Major Gilbert Edward Coode TD Devonsire Regiment
Gilbert Edward Coode
The Man Gilbert Edward Coode was born on Sunday 30th April 1893 in Bossell Lane, Buckfastleigh, Devon, son of Albert Edward, a Journeyman Tailor and Caroline Amelia nee Churchward and had one sister, Caroline Amelia Churchward (1891-1963). He was Baptised on 11th June in an Anglican ceremony at Buckfasltleigh.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 143 Fore Street, Buckfastleigh, together with a boarder Nicholas Cole who was working for Albert. Gilbert was educated at Ashburton Grammar School and on 2nd April 1908, aged 14, the day after the Territorial Force was formed, attested for the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Buckfastleigh and posted as Bugler to ‘A’ Company with regimental number 514. He was recorded as ‘Grammar School Pupil aged 14’ and described as being 5’ tall and with a 27½” chest. He later re-attested in the 5th (Territorial) Battalion Devonshire Regiment, transferring to the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion as Bugler on 12 May 1909 with a new number 290007.
The 1911 census shows Gilbert, now working as a Tailor’s Assistant for his father, living with the family at the same address in Fore Street, together with another employee also a Tailor and a domestic servant Harriet Elsie Pethobridge.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Gilbert aged 21, was embodied for war service as a Bugler in the 7th Battalion on 5th August. He was promoted to Corporal in September 1914 and Acting Sergeant in May 1916; being discharged for the purpose of being appointed to a Commission on 9th October 1918 and was gazetted Temporary Second Lieutenant in the West Riding Regiment on 12th. He served at home throughout the Great War and consequently not entitled to the award of any medals.
Gilbert was demobilised on 11th November 1919 and returned to working as a Tailor for his father, the 1921 census showing the family still at Fore Street. In Army Order 51 of February 1922, he was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal named as Corporal – Acting Sergeant, rejoining the Territorial Army and appointed a Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion (Prince of Wales’s Own) Devonshire Regiment on 10 September 1923 with service number 27395. He also served as a Special Constable in the Devon Constabulary during the 1920s and awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
On Monday 26th December 1926 in the Parish Church at Buckfastleigh, he married Thelma Weymouth Bennett. The service was conducted by the Reverend S J C Lucas BA and over 140 guests were in attendance including six fellow officers of the 5th POW Bn. Their reception was held at the White Hart Banqueting Hall followed by their honeymoon in London, they had one son Edward William Churchward born on 7th February 1929 – 3rd February 2007.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 143 Fore Street, Buckfastleigh, together with a boarder Nicholas Cole who was working for Albert. Gilbert was educated at Ashburton Grammar School and on 2nd April 1908, aged 14, the day after the Territorial Force was formed, attested for the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Buckfastleigh and posted as Bugler to ‘A’ Company with regimental number 514. He was recorded as ‘Grammar School Pupil aged 14’ and described as being 5’ tall and with a 27½” chest. He later re-attested in the 5th (Territorial) Battalion Devonshire Regiment, transferring to the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion as Bugler on 12 May 1909 with a new number 290007.
The 1911 census shows Gilbert, now working as a Tailor’s Assistant for his father, living with the family at the same address in Fore Street, together with another employee also a Tailor and a domestic servant Harriet Elsie Pethobridge.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Gilbert aged 21, was embodied for war service as a Bugler in the 7th Battalion on 5th August. He was promoted to Corporal in September 1914 and Acting Sergeant in May 1916; being discharged for the purpose of being appointed to a Commission on 9th October 1918 and was gazetted Temporary Second Lieutenant in the West Riding Regiment on 12th. He served at home throughout the Great War and consequently not entitled to the award of any medals.
Gilbert was demobilised on 11th November 1919 and returned to working as a Tailor for his father, the 1921 census showing the family still at Fore Street. In Army Order 51 of February 1922, he was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal named as Corporal – Acting Sergeant, rejoining the Territorial Army and appointed a Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion (Prince of Wales’s Own) Devonshire Regiment on 10 September 1923 with service number 27395. He also served as a Special Constable in the Devon Constabulary during the 1920s and awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
On Monday 26th December 1926 in the Parish Church at Buckfastleigh, he married Thelma Weymouth Bennett. The service was conducted by the Reverend S J C Lucas BA and over 140 guests were in attendance including six fellow officers of the 5th POW Bn. Their reception was held at the White Hart Banqueting Hall followed by their honeymoon in London, they had one son Edward William Churchward born on 7th February 1929 – 3rd February 2007.
1939-45 Star. Italy Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Coronation Medal 1937. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial'. Territorial Efficiency Medal. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
Gilbert was promoted to Captain on 21st August 1929 and appointed the Officer in Charge of the 5th Bn POW Devonshire Regiment detachment at the Coronation of HM King George VI on 12th May 1937 in London, being awarded the Coronation Medal 1937.
Gilbert was mobilised in readiness for World War II at Plymouth on 25th August 1939 and posted to the Machine Gun Training Centre at Alderney on 21st September. Thelma and Edward are shown living at Cornerways, Buckfastleigh in the Register of 1939, Thelma doing unpaid domestic duties. Gilbert was awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ in the London Gazette of 6th February 1940 and appointed Assistant Inspector in the Armament Inspection Department on 26th August 1941.
He embarked for service overseas in the Middle East from 16th July 1943 and promoted Major on 11th April 1945 whilst serving with GHQ MEF and worked with the War Graves Commission. He was posted to the Depot, Devonshire Regiment, on 5th December 1946 in the UK and proceeded on release leave on 11th June 1947. For his war time service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Gilbert retired from the TA having reached the age limit on 15th September 1947, returning to run his family’s tailoring business in Buckfastleigh. He and Thelma lived at 23 Bossell Road, still in Buckfastleigh and being a keen sportsman was chairman of the local Rugby Football Club and treasurer of the Horticultural Society. Gilbert was also a Freemason and member of the Trinity Lodge being a Past Master and Almoner.
Gilbert died on 17 May 1967, aged 74 at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital, Exeter. His funeral was held at the Torquay Crematorium and the Rev J. W. Timms vicar of Buckfastleigh officiated Thelma died the following year on Christmas Day.
Gilbert was mobilised in readiness for World War II at Plymouth on 25th August 1939 and posted to the Machine Gun Training Centre at Alderney on 21st September. Thelma and Edward are shown living at Cornerways, Buckfastleigh in the Register of 1939, Thelma doing unpaid domestic duties. Gilbert was awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ in the London Gazette of 6th February 1940 and appointed Assistant Inspector in the Armament Inspection Department on 26th August 1941.
He embarked for service overseas in the Middle East from 16th July 1943 and promoted Major on 11th April 1945 whilst serving with GHQ MEF and worked with the War Graves Commission. He was posted to the Depot, Devonshire Regiment, on 5th December 1946 in the UK and proceeded on release leave on 11th June 1947. For his war time service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Gilbert retired from the TA having reached the age limit on 15th September 1947, returning to run his family’s tailoring business in Buckfastleigh. He and Thelma lived at 23 Bossell Road, still in Buckfastleigh and being a keen sportsman was chairman of the local Rugby Football Club and treasurer of the Horticultural Society. Gilbert was also a Freemason and member of the Trinity Lodge being a Past Master and Almoner.
Gilbert died on 17 May 1967, aged 74 at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital, Exeter. His funeral was held at the Torquay Crematorium and the Rev J. W. Timms vicar of Buckfastleigh officiated Thelma died the following year on Christmas Day.
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Gilbert Coode's World War I Medal Index Card showing no entitlement and world War II records showing award his 1913-45, Italy Stars, Defence and War Medal.
The Story The medals awarded to Gilbert Edward Coode were won at auction from Noonans on 10th September 2025. They were of interest because of the treble long service group a main theme of this collection together with photographs and detailed research.
It was pleasing to find that the medals had been auctioned as part of the Peter and Dee Helmore collection, they both having been colleagues some years before in the Birmingham Medal Society. Peter had already, as was to be expected, undertaken most of the research and Ancestry and Newspaper Archives enabled some extra pieces of information to be added and personalise Gilbert’s biography a little further.
An interesting group and a pleasure to now be the custodian of one of Peter and Dee’s former much cherished collection.
It was pleasing to find that the medals had been auctioned as part of the Peter and Dee Helmore collection, they both having been colleagues some years before in the Birmingham Medal Society. Peter had already, as was to be expected, undertaken most of the research and Ancestry and Newspaper Archives enabled some extra pieces of information to be added and personalise Gilbert’s biography a little further.
An interesting group and a pleasure to now be the custodian of one of Peter and Dee’s former much cherished collection.
5th (POW) Bn Devonshire Reg circa 1923.
Gilbert Coode second row third from right
wearing his Territorial Efficiency Medal.
5th (TF) Bn Devonshire Regt Approx 1936.
Gilbert Coode front row on left
wearing his Territorial Efficiency and Special Constabulary Long Service medals.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1940
- Territorial Efficiency Medal: 29007 CPL-A.SJT. G.E.COODE, 7-DEVON.R.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: GILBERT E.COODE
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