the first child of Robert Devon and Ann Hunter born on the 20th March 1858 in Fife Scotland. The family emigrated to Australia in 1860 when James was 2 years of age. The family were historically coal miners and settled in Wallsend, a mining town not far from Newcastle N.S.W. In January 1877 James married Sarah Jenkins they had four children, Robert, Janet, James (Jnr) and John. In 1900 the family moved to the mining town of Collie W.A. and settled in Cardiff.
ROBERT (Bob) DEVON and the Boer War
From 10th October 1899 to the end of May 1902 a bitter conflict raged across the South African veldt between Britain and her Empire and the two largely self-governing Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The six Australian States (colonies) were quick to make troops available to Britain. The value of Australian horsemen was quickly recognised as mounted infantry, due to their capacity to deploy quickly and their ability to match the ‘Boers’ own game. Robert Devon, a fine horseman, who was working as a coalminer in Collie was eager to join the great adventure. On 17th March 1901, at 22 years of age, Robert Devon enlisted into the 6th Western Australian Mounted Infantry. His listed next of kin was his father James Devon and place of residence was Cardiff. He was allocated service number 389 and in March 1901, after training, private Devon found himself bound for South Africa. The Australian forces in South Africa comprised mainly mounted infantry. Along with the New Zealanders, Australian horsemen were unsurpassed as scouts and were greatly valued by column commanders. Robert Devon along with all our soldiers, who were truly the first Australian expeditionary force to fight overseas, did Australia proud in the Boer War as they have done in all conflicts since. Robert Devon was promoted to Lance Corporal in December 1901 he returned to Australia in April 1902 and was discharged in May with the rank of Corporal.
In 1905 Robert married Rose Mary Marshall in Parsonage, Wellington N.S.W.
ROBERT (Bob) DEVON and WW1
At the outbreak of WW1 Robert Devon was working as a coalminer in Cardiff, his listed next of kin was his wife Rose Mary, their place of residence was Clifton St Collie. The youngest Devon sibling, John, had enlisted in July 1915 and Robert was eager to join him.
At 38 years of age Robert enlisted into the AIF on 23 May 1916 he was allocated service number 2648. In February 1917 he was taken on strength of the 48th Infantry Battalion in the field France. After heavy fighting at Bullecourt in France the Battalion was moved to Belgium it was here on the 9th of August 1917 that Robert Devon was killed in action. He was 39 years of age. Robert Devon is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Cabin Hill Flanders, Belgium – Row B Grave 4 – where the poppies grow, row on row. He is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour panel 145 and on the Collie Soldiers Park War Memorial.
John (Jack) DEVON and WW1
At the outbreak of WW1 the younger Devon sibling, John (Jack) was working as a coalminer in Cardiff, his listed next of kin was his Mother Sarah Devon. Jack lived with his parents at Cardiff. On the 8 July 1915, at 24 years of age, Jack enlisted into the AIF, he was allocated service number 3101. After training he embarked for overseas service in September 1915 and was taken on strength of the 16th Infantry Battalion in Egypt. After the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, the AIF was doubled in size in readiness for France and John found himself transferred to the newly formed 48th Infantry Battalion. The Battalion was brought up to strength with roughly half Gallipoli veterans from the 16th Battalion and the remainder fresh reinforcements from Australia. As with the 16th, the men of the new Battalion hailed mainly from regional South and Western Australia. The 48th Infantry Battalion undertook its Baptism of fire at Pozieres in August 1916 the soldiers endured what was said to be the heaviest artillery barrage ever experienced by Australian troops. Sadly, it was during this battle that John Devon was killed in Action. As with many other soldiers he was reported missing in action on the 6 August 1916 (later changed to killed in Action). With no known grave he is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial France, the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour panel 145, with his brother Robert, and on the Collie Soldiers Park War Memorial.
The following missing in action enquiry report is the last known information recorded on file for Private John Devon;
Soldiers Missing & Wounded Details – 6/08/1916
Informant – Cpl. O’Brien, B Company 48th Battalion AIF France – “He was wounded while working on a Lewis Machine Gun with myself at Pozieres on 6/08/1916. He was hit in the fleshy part of the thigh, and I bandaged up the wound myself and as we were holding an outpost in an advanced position, I got permission of the Sergeant in charge to take him back to our front line while he was able to move. Which I did and left him in a dugout there to wait for stretcher bearers as they were doing double work that day and could not get all the wounded away fast enough.
The Battalion was relieved next day, and I made enquiries if DEVON had been removed but no one seemed to be sure anyway he was not where I left him overnight, so I came to the conclusion that he got away alright “.
Robert and John DEVON - "Though in a foreign land they lie, our love for them will never die."
‘Lest We Forget’
Footnote: The Devon Family
Father James Devon (Snr)
James with son Robert, playing two up prior to Robert’s embarkation to the Boer War, are shown in the above photo. It is most likely that other Collie Boys shown in the photo also enlisted for the Boer War. If any reader can identify anyone else in the photo please contact the Collie RSL.
Mother Sarah Devon
Sarah died in 1919 and was buried in the Collie Cemetery.
Daughter Janet Devon (sister of Robert and John)
Janet (Jen) Devon married Leslie Annesley in Collie in 1915 she owned and operated the tea rooms opposite the Collie railway station. Janet died in 1985 age 97.
Brother James Devon (Jnr) (brother of Robert and John)
At the outbreak of WW1, James Devon Jnr was married with two children, he saw it his duty to enlist however his brothers Robert and John, who had no children, convinced him not to enlist and to remain in Collie. In memory of Robert and John Devon the daughter of James Devon, Mavis, wrote in her life story; “In 1920 we all went to the Cardiff hall for the unveiling of the big photos of the men who had been killed in the war. Uncle Bob and Uncle Jack’s hung side by side. A ribbon was pulled and the flags dropped to reveal the photos during the singing of the hymn “Lead Kindly Light” and of course everyone was crying”.
Information (footnotes) on the Devon family was kindly provided by Mr Ray Scarce, the grandson of James Devon (Jnr).