Basil was the son of the former rector of St Mary’s Woodham Ferrers.The Plumptre family seems to have made the Church of England a family business. Henry Western Plumptre who was rector of Eastwood, Nottinghamshire had, amongst others, two sons Henry Western Plumptre who became Rector of Eastwood and Charles Pemberton Plumptre who was Rector of Woodham Ferrers from 1889 until 1914 when he was succeeded by his brother Henry’s son Edward Montagu Plumptre who then resigned the living in 1916.
There was another member of the family, John Bridges Plumptre who was Rector of Danbury from 1892 until after 1911. Other Plumptres in holy orders include Harry Pemberton Plumptre, Robert Garland Plumptre, Arthur Huntington Plumptre and Robert William Plumptre.
The fact that Woodham Ferrers living passed between uncle and nephew may be answered by the entry in Kelly’s 1910 Trade Directory which states that “The living is a rectory, net yearly value £443 with 10 acres of glebe, in the gift of Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre Esq. of Goodnestone, Kent and held since 1889 by the Rev Charles Pemberton Plumptre BA of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge” The Plumptre and the Fitzwalter names are commemorated with lanes named after them in Danbury.
Basil was born in Claypole, Lincolnshire in 1883 and having completed his education at Emmanuel College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, was ordained in 1906 and became curate at Bermondsey, London where he was still serving when he enlisted in the army as a chaplain.
He had attended St Lawrence College, Ramsgate where he was School Captain 1901-2. The 1901 Census shows him living at the Rectory, Woodham Ferrers with his father Charles,who had been appointed rector in 1889, mother Clara, three older sisters, two younger brothers, two other relatives, a cook, a nurse, a house maid and parlour maid and an under house maid.
The 1911 Census shows him living at 137 Abbey Street, Bermondsey where he continued to live until he signed up.
He was killed in action on 16th July 1917 by a stray shell which landed on his dugout whilst visiting one of companies in the front line in front of White Chateau near Ypres. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 for gallantry and devotion to duty when attached to a dressing station. He rendered great assistance in dressing the wounded, and assisted in bringing in wounded under heavy shell fire.
Basil was buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium. In addition to being commemorated on the war memorial at Woodham Ferrers his name is on the war memorial at Emmanuel College and the Scouts Association Great War Roll of Honour having founded the 20th South London Troop. He also appears on the list of past pupils of St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. He was awarded, in addition to the Military Cross, the British War and Victory medals.
Probate was granted on his estate in October 1917 to Ernest Aubrey Western Plumptre, Lieutenant H M Army Effects £1,323-14s-2d the equivalent of around £80,000 now.
There are two other Plumptres on the war memorial both Basil’s younger brothers both of whom survived the war.
Cyril MacDonald Plumptre served as a doctor in the Indian Medical Service in France, Belgium and Mesopotamia and ultimately achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later became a professor at the Medical College in Madras.He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and The Victory and British War Medals and General Service Medal.
Ernest Aubrey Western Plumptre served as a lieutenant with the 17th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers landing in France in November 1915. After the war he joined the Egyptian Civil Service serving in Cairo. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and The Victory and British War Medals.