Timberscombe and the Great War

The small parish of Timberscombe in the Avill valley south of Dunster, far away from the theatres of war, showed extraordinary patriotism following the outbreak of war in 1914. From a parish population of under 300 no fewer than 66 men joined up; sometimes several from the same family. They crossed the social divide from young labourer Samuel Tudball to the Honourable Robert Ryder, younger brother of the 5th earl of Harrowby.

In 1919 the vicar declared that he would give his Easter offering towards a memorial in the church to those who fell or served in the Great War and on 11 April 1920 a war memorial tablet was dedicated at evening service containing the names of the 11 fallen and 55 others who served.