Dorset Yeomanry Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy Albert Aish

Surname: Aish

Other names: Percy Albert

Locations in this story:
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery
Home Farm, Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Palestine
Agagia, Egypt
St. Mary's Church, Sherborne
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Percy Albert Aish was born in 1893 in the registration district of Tisbury and baptised at Donhead St Mary on 1st Oct 1893. He was the son of Albert Aish, a farmer, and Ann Aish (née Pike). Percy attended Shaftesbury Grammar School between 1907 and 1909. After leaving school he became a farmer with his father. In the 1911 Census Albert and Ann were living at Home Farm, Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire, but Percy was not listed.

He enlisted at Charlton and joined the 1st Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry with service No. 559. In time he transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Corps of Hussars (Service no. 230040) and went to Egypt on 23 Apr 1915, taking part in the Battle of Agagia and the Palestine campaign. At the time of his death he held the rank of Corporal. While at Alexandria he caught a fever and died on 23rd October 1918 in No.19 General Hospital. He was buried at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria (grave id. E.56). He was awarded the Victory, British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the War Memorial at Ludwell and on the memorial at Shaftesbury School. His name also appears on the memorial to the Comrades of the Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry in St. Mary's Church, Sherborne.

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 Percy 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 next to Percy's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:

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

John Dennis Riggs

Surname: Riggs

Other names: John Dennis

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Hillside, Manswood, Wimborne, Dorset
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
Long Critchel, Wimborne, Dorset
Witchampton, Dorset

Story:
John Dennis Riggs was born in 1888 in Farnham, Dorset, and baptised at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 20th January, 1889. He was the son of John Dennis Riggs, a Gardener, and Fannie Riggs (née Raymond). His siblings included Cecil Herbert, born in 1893, who also died in the war. The 1911 Census shows that John was working as a Farm Labourer and living in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. John married Alice Rachel Andrews at Witchampton, Dorset, on 26th December, 1911. He enlisted at Shaftesbury as a Private in the Territorial Unit of the Dorset (The Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 1180). He was posted to Egypt on 22 Apr 1915 and later was in action at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action on 21st August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 17 and 18). John's widow Alice was at this time living with their two daughters at Hillside, Manswood, Wimborne. He is also remembered on the Melbury Abbas War Memorial and on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. His widow was awarded a dependent's pension of 18s. 6d. (92p) per week for herself and two children. Alice remarried Henry Frank Kimber at Long Critchel, Wimborne, Dorse, on 27 Aug 1919.

He is further remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

Images:

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

Trevor Sharpe

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Corps of Hussars, Dorset Yeomanry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Sharpe

Other names: Trevor

Locations in this story:
Marnull, Dorset
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt
Pigeon House Farm, Marnhull, Dorset
Butts Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Mary's Church, Sherborne, Dorset
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire

Story:
Trevor Sharpe was born in 1885 in Marnhull, Dorset, and baptised there on 12th April 1885. He was the son of Walter Sharpe, a farmer, and Julia Elizabeth Sharpe (née Rowland). On 6th February, 1906 he married Laura Blanche Foot at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. They had three children: Hilda May (b.1907), Walter (b. 1912) and Mildred B. (b. 1917). At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a gardener and living in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. Later Electoral Rolls show the family had moved to Butts Knapp, Shaftesbury, by 1918. Trevor enlisted in Shaftesbury with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 1543) which was later incorporated with the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230785) and at the time of his death held the rank of Corporal. He served in Egypt and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On 13th October 1918 he died of pneumonia on board the hospital ship HMHS Assaye and was buried at sea. His name appears on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, and on the memorial to the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry in St. Mary's Church, Sherborne. He is also remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on which the spelling of his surname is "Sharp", although the correct name is "Sharpe" but this is carried through in many records throughout the family. His brothers, Montague Harry Sharpe, Denzil Walter Claude Sharpe, Kenneth Cyril Sharpe and Leo Vernon Sharpe, all served and all survived the conflict. Trevor's widow was awarded a widows pension of £1. 6s. 8d. (£1.37p) per week for herself and two dependent children.

Images:

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

Lancelot Lucien Martin

17th May 2016/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Martin

Other names: Lancelot Lucien

Locations in this story:
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Keynston, Tarrant Keynston, Blandford, Dorset
Sherborne, Dorset
Helles Memorial, Turkey
Egypt

Story:
Lancelot Lucien Martin was born in 1893 in Keynston, Tarrant Keynston, Dorset, and baptised at Tarrant Keynston, Dorset, on 6th August 1893. He was the son of Montague Francis Martin, a farmer (mixed), and Carrie Martin née Voss. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at North Farm, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset.

He enlisted in Sherborne, Dorset, as a Private in the 1/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queens Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 957). He was posted to Egypt on 23 Apr 1915 served at Gallipoli, Turkey, and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial in Turkey (Panel 17 & 18). He is also remembered on the Ashmore War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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