Hubert Martin Ricketts

Story:
Martin Hubert Ricketts was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 15th December, 1896 and baptised there on 19th February, 1897. He was registered and baptised as Martin Hubert but the family and military records used the names in reverse. He was the son of John James Charles Ricketts (known as Charles), a farmer, and Sarah Ann Ricketts (née Broadway). He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from May 1908 to December 1911. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Culverhouse, Motcombe, Dorset.

When war broke out he was farming with his father. He enlisted in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, as a Trooper in the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry with attachment to the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (Service No. No. 717). He died on 9th September 1915 at Gallipoli. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 17 and 18). He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals and is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset. His name is also on the Dorset Queens Own Yeomanry memorial in St. Mary's Abbey Church, Sherborne and the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School.

Hubert's older brother Osborne Bernard (b.1892) also served with the Dorset Yeomanry and was severely wounded at Gallipoli on 2nd August 1915.

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 the brothers served and the date and term in which they left school. Their names are also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to Hubert's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum. 

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