THE centenary of the First World War has encouraged Okehampton resident Patricia Endacott to come forward with the story of her father, Gordon. Gordon Ernest Huxley, who taught after the 1914-1918 war at Chagford Secondary Modern, was born and raised in Ilford Essex, where at the start of the First World War he joined the Worcester Regiment before his 18th birthday. Conflict erupted and the regiment was sent to Gallipoli in the autumn of 1915, joining the trenches set from the disastrous campaign's spring beginning. They landed on October 11 and into a barrage of heavy shelling where a multitude of soldiers were killed or wounded. Gordon was shot in the leg on the onset of an early November offensive, where he was afterwards evacuated on a hospital ship. Arriving at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, Gordon suffered the amputation of his left leg, owing to the spread of gangrene. He was sent to convalesce at nurse Olive Hoskins parents' house at Lewannick, near Launceston, in Cornwall. Gordon recovered to join the Australian Army as a pay-sergeant, sailing on ships returning troops to Australia. He continued this for two years until it became necessary for him to get his artificial leg replaced and he journeyed back home to Britain. On his return, Gordon trained as a woodwork teacher before marrying Grace Priscila Rapley on June 19 1927, moving to Stratford-on-Avon where their eldest daughter Mary Patricia, known as Pat, was born. Moving again to North London in December 1927, the couple bore their second daughter Beryl Louise on July 30, 1929. Gordon continued his woodwork when he became woodwork master at Lancaster School before relocating to Roland Hill School, Tottenham in 1938. Ever the nomad, Gordon and his family moved to 11 Blanwich Avenue Winchmore Hill to see the arrival of their fourth and final daughter, Margery Blare. Europe's short-lived peace ended with the Second World War, forcing the family to evacuate to Whittlesey near Peterborough in September 1939. Only a year later saw the family move to Bude, where Gordon became the woodwork master at Bude-Stratton Senior School. He worked here successfully until the return of the war-bound woodwork teacher he replaced saw Gordon move on to Chagford Secondary Modern School in September 1947. Following a penultimate move to Morlowe Lovington in Somerset, the former soldier finally settled at 33. Duchy Prince Paignton where he died on December 1st 1976. His wife, Grace, died November 21, 1987. Pat lives with her husband Tom Endacott and the couple have been married for 65 years. l If you have an interesting story from the Great War please contact Times reporter Tom French on 01837 53640 or by email at [email protected]">[email protected]