Michael Vincent Dooley

Surname: Dooley
Other names: Michael Vincent
Other people in this story:
John Michael Dooley
Annie Teresa Dooley (née McArdle)
Flossie Dooley née Phillips
Harry Phillips
Amelia Phillips
Locations in this story:
Rushworth, Victoria, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Egypt
France & Flanders
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Story:
Michael Vincent Dooley was born in Rushworth, Victoria, Australia, on 9th May 1894, the son of John Michael (Jack) Dooley and Annie Teresa Dooley (née McArdle).  He lived all his early life in Rushworth. At the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and joined the Australian Imperial Force on 15th May 1915 as a Private (Service No. 171). He left Australia on 8th May 1915 and served thereon in Egypt, France and Flanders, eventually finishing in the UK where he was discharged in London on 31st October 1919.  During his Military Service he had been initially with the 24th Battalion 'A' Company but was later transferred to the Australian Provost Corps and rose in ranks to Sergeant. 

On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. At this time he met Flossie Phillips whose parents, Harry and Amelia Phillips, lived in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He eventually married Flossie on 6th October 1919 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury.  They took up residence at the Knowles Arms, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Knowles Arms Cafe, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Bacon Curer and he was also a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service during World War Two. Flossie died in 1970 and was buried locally on 29th December 1970.  Michael then returned to Australia to live with his brother in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, until his death on 2nd August 1972 and subsequent burial at Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, on 7th August 1972.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Bell Street, Shaftesbury

Montague Charles Brickell

Surname: Brickell
Other names: Montague Charles
Other people in this story:
Hannah Laura Brickell
Mabel Brickell née Howell
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Gallipoli, Turkey
Egypt
France & Flanders
Blandford, Dorset
Wincanton, Somerset
Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Story:
Montague Charles Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th July 1896, the son of Hannah Laura Brickell (no father was registered).  He lived mainly with his grandparents in Shaftesbury during his early years as his mother was in service and living away from home.  He emigrated to Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, and enlisted there on 30th January 1914 but was not embodied until 24th February 1915 when he joined the 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force as a Private (Service No. 1509).  He saw service in Gallipoli, Egypt, France and Flanders during which time he had many visits to various hospitals - one for a gun shot wound in the hand sustained at Gallipoli where he was treated at the 19th General Hospital .  He saw service in France for the last time with the 46th Battalion after which they were posted to the UK where he was discharged on 31st August 1919 and returned to his Shaftesbury address at 17 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him visiting the Howell family in Tisbury, Wiltshire, where he was described as a Relief Manager for Joseph Frisby Ltd, a boot and shoe retailer. He went on to marry Mabel Howell in Blandford, Dorset, on 2 Sep 1923. From 1934 to 1937 had moved to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where he managed a shoe shop and became very active in the British Legion.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 47 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset, and was working as a Manager of a Retail Shoe Shop as well as being a Special Constable. Sometime after he moved to 18 Granville Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, and he died there on 25th February 1969.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Shaftesbury Grammar School War Memorial

George Arthur Jeffery

Surname: Jeffery
Other names: George Arthur
Other people in this story:
George Jeffery
Ellen Jeffery née Pardy
Henry Jeffery
Locations in this story:
France & Flanders
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France
Court Farm, Higher Berry, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Coronation Villa, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbourne, Australia
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Tel El Kebir, Egypt
Marseilles, France
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Story:
George Arthur Jeffery was born in 1894 in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He was the son of George Jeffery, a Farmer, and Ellen Jeffery (née Pardy). At the time the family were living at Court Farm, Higher Berry, Donhead St. Mary. George's father died in 1904. George attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1905 until April 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census George was single, working as a grocer's apprentice and living with his mother at 1 Coronation Villa, Shaftesbury. On 4th July, 1912 George emigrated on the SS Orama sailing from London to Melbourne, Australia. He settled in Sydney, New South Wales, and found employment with the NSW Government Railways as a tram cleaner in the North Sydney Tramway Depot. On enlistment he gave his occupation as Engineer's Assistant.

He enlisted in Liverpool, NSW, on 3rd July, 1915 as a Private with the 4th Battalion of the Australian Infantry (Australian Imperial Force) (Service No. 2850). He joined his Battalion in Tel El Kebir, Egypt, on 21st January, 1916 eventually transferring to the 56th Battalion on 19th February, 1916. Later he sailed from Alexandria and eventually arrived in Marseilles on 29th June, 1916. On 3rd December 1916 he was killed by an enemy shell while serving in a front line trench on the Somme. His name appears on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France. His mother died within a month or two of George's death in early 1917. It appeared his employers were not advised of his death and they wrote on 21st May, 1920, asking when he would return to work. There is no copy of the Military reply. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial and the memorial at Shaftesbury School.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which George served and the date and term in which he left school. His name was also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen to the left of George's name, indicating that he had died, although the person compiling the list seemed a little unsure. The name above is that of J.G. Jeffery, who was referred to as Guy when he was at school, and it is known that he survived the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.  George's brother, Henry, also served in the conflict and survived.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, February 1917
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:
  • St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John 01
  • Berwick St. John War Memorial
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School War Memorial
  • List of Old Shastonians 1
  • List of Old Shastonians 3
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 1
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 4
  • Berwick St John War Memorial 02

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Shastonian