- James and Sarah Gear started building their holiday cottage “The Kipsey” in Torquay in 1906. John Foster Gear, one of their six sons, spent every summer playing on the beach on beach at Torquay until 1915 when he enlisted in the army. He was sent to the western front and died in Picarde, France in 1918 and was awarded a Military Cross for bravery in battle.He rest in the Ramicourt cemetery in France .
