RESIDENTS of a Somerset village are hoping the South Hams holds the key to discovering more about a First World War hero who ended his days near Ugborough.

Captain Arthur Hugh Henry Batten-Pooll grew up at Rode Manor, near the small village of the same name close to Bath.

Educated at Eton and Oxford, he had a glittering military career serving in the Royal Munster Fusiliers during the first world war, winning the Military Cross and the Victoria Cross.

The VC was awarded for Capt Batten-Pooll’s ’most conspicuous bravery while in command of a raiding party’ in France in 1916.

An entry in the London Gazette at the time records: ’At the moment of entry into the enemy’s lines he was severely wounded by a bomb, which broke and mutilated all the fingers of his right hand.

’In spite of this, he continued to direct operations with unflinching courage, his voice being clearly heard cheering and directing on his men.

’He was urged, but refused, to retire. Half an hour later, during the withdrawal, while personally assisting in the rescue of other wounded men, he received two further wounds. Still refusing assistance, he walked unaided to within one hundred yards of our lines, when he fainted, and was carried in by the covering party.’

Capt Batten-Pooll won his MC in a separate action, having returned to the trenches after recovering to an extent from his wounds.

After the war, however, the story of the soldier’s life is much harder to divine. He is believed to have lived in Bath for a while, before moving to Ugborough House in 1966. The property had been owned by his brother and sister-in-law since 1932 although his brother John Alexander, who also won an MC, had died in 1965.

Afterwards, John’s widow Gwendolen wrote to Arthur inviting him down. And in her will, she is said to have asked for her ashes to be scattered not only over John’s grave, but Arthur’s as well.

Although he travelled widely in pursuit of his interest in natural history, Capt Batten-Pooll was based for the rest of his life at the South Hams country house, dying in 1971.

Now, a group of Rode villagers are trying to find out as much as possible about the life of the war hero. They plan to hold a ceremony on Saturday, July 2, to commemmorate the centenary of the award of Capt Batten-Pooll’s VC, as well as that of the Battle of the Somme, and are keen to research their local man’s later years.

Rode resident Robert Savery said: ’My father became interested in Arthur’s story after moving to Rode in 1972. A VC is so rare – so he started looking into it. The grave was found in the village, and he was a bit sad to see it was quite overgrown and neglected.

’After he died in 2012, a local soldier Lt Col Peter Bates took it up, and he has organised the whole thing.

’Our village school had a legacy from the family and they’ve picked it up. There’s a real interest locally. We want to get the full picture, but it would also make our event all the more poignant to have people there who knew him.

’It would be nice to know a bit more about what he got up to when he was in Ugborough. His brother at least, who was also decorated in the war, must have been well known in the village.’

Following a trip to Devon to visit Ugborough House, Robert uncovered details of Capt Batten-Pooll’s will. Bequests were made to three Ugborough residents, and one of the witnesses, Joanna Williams, is recorded as living in Efford near Holbeton.

The three Ugborough beneficiaries were: Olive D Shute of Maxdene, Fore Street; Emily E Andrew of Dorema, Lutterburn Street; and Richard Charles Daniel of Wisteria Cottage, Fore Street.

Robert is asking anyone who may have known or known of Capt Batten-Pooll, or indeed his brother or sister-in-law, to contact him. He said: ’His brother and his wife were keen gardeners, and when she died the house and gardens were left to the National Trust.

’The first floor of Ugborough House had been converted to accommodate someone with mobility problems, so he may not have got out much. But I would have thought, when he moved down, that Gwendolen would have made an effort to introduce him to her circle.’

Anyone with any information can contact Robert by emailing [email protected], or call Toby Leigh at the Gazette on 01548 856353.