HMS Somerset wish to play an annual fixture and we have proposed it is the Alfred Cox Trophy in memory of Chief Petty Officer Alfred Cox of Ide RFC who was killed in 1917.

202221 Chief Petty Officer Alfred John Cox of HMS Toronto. Son of William and Susannah Cox of Ide and husband of Amelia Mary Cox of 15 Churchill Rd., St. Thomas, Exeter. Previously worked in the market garden at Deer Park. Born in Dunsford 18 November 1881. Died 23 December 1917 aged 36.

During WW1 off the North Sea coastline of Holland, an area close to the Maas light bouy was heavily mined by the Germans.

On the 23rd December 1917 the British R-Class destroyer Torrent along with three other destroyers ran straight into the minefield.

Torrent was hit first and started to sink. Surprise went to her rescue and suffered the same fate.

Tornado tried in vain to get free from the minefield but tragically detonated two mines and immediately sank with only one survivor.

Only a fourth destroyer - Radiant managed to escape the carnage to return home safely.

In all a total of 252 officers and men lost their lives.