Dorsetshire Regiment Archives - Page 12 of 23 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Thomas William Gatehouse

Surname: Gatehouse

Other names: Thomas William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Zeals, Wiltshire
Walnut Farm, Sandfords, Somerset
Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Winscombe, Axbridge, Somerset

Story:
Thomas William Gatehouse was born on 30th April 1880 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Cann Parish Church on 12th June 1881, the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (née Farmer). He spent his childhood with his family at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury. He married Evangeline Mary Read at St. Martin's Church, Zeals, Wiltshire, on 5th March 1912. They went on to have five children. Thomas had had 12 years previous service with the Dorsetshire Regiment and had served in Malta, India and South Africa and was the holder of the Queen's South African Medal with Clasps and had been discharged to the reserves. He was embodied on 26th November 1914 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 12547). He served in France from 31 Dec 1916 and later received a serious gun shot wound to the head and lesser ones to the right hand. He was eventually discharged on 17th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a Life pension. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Slow Pit Cottages, Winscombe, Axbridge, Somerst, working as a Quarryman. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Walnut Farm, Sandfords, Somerset, still working as a quarryman. He died in the Weston Super Mare Registration area in 1965. His brothers, Ernest Edward, Sidney Herbert, Percy George and Charles Howe, also served in the conflict and survived whilst his nephew, Victor Stokes, was killed during the war in an accident. His remaining brother, Walter John, was purported to have served in the war but no reliable military record can be found.

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Rivers Harrison Francis

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Francis

Other names: Rivers Harrison

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Dorset
Andover, Hampshire
Fernhill Road, New Milton, Nr. Lymington, Hampshire
Southampton
Burley, Hampshire

Story:
Rivers Harrison Francis was born on 31st March 1883 in Motcombe, Dorset, the son of Edwin Francis and Harriet Fanny Francis (née Lambert). He lived with his parents in The Street, Motcombe, during his childhood until moving to Andover, Hampshire, where he met and married Edith Lydia E. Rawlins on 19th December 1907. They went on to have three children. Rivers had previous military reserve service with the Dorsetshire Regiment and, when embodied, joined the 30th Distribution Battalion Training Reserves with his previous rank of Sergeant (Service No. TR/8/27351). He was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 6th July 1918 (Service No. 45974). He is known to have served for a time in Ireland. He was discharged on 29th November 1919. Medal records cannot be found. The 1921 Census shows he was living at @brightwell', Bestone Road, Burley, Hampshire, working as a Carpenter for the Forestry Commission. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 'Danebury', Fernhill Road, New Milton, Nr. Lymington, Hampshire. He died on 3rd March 1969 in the Southampton Registry area.

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George Burridge

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Royal Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burridge

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Malta
India
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
George Burridge was born in 1873 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, on 25 Dec 1873 the son of Charles Burridge, a Blacksmith and Farrier, and Agnes Burridge (nee Flower). The family lived in Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. He had originally enlisted on 13th June 1898 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5701) and had served in Malta and India. He was discharged to reserves on 12 Jun 1910. At the outbreak of war he re-enlisted on 26 Aug 1914 with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7652). He was transferred on numerous occasions - 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (S/n 19923), 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (S/n 14683), The Labour Corps (S/n 451361) and finally, the 39th Garrison Company, 43rd (G) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (S/n G/105488). He served in France from 6 May 1915 and received gunshot wounds in July 1916. He was eventually discharged on 23rd February 1917 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave his home address then as Hawkesdene Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, where he was living at the time of the 1921 Census. He had married Ellen Mary Sheridan at Shaftesbury on 13th September 1917 and they had two children. George died on 15th Jun 1924 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19th June 1924. George's brothers, Maurice Burridge and Walter Burridge also served in the conflict in the Royal Navy. A cousin, Percy Albert Burridge, who had been born in Dorchester, Dorset, in 1877 and was also in the Royal Navy, registered the address of the family for the 1918 Absent Voters List and remained so until 1921.

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William Bertie Bealing

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bealing

Other names: William Bertie

Locations in this story:
Sherborne Causeway, Enmore Green, Dorset
India
Egypt
Gaza, Palestine
Poole, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Nunwell, Cattistock, Dorset

Story:
William Bertie Bealing was born at Sherborne Causeway, Enmore Green, Dorset, on 20th October 1896, the son of William George Bealing and Martha Bealing (nee Smart). He lived his early life in the Sherborne Causeway area. He enlisted on 15th June 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 200587). (His second name was shown as Bertram on Military Records whereas the General Register Office record indicates 'Bertie'). He served in India and then Egypt and Gaza. On the 14th June 1918 he received a gunshot wound in the lower forearm. He was demobilized on 28th June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Forces War Medal. In 1921 he married Lily (or Lilian) Evelyn Oliver in Poole, Dorset, and they went on to have one son. The 1921 Electoral Roll shows him living at the Police Station, Poole, Dorset, he being a Police Constable. By the 1939 Register the family were still living in Poole in Police accommodation. The last known address was Nunwell, Cattistock, Dorset (1955 Probate Record) when his estate was wound up following his death in Dorchester County Hospital, Dorchester, on 25th June 1955 following which he was later buried in Dorchester Cemetery.

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Howard William Highman

2nd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Irish Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Highman

Other names: Howard William

Locations in this story:
Fieldings, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Stour Provost, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Howard William Highman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th January 1897, the son of George Highman and Elizabeth Highman (nee Roberts). He lived at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, up until he volunteered for war service during which time his father had died on 13 Sep 1901. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment (7th Reserve Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 17605). He transferred shortly after to the Royal Irish Rifles (Service No. 10074). Having served in Salonika from 5 Jan 1917. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2nd January 1918 (later the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 138549) and served in Egypt from2 Jan 1918. He achieved the rank of AC1 and remained until demobilized on 21st May 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother still at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working a a Motor Mechanic. He re-enlisted in the RAF (Service No. 138519) on 18th April 1931 and served through until placed on Reserve on 18th April 1939. He had married Florence Amelia Alice Hyde in 1928 (Bournemouth District Register). There were possibly two children of the marriage. The family lived at 12 Fieldings, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1939 Register and, once no longer serving with the RAF, Howard became an Automobile Association Road Patrolman. He died in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December 1976.

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Sidney Whitmarsh

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas, Dorset
France
Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire
Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset

Story:
Sidney Whitmarsh was born at Melbury Abbas, Dorset in 1871, the son of Ambrose John Whitmarsh and Maria Whitmarsh (nee Lane). The family lived for a time at White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas. He had enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1897. He married Kate Lane at Melbury Abbas on 11th July 1898. He had been discharged from the army and according to the 1911 Census, when they were living at Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset, there was at least one child of the marriage. He re-enlisted as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th August 1914 (Service No. 7373). He was transferred as a Gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 1st January 1915 (Service No. 6720) and served with them in France. On 5th May 1917, having returned to the UK, he was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 435341) and joined the 644th Agricultural Company. He was demobilized on 31st March 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was obviously in some financial difficulty in 1923, when living at 1 Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, as he was trying to obtain copies of his military record in order to prove his need to the authorities. He died in Aldershot in 1936. His brother, Charles Whitmarsh, also served but was discharged on 2 Apr 1918 being physically unfit due to gun shot wounds and died in 1920. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Charles Whitmarsh

Francis George Wareham

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: Francis George

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
India
Mesopotamia
France
South Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Francis George Wareham was born on 6th October 1889 at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, and baptised there on 2nd February 1890, the son of George and Emma Georgina Wareham. He enlisted on 7th Sep 1914 as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No 1403). He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment (Service No. 33393). He served in France and Mesopotamia during which time he received gunshot wounds (25th March 1917). He was transferred to the Garrison Battalion on 28th March 1918 and posted to India. Whilst in India he suffered with influenza and was hospitalized for 20 days. He was eventually demobilized on 20th January 1920 with a 70% pension due to his previous wounds. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. There is confusion as to whether he remained single or married, and consequently this will not be remarked upon in this story. He died in 1961 and was recorded as living at South Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset. Francis' brothers, Edward Wareham, MM, and Frederick Wareham, also served in the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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George Tuffin

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tuffin

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lambridge Street, Bath, Somerset
Thiepval, France
Rouen, France
Warrington, Lancashire
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Tuffin was born on 9th August 1893 at Sutton Waldron, Dorset, and baptised there on 1st October 1893, the son of Alfred and Laura Luena Tuffin. George enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 31st December 1912 (Service No. 9499). During his service in France he was wounded and marked as missing on 26th August 1914 but later found unconscious in a shell hole. He remained in hospital until 13th September 1914. Again he received gunshot wounds to the scalp in a battle near Thiepval on 18th June 1916 which caused partial paralysis of his right arm. He was sent to a hospital in Rouen, France and later repatriated to a Military Hospital in Warrington, Lancashire. He was discharged as being physically unfit for further service due to the paralysis on 9th May 1917. He was awarded the Victory, British Medals and the 1914 Star.

Whilst recovering from his wounds he had married Emily Maggie Lauretta Gamlin at Sutton Waldron on 27th September 1916. Emily lived temporarily at 21 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register, George had recovered sufficiently that he was working as a Farm Carter (Heavy Worker) and living at 1 Lambridge Street, Bath, Somerset. He died in Bath on 1st November 1989 at the age of 96 years.

George's brother Harry Frank died on 26th September 1918, while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment in France.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Harry Frank Tuffin

Arthur Charles Stacey

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Arthur Charles

Locations in this story:
Church Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Hinton Martell, Wimborne, Dorset

Story:
Arthur Charles Stacey was born on 30th August 1889 at Sutton Waldron, Dorset, the son of John Tom and Emily Stacey. They lived at some time in Church Street, Sutton Waldron. Arthur enlisted as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 615) on 27th August 1908 and served for a short while before being placed on reserve. He was re-embodied on 4th August 1914 (Service No. 6096) but discharged shortly after on 12th September 1914 as being medically unfit. No medals were awarded. He married Elsie Freeman at Hinton Martell, Wimborne, Dorset, on 1st November 1919 and they went on to have three children. By 1939 Arthur was still living in Hinton Martell and working as a Poultryman on a farm. He died in 1943.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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John Morgan Snook

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Field Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Snook

Other names: John Morgan

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Hong Kong
Wandsworth, London
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Lower Winchcombe, Wiltshire

Story:
John Morgan Snook was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1870 and baptised there on 27th March 1870, the son of Thomas Snook and Emma Snook (née Goddard). He was living with his parents at Lower Winchcombe, Wiltshire at the time of the 1881 Census. He enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 6th May 1887 as a Private (Service No. 2373). The Army was reorganised in 1889 and he was transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 63403) on 1st July 1889 with a further transfer to the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 20501) on 23rd June 1903. He served in Hong Kong until placed on reserve. He had married Bertha Fisher on 22nd September 1897 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and they went on to have five children. By the time of Word War 1 he had moved to Wandsworth, London, where he was employed by the London County Council as a Park Keeper. He was embodied on 6th August 1914 (Service No. 1596) and posted to the 3rd London General Territorial Hospital which was based in the Royal Victorian Patriotic School buildings in Wandsworth. He was however discharged on 16th October 1914 on the grounds that he should not have been called up. No medals were awarded. He died in 1931 (Tisbury, Wiltshire, Register) at the home of his son, Morris, who lived in Donhead St. Mary. Morris was his next-of-kin following the death on John's wife in 1916.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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