Story:
James John Garrett was born on 19th December 1886 in the Parish of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George William Garrett and Emily Garrett (née Jeans).  Apart from his army service James spent all of his life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the summer of 1899.

James enlisted on the 20th December 1905 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Reserves until the 22nd April 1908 when he enlisted further with the Territorial Battalion of the same regiment (Service No. 214), attending annual training camps.  He married Daisy Brine on 21st October 1913 at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and they went on to have at least five children.  James was embodied at the outbreak of war on 5th Aug 1914 (Service No. 927) and served throughout his time in the UK.  He was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then to Acting Sergeant but had to be released on a number of occasions during 1915 to assist on the farm, Grants Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann.   He eventually opted to take a release from the Army as he had already completed the terms of his engagement and was discharged on 22nd April 1916. There are no medal records in this case. He returned to Grants Farm but by the 1921 Census had moved to Whitings Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a Dairy Farmer. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Whitings Farm.  He died in The Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 13th May 1964 and was buried at St. James Church on 20 May 1964.

The "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 James served and the date and term in which he left school. His name is also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.  

Source:  Photograph of Sergeant John James Garrett in the Dorset Yeomanry supplied by Nigel Garrett.  

Story:
Osborne Bernard Ricketts was born on 14th April 1892 in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 30th August 1892, the son of James John Charles Ricketts and Sara Ann Ricketts (née Broadway).  He lived most of his early life at Culverhouse Farm, Motcombe, where his father was the Farmer and attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the spring of 1905. He enlisted on the 1st May 1908 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorial Force, attending annual camps for training (Service No. 226).  (N.B. His military records are in the name of Bernard only.)   He was re-engaged on 30th April 1914 and embodied on 5th August 1914 with the rank of Corporal (Service No. 1058).  He was at Gallipoli, Turkey, and landed at Sulva Bay where he was severely wounded on 2nd August 1915.  He was invalided back to the UK on 9th October 1915 and discharged on 5th June 1916 having completed his terms of engagement.   He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   He married Sophia Louisa King on 24th April 1917 at Motcombe, Dorset. By the 1939 Register he was living at Sadden Farm, Burbage, West Grafton, Marlborough, Wiltshire, and was working as a Dairyman and Cowman.  He died in Marlborough in 1966.

Osborne Bernard's younger brother Hubert Martin (b.1896) died on 9th September 1915 while serving with the Dorset Yeomanry at Gallipoli.

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