On 25th January 1902, only three days after his birth, Len was privately baptised by the vicar of Colebrooke.
Often a baby was quickly and privately baptised after birth, if they were ill and/or not expected to live. Thankfully Len lived into his seventies.
Record of baptism:
Len grew up in Bow, Devon.
Len had three older half siblings, his mother's illegitimate children born before her marriage:
Len was the eldest of five children born to Mark and Annie:
Times were tough. To get by, his mother Annie attempted to steal wood; whilst his father Mark may have turned to drink.
From the Western Times on 14th April 1905:
From the Western Times on 13th May 1909:
1911 census:
1921 Census:
Len and Rhoda had two sons:
It appears Len named his eldest son Archibald after his younger brothers who passed away in infancy.
- Beatrice 'Beattie' Mary Victoria (or Beatrice Florence Victoria) 1886 - 1973 (87 years old)
- Alberta 'Florrie' Florence W 1888 - after 1927 (at least 39 years old)
- Archibald John Weedon 1893 - 1899 (6 years old)
Len was the eldest of five children born to Mark and Annie:
- George 'Len' Leonard Yeo 1902 - 1976 (74 years old)
- Archibald Arthur Yeo 1903 - 1904 (18 months old)
- Archibald Arthur Yeo 1906 - 1906 (4 days old)
- Pearl May Yeo 1909 - 1909 (1 month old)
- Barbara May Yeo 1912 - 1927 (15 years)
Alas Len's four full siblings all passed away young. Their illnesses and deaths must have been sad early memories for Len.
On 4th November 1904, when Len was nearly three years old, his younger brother Archibald passed away, aged eighteen months, of TB. On 18th April 1906, when Len was four, his younger brother - also called Archibald, passed away, aged only four days, of ianition (exhausion due to lack of nourishment). On 17th August 1909, when Len was eight, his younger sister Pearl passed away, aged only one month, also of ianition.
Times were tough. To get by, his mother Annie attempted to steal wood; whilst his father Mark may have turned to drink.
From the Western Times on 14th April 1905:
From the Western Times on 13th May 1909:
1911 census:
Sometime in 1920s, Len's family moved about 2 miles north from Bow to Zeal Monachorum.
In Jul/Aug/Sep 1926, Len (24) married Rhoda Maud Bird (17) in the Crediton district.
In Jul/Aug/Sep 1926, Len (24) married Rhoda Maud Bird (17) in the Crediton district.
Len and Rhoda had two sons:
- Archibald 'Archie' Leonard Bird 1927 - 2000
- Frederick G 1930 - 1930 (0 - 3 months old)
It appears Len named his eldest son Archibald after his younger brothers who passed away in infancy.
Both of their sons were born in the district of Torrington, implying the young family were living there in the late 1920's.
On 8th August 1927, when Len was twenty-five, his youngest sister Barbara passed away, aged fifteen, of coeliac desease.
On 8th August 1927, when Len was twenty-five, his youngest sister Barbara passed away, aged fifteen, of coeliac desease.
Her death was reported in local papers.
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th August 1927:
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th August 1928:
Sadly, a few years later, when Len was twenty-eight years old, his wife Rhoda also passed away, aged twenty-one, giving birth to her second son Frederick, in Jan/Feb/Mar 1930.
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th August 1927:
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th August 1928:
Sadly, a few years later, when Len was twenty-eight years old, his wife Rhoda also passed away, aged twenty-one, giving birth to her second son Frederick, in Jan/Feb/Mar 1930.
After Rhoda's death, their son Archie went to live with Len's parents, Annie and Mark, in Bow.
One year later, Len remarried. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1931, Len (29) married Violet Grace Mutters (37) in the Exeter district. Violet was between three and six months pregnant at the time, as she gave birth to their eldest son, Ron, in December 1931.
Len and Violet had three sons:
One year later, Len remarried. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1931, Len (29) married Violet Grace Mutters (37) in the Exeter district. Violet was between three and six months pregnant at the time, as she gave birth to their eldest son, Ron, in December 1931.
Len and Violet had three sons:
- Ronald 'Ron' G 1931 -
- George Leonard 1933 -
- Bertram 'Bert' Charles 1934 -
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| Photograph of Len's young sons, c 1935 |
In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, Len and his family lived at Kymett Cottage in Bow. At the time, Len was a farm carter.
1939 Register:
Christmas 1939/1940, Len's sons attended Bow Church Sunday School's annual party, and won second prize. The event was reported in the local newspaper.
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th January 1940:
Len lived near the church in Bow for most of his life.
Len's son, George, remembers his father watching locals go to church on a Sunday and then sending his three young sons to sit and act as watch, whilst he off in the opposite direction to catch rabbits with their ferrets.
Len could be a little strict as a father. He would sent his cheeky sons up to bed, but they would sneak out the window and across the field.
But overall Len was a very friendly and chatty man. His sons would be much the same. Len was a regular at the local pub. Len's son, Bert, recalls a story he was told: one time a stranger came into the pub and Len bet his friend that he could get the stranger to buy him a drink; so Len went up to the stranger and was so welcoming and chatty and friendly to him that when the stranger went to order his next drink, he indeed bought one for Len.
From one friend in the pub, Len was left a collection of old coins and three medals from the First World War. Len himself left these to his granddaughter, Julie, who showed an interest in the artefacts as a young girl.
Len did not serve in the Second World War, as he was in his late thirties and in a reserved rural occupation. During the war, he kept two pig in his cottage garden, though he was legally only suppose to have one.
In 1945, when Len was forty-three, his father Mark passed away aged seventy-three.
In 1948, when Len was forty-six, his mother Annie passed away aged about eighty.
In 1953, when Len was fifty-one, his wife Violet passed away aged fifty-eight.
Six years later, Len married for the third time. In the summer of 1959, Len (57) married Dinah Bessie Luxton (formerly Batchelor, nee Easterbrook) (56 or 57).
Later in life, Len lived in Crediton. His daughter-in-law and step-daughter, Bette, would daily visit Len and her mother, Dinah, to clean and cook. She would often take her youngest daughter, Julie, along with her.
In his later life, Len would do the shopping, not just for himself and Dinah, but for their elderly neighbour Mrs Leonard.
Len's wife Dinah passed away aged seventy-three in 1976. Len passed away later that year aged seventy-four.
Julie remembers her grandfather having bright blue eyes, which she also inherited.
From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 19th January 1940:
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| 20th Century Photograph of Bow |
Len lived near the church in Bow for most of his life.
Len's son, George, remembers his father watching locals go to church on a Sunday and then sending his three young sons to sit and act as watch, whilst he off in the opposite direction to catch rabbits with their ferrets.
Len could be a little strict as a father. He would sent his cheeky sons up to bed, but they would sneak out the window and across the field.
But overall Len was a very friendly and chatty man. His sons would be much the same. Len was a regular at the local pub. Len's son, Bert, recalls a story he was told: one time a stranger came into the pub and Len bet his friend that he could get the stranger to buy him a drink; so Len went up to the stranger and was so welcoming and chatty and friendly to him that when the stranger went to order his next drink, he indeed bought one for Len.
From one friend in the pub, Len was left a collection of old coins and three medals from the First World War. Len himself left these to his granddaughter, Julie, who showed an interest in the artefacts as a young girl.
Len did not serve in the Second World War, as he was in his late thirties and in a reserved rural occupation. During the war, he kept two pig in his cottage garden, though he was legally only suppose to have one.
In 1945, when Len was forty-three, his father Mark passed away aged seventy-three.
In 1948, when Len was forty-six, his mother Annie passed away aged about eighty.
In 1953, when Len was fifty-one, his wife Violet passed away aged fifty-eight.
Six years later, Len married for the third time. In the summer of 1959, Len (57) married Dinah Bessie Luxton (formerly Batchelor, nee Easterbrook) (56 or 57).
Later in life, Len lived in Crediton. His daughter-in-law and step-daughter, Bette, would daily visit Len and her mother, Dinah, to clean and cook. She would often take her youngest daughter, Julie, along with her.
In his later life, Len would do the shopping, not just for himself and Dinah, but for their elderly neighbour Mrs Leonard.
Len's wife Dinah passed away aged seventy-three in 1976. Len passed away later that year aged seventy-four.
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| Photograph of Len (60) at his son George's wedding, 1962 |
Julie remembers her grandfather having bright blue eyes, which she also inherited.
Len also reportedly had the fair Sandford hair in his youth.
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