Headstone 9
~ Stone ~ Neoclassical with curved top and central marine motif, with additional granite footstone marker and kerbs
- B.P Vague 1896 – 23 August 1916
- Bertram Preston Vague
- Aged 20 years
- West Watergate.
- Cook’s Mate Royal Navy
- M/4029
- H.M.S “Orion”
- “Rest in Peace”
- Brother of Emma Jane Smith
- Parish Records show
- Buried 27 August 1916
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Emma Jane Smith 1880 – 3 April 1959
- Aged 79 years
- Possible connection to Headstone 220
He was the son of John & Mary Vague (née Prideaux) of West Watergate, Talland, a foreman of roads for Liskeard Rural District Council.
Bertram Preston Vague (1896-1916) was a Cook’s Mate in the Royal Navy, and a ringer at Talland Church; he is mentioned in an entry in the Talland Ringers Handbook of 1911.
The April 1911 census records him as born at Rotterdam, Talland, and living at West Watergate, working as a farm hand, aged 15 years old.
9 months later his service records say he is 19 years old, when he signed up on 1st January 1912 for 12 years, giving a false date of birth.
He was a casualty of the Great War, and his commonwealth grave can be found in the east graveyard.
Although not officially a peal, the bells were rung to mark 100 years after the death of Bertram Vague on 23 August 2016, aged 20 years old; a salient ring of 100 changes was made in commemoration.
At the time Bertram was ringing at Talland there would have been four bells in the tower, so the memorable ring was made on just those four.
Talland Church Website
“Mr and Mrs John Vague of Watergate, Talland near Polperro have received a letter of congratulations from the King on having five sons in the Navy. Namely, William VAGUE, HMS Canopus; John VAGUE, Yeoman of Signals, HMS Orion; Frank VAGUE, Leading Seaman HMS Ruby; Alex VAGUE, A.B. Seaman, HMS Duke of Edinburgh and Bertram VAGUE, HMS Orion.”
Western Morning News – 24th December 1914
Bertram Preston Vague is also remembered on the War Memorial found on the South West Coast Path, between Talland & Polperro.
The Grade II Listed Memorial Cross of rouge hewn granite stands on three square granite blocks at Downend Point; the names of the sailors face out to sea and the names of the soldiers towards the land.
Talland Church Headstones 
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