South Wales Borderers Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Reginald James Woods

Surname: Woods

Other names: Reginald James

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Bath, Somerset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Reginald James Woods was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th January 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 10th February 1898, the son of Charles John Woods and Harriet Woods (née Pickford). He lived his early life at various addresses in the St. James District of Shaftesbury and at 16 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 8 Feb 1915 and joined the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 21369). He served with his Unit in France and Flanders from 3 Dec 1915 until he was transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 327709). He was discharged on 18th May 1918 due to being no longer fit for service as a result of gunshot wounds received to the right thigh and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 362924 as well as the Victory, British War medals and the 1915 Star. He was also in receipt of a limited pension. Reginald returned to his family now at 45 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and he later married Frances May Beeston in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1920. The 1921 Census shows he was living in Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a General Labourer out of work. But by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Maybrick Road, Bath, Somerset, and was working as a Telecommunication Linesman. He died in the Woodside Rest Home, Bathwick Hill, Bath, Somerset, on 27th February 1995. Reginald's father Charles John Woods also served in the conflict, with the Dorsetshire Regiment and his brother John Charles (b.1900) with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

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John Charles Woods
Charles John Woods

Alfred George Padfield

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: Alfred George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Alfred George Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th October 1888 and baptised at St. James' Church on 9th November 1888, the son of John Charles Padfield and Mary Eliza (as registered) Padfield (née Maidment). His early life was spent with the family at 36 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, his father having passed away in 1904. He enlisted and joined the 3rd Battalion and then the 15th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 16887) and was later transferred to the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 42753). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Bessie Parsons at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1919 and by the 1921 census was living at 27 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Tailor with the local firm of Pryce and Barribal (Sports Tailors). By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Orchard Road, Gillingham, Dorset, still working as a Tailor. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1970.

Two of Alfred's brothers also served in the war: Edwin (sometimes known as Edward) (b.1891) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and Charles (b.1884) with the 5th Service Battalion.

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Edwin Padfield
Charles Padfield

Albert Charles Phillips

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Phillips

Other names: Albert Charles

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, Wales
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Brecon Military Hospital

Story:
Albert Charles Phillips was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th December 1877 and baptised there on 17th February 1878, the son of Edward Phillips and Edith Phillips (née White). He spent his early life in the family home at Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. He had enlisted with the 1st/3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and had served for sixteen years before the end of his first engagement. He married Ellen Gumbleton at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th July 1906 and they went on to have three children.

By 1911 Albert had moved to Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, in order to work in the mining industry. He re-enlisted on 15th July 1914 and was mobilized on 8th Aug 1914 joining the South Wales Borderers (Special Reserve) as a Sergeant (Service No. 3/11615). He served in France and Flanders from 15 Mar 1916 with the 1st and 3rd Battalions and was gassed on 18th May 1916 and wounded on 8th Sep 1916. This involved hospital treatment at the Brecon Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with hysteria and duly declared unfit for further service and discharged on 28th August 1917. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 225758 as well as small pension and was later awarded the Victory and British War medals plus receiving the King's Certificate No. 1613. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at 24 Weavers Buildings, 63 Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, and described as a Colliery Timberman (below ground). His death was recorded in the Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, District Registry in 1940.

Three of Albert's brothers served in the First World War: Frank (b.1885) with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery; Frederick William (b.1875) with the Dorchester Regiment. The youngest, James (b.1886) was killed while serving with the Wiltshire Regiment in France on 21st October 1914.

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James Phillips
Frank Phillips
Frederick William Phillips

John Brickell

8th April 2020/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Little Down, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bedwelty, Abertillery, Monmouthshire
France & Flanders
Somme, France
Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France

Story:
John Brickell was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1893, the son of William Brickell and Susan Brickell (née Parsons). John lived his early life at Little Down, Cann, Shaftesbury, until, by 1911, the family had moved to 34 Hill Street, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, for work in the mines. He married Florence A. Kidner on 6th June 1914 in Abertillery. He enlisted and joined the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 20971). He was killed in action in France at the Somme on 20th July 1916. He was buried at the Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France, (Grave Ref: I.D.43). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Frederick James Perry

7th April 2020/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Perry

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Axbridge, Somerset
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Alvediston, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Souchez, Pas de Calais, France
Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Story:
Frederick James Perry (sometimes known as James) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1876 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 16th December 1876, the son of Thomas Perry and Cordelia Perry (née Davis). Frederick spent his early life in Shaftesbury until moving to Shepton Mallet, Somerset, just prior to 1896 in which year he married Beatrice Annie Tinkler at Axbridge, Somerset. They went on to have five children. By 1911 the family had moved to Alvediston, Wiltshire. They later moved to Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Frederick enlisted at Newport and joined the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 13219). He served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 9th May 1915. He was buried at the Caberet-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France (Grave ref XXVII.A.3). He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals. A memorial plaque in Holy Trinity Church, Newport includes the name Frederick James Perry.

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George Roberts

21st October 2019/in 1914-1918 Monmouthshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roberts

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Wales
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Roberts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th April 1887, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane). He grew up at the family home at 15 Layton Lane in Shaftesbury. By 1909 he had moved to Abertillery, Monmouthshire, to work as a Collier and had served two years with the South Wales Borderers (3rd Volunteer Battalion) on a Territorial basis. On 14th January 1909 he re-enlisted with the Monmouthshire Regiment (48th Provisional, 3rd Battalion) as a Territorial and he attended annual training camps (Service No. 699). He married Margretta Deacon on 13 Nov 1910 at St. Michaels Church, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, and they went on to have four children. He was mobilized on 5th August 1914 and served as a Private in the UK only. He was discharged on 17th May 1916 having completed his terms of engagement. He gave his address as 29 Kings Head Road, Abertillery. No medal records can be found for this soldier. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Vine Cottages, Pantypwelyn Road, Abertillaery, described as a Colliery Haulier (out of work). By the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Montague Street, Abertillery and was noted now working as a Colliery Coal Cutter (Below Ground). He died in 1955 in the Bedwellty Registration District.

Two of George's brothers served in the war: James (b.1879) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and Charles (b.1888) with the Dorsets.

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James Roberts
Charles Roberts

George Reginald Burr

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burr

Other names: George Reginald

Locations in this story:
Guys Marsh, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, South Wales
St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury
St. George's Road, Shaftesbury
Magdelene Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Reginald Burr was born in Guys Marsh, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 21st October 1895, the son of John Burr and Elizabeth Ann Burr (née Brockway). He was living with the family at Guys Marsh in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury. At the time of his enlistment on 10th February 1915 he was living in Abertillery, South Wales, and gave his occupation as a coal miner. He joined the South Wales Borderers as Private (Service No. 21372) but on 5th March 1915 he was discharged due to defective eyesight. He was issued with an armband on 31st January 1916 which signified he was a volunteer yet to be mobilised. On 14th September 1917 he again enlisted, this time with the Royal Navy (no mention of his eye problems) and joined HMS Vivid II (Service No. K45909). He was discharged on 22nd September 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Frances Emily Sharp in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd November 1923 and they went on to have eleven children. In 1924 the family were living at 3 Magdelelne lane, with his wife's parents but by the 1939 Register he had moved to 2 Bellevue Terrace, Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Builder's Labourer. From here they moved to 51 St Georges Road, Shaftesbury, where George died on 12th December 1952. His burial service at St Rumbolds Church, Cann, was followed by his interment at The Mampitts Road Cemetery on 17th December 1952. His brother, Job Burr, also served in the conflict. George's name was also on the Roll of Honour published in the Nov 1918 issue of the St. James' Church Parish magazine.

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St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Jack Wright Brockway

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brockway

Other names: Jack Wright

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Marylebone, Middlesex
Mere, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France
Salonika, Greece
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
South Wales

Story:
Jack Wright Brockway was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th October 1894 and baptised at St. James' Church on 7th April 1895 the son of Harry Brockway and Kate Brockway (née Wright). The family home was at 3 St. James, Shaftesbury. Jack had moved to South Wales prior to the outbreak of war where he was employed as a miner and it was there on 2 Sep 1914 he enlisted with the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 7/14083). He served in France from 5 Sep 1915 with his Regiment. On 1 Jan 1918 he was transferred to the 983rd Company of the Labour Corps as he was suffering from deformed feet. He was posted to Salonika and based at the 42nd General Hospital. He married Gertrude Elsie Head on 13th October 1918 in Marylebone, Middlesex. They had one child in 1919 who passed away the same year and unfortunately his wife also died in 1920. He was demobilized on 3rd April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at 3 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Blast Furnaceman (Out of Work). He re-married Alice Mary Harris in Mere, Wiltshire, in 1924 and they went on to have seven children. By the 1939 Register the family were living at 39 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. Jack died on 28th October 1971 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 1st November 1971.

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Thomas Frank Hoskins

10th June 2017/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hoskins

Other names: Thomas Frank

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Long Cross, Enmore Green
Great Yeatmans, Tout Hill, Shaftesbury
Tredegar, Monmouthshire
Newport, Monmouthshire
Kilmington St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
St. Mary's Church, Kilmington

Story:
Thomas Frank Hoskins was born in 17th November 1891 at Kilmington St. Mary, Wiltshire (his birth being registered at Mere, Wiltshire). He was baptised at St. Mary's Church, Kilmington, on 3rd November 1892. He was the son of John Charles Hoskins, an agricultural labourer, and Rosina Hoskins (née Tullett). His siblings included Harold Percival Hoskins, born in 1884, who died at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and Clarence Hoskins who survived the conflict. The 1911 Census shows the family living at Great Yeatmans, Tout Hill, Shaftesbury. Thomas had, however, by this time moved to Tredegar, Monmouthshire, and at the time of the 1911 Census he was single and working as a Coal Hewer. He enlisted in Newport, Monmouthshire as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 11881). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals. He died on 8th September 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier & Face 4 A). He is remembered on the war memorials at Motcombe and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. Thomas and Harold's mother, Rosina, also died in 1916.

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Harold Percival Hoskins

Thomas William Roberts

10th June 2017/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Ann Symons

Surname: Roberts

Other names: Thomas William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, Merville, near Bethune, Nord, France
Great Yeatmans, Tout Hill, Shaftesbury
Aberfan, Wales
St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
Tredegar, Wales
Long Cross, Enmore Green

Story:
Thomas (Tom) William Roberts was born in 1884 in Shaftesbury and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, on 27th July 1884. He was the son of Henry Roberts, a gardener, and Maria Ann Roberts (née Brickell). The family lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green. By 1901 Tom had moved to Aberfan in Wales to work in the coal mines. In 1905 his father Henry died and in 1907 his mother remarried. Maria's new husband was Charles Parsons, whose first wife, Betsie Parsons (née Foot), had also died in 1905. By the 1911 Census, Tom had moved to Tredegar to live with his brother Henry, and his family. Tom was single and described as a Coal Hewer. He enlisted in Tredegar as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 20956). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals. He died on 10th November 1917 and was buried at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, Merville, near Bethune, Nord, France (grave id. 111.B.17).

In St. John's churchyard in Enmore Green a commemoration was inscribed on the headstone of his mother Maria and her second husband Charles Parsons. It reads:
PRIVATE T. ROBERTS. DIED IN FRANCE NOV.10TH 1917. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

He is also remembered on the war memorials at Motcombe and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.

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