John Howard Wescott

Surname: Wescott
Other names: John Howard
Other people in this story:
Alfred John Wescott
Bessie Wescott née Scammell
Dorothy Primrose Wescott née Hobley
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Oswestry, Shropshire
Bridport, Dorset

Story:
John Howard Wescott (Rev) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th June 1899, the son of Alfred John Wescott, a Coal Merchant, and Bessie Wescott (née Scammell).  He lived with his family in Park Walk, Shaftesbury, and attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from 1909 to 1916. He did well academically, particularly in English, and passed the Cambridge Preliminary, Junior and Senior Local Examinations with Honours. He was also a member of the school cadet force and was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1915.

In 1917 John enlisted with the Gloucestershire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 44692) but was soon transferred to the Prince of Wales's Own (Civil Service Rifles) (part of the London Regiment) Service No. 536887.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He married Dorothy Primrose Hobley in Oswestry, Shropshire, in 1923.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living in Park Walk, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as an HM Inspector of Taxes.  It is recorded he joined the City Of London Regiment in the Second World War with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant but some time later was ordained as a Minister of Religion.   He died in Bridport, Dorset, on 15th May 1972.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1916
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1917

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Shastonian

Alfred John Webb

Surname: Webb
Other names: Alfred John
Other people in this story:
George Webb
Caroline Elizabeth Webb née Chapman
Elizabeth Alexandra Webb née Turrington
Reginald Claude Eldon Webb
Charles Frederic Ratcliffe Webb
Edith Tryphena Webb nee Harding
Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cardiff, Wales
France & Flanders
Slough, Buckinghamshire
Herne Bay, Kent
Hartgrove, Dorset

Story:
Alfred John Webb was born on 12th March 1895 at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George Webb (a Master at the National School, Hartgrove, Dorset) and Caroline Elizabeth Webb (née Chapman).  He lived most of his early life at East Orchard.  His mother had died in 1895 and his father had remarried Edith Tryphena Harding in 1896. Alfred had originally enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 1515) as a Territorial on 7th March 1913. He was mobilized for war on 5th August 1914 but discharged on 16th November 1914 being physically unfit for service.  He re-enlisted on 25th January 1915 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 11278).  He served in France from 14 May 1915 but was again discharged on 11th June 1916 because he was no longer physically fit due to tuberculosis.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 203307 and in due time the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Elizabeth Alexandra Turrington in Cardiff, South Wales, in 1931 and they went on to have three children.  By the 1939 Register, Alfred was living at 17 Glasmor Road, Slough, Buckinghamshire, working as a Male Nurse in a Public Assistance Institution.  He died in the Herne Bay, Kent, area in 1964.

Alfred's brother Charles Frederic Ratcliffe Webb (b.1890) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment. His half brother Reginald Claude Eldon Webb (b.1898) was sadly killed in 1916 while attached to the Wiltshire Regiment in France.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Reginald Claude Eldon Webb
The National Archives
Charles Frederic Ratcliffe Webb
Shaftesbury Grammar School War Memorial

James Arkell Tayler

Surname: Tayler
Other names: James Arkell
Other people in this story:
Walter Harry Tayler
Elizabeth Tayler née Arkell
Walter Ramshaw
Locations in this story:
Northleach, Gloucestershire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Oak Leigh, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Story:
James “Jim” Arkell Tayler was born in 1896 in Northleach, Gloucestershire. He was the son of Walter Harry Taylor, a farmer, and Elizabeth Arkell. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1909 to April 1912. In the 1911 Census he appears on the list of pupils boarding at Oak Leigh, Cann, the home Walter Ramshaw, a science master at the school. On leaving school he became a farmer.

In 1914 he joined the Gloucester Regiment (Service Nos. 240937 and 3047) as a Private. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 12th September 1917. His death was reported in the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine: “Details of Jim Tayler’s death (recorded in our last number) have now been received. A shell pitched at the mouth of his dug-out; he lingered for half an hour and then died, probably more from shock than wounds. His mother received a delightful letter from his platoon sergeant, who said that his absolute unselfishness and cheerfulness under all circumstances made him the most popular man in the section.” His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

As a former pupil his name was recorded on the Shaftesbury Grammar School war memorial, now in 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 Jim served and the date and term in which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Jim's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources: 

Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1914
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1917
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1918
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:
  • List of Old Shastonians 1
  • List of Old Shastonians 4
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 7
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 1

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

James Padfield

Surname: Padfield
Other names: James
Other people in this story:
Charles Padfield
Sarah Maria Padfield née Mussell
Albert Padfield
Levi Padfield
Locations in this story:
Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Margaret's Church, Margaret Marsh
Bushy Gate, Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
James Padfield was born in Margaret Marsh, Dorset in 1893. He was the son of Charles Padfield, a farm labourer, and Sarah Maria Padfield (née Mussell). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was working as a farm labourer and living at Bushy Gate, Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  Their father died on 11th January, 1913.

James enlisted as a Private in the 8th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 22661) and arrived in France on 23rd March 1915. He later served in the 10th and 7th Battalions with a Service No.22361. He was discharged to the Reserves on 14th March, 1919 and awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at home on 6th April 1919 and was buried in the main area in front of St. Margaret's Church, Margaret Marsh. He was accorded a War Grave headstone in remembrance of his service.

James' brothers Albert and Levi also served during the First World War.

Images:
  • St.Margaret's Church Margaret Marsh 2
  • St.Margaret's Church Margaret Marsh 1

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Albert Padfield
Levi Padfield
Arthur John Parsons headstone 1

Arthur John Parsons

Surname: Parsons
Other names: Arthur John
Other people in this story:
John Parsons
Emily Catherine Parsons née Watts
George Thomas Parsons
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
St. Mary's Church Extension Cemetery, Motcombe
Sunnyside, Motcombe, Dorset
Royds Hall War Hospital, Lindley, Huddersfield

Story:
Arthur John Parsons was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 3rd July 1898 and baptised there on 27th July, 1898. He was the son of John Parsons, a Farmer, and Emily Catherine Parsons (née Watts). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Sunnyside, Motcombe, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 12th (Service) (Bristol) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 38914). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had been wounded in France and repatriated back to England. He died of his wounds after the war on 16th January, 1919, at Royds Hall War Hospital, Lindley, Huddersfield and was buried on 22nd January, 1919, in the Extension Cemetery of St. Mary's Church, Motcombe (grave id. B.3.I). He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset. His brother, George Thomas Parsons, also apparently served towards the end of the conflict and survived.

Images:
  • Motcombe War Memorial 03
  • Motcombe War Memorial 4
  • Motcombe War Memorial 2
  • Motcombe War Memorial 02
  • Arthur John Parsons headstone 2
  • PN411

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
George Thomas Parsons
Names on Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial 01

Ernest Henry King

Surname: King
Other names: Ernest Henry
Other people in this story:
Frederick John King
Emma Jane King née Gray
Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Canada Farm Cemetery, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Hargrove, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Wardour Lane, Donhead St. Andrew

Story:
Ernest Henry King was born in March, 1896, in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and was baptised at the Parish Church on 5th April, 1896. He was the son of Frederick John King, a Farm Labourer, and Emma Jane King (née Gray). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Hargrove, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire. His parents were living in Wardour Lane, Donhead St. Andrew. He enlisted in Tisbury, Wiltshire, as a Private and joined the 14th (Service) Battalion (West of England) of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 20694). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 1st November 1917 and was buried at Canada Farm Cemetery, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave id. III.F.14). He is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial.

Images:
  • Donhead St. Andrew Church
  • Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial

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