Dorsetshire Regiment Archives - Page 8 of 23 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold Francis Cosser

Surname: Cosser

Other names: Harold Francis

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mesopotamia
Basra, Iraq
Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold Francis Cosser was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 30th November 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th January 1895, the son of George Cosser and Anna Louisa Cosser (née Hopkins), a local family. Harold spent his early years in Donhead St. Mary until, by 1911, he was boarding in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and working as an apprentice ironmonger. He enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1191). He was later attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200122). He served in Mesopotamia and died in Turkish hands whilst a prisoner on 22nd May 1917 and is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq, (Panel 22 & 63). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Arthur Burden

13th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burden

Other names: Arthur

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme, France
Christchurch, Hampshire

Story:
Arthur Burden was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1888, the son of Charles Burden and Mary Ann Burden (nee Pamden), a local family. He spent his early years at Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but on 3rd June 1906 had enlisted with the 2nd/1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 8088). He served in India and was awarded the India Coronation Durbar Medal in 1912. He returned to the UK and was placed on reserve on 2nd December 1913 but was mobilized and joined the 5th Battalion on 5th August 1914 on the outbreak of war. He married May Eva Toop in Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1915. Arthur had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 26th September 1916. He is remembered on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France, (Pier and Face 7 B). (There is a notation on family records saying he was buried at some time well after the conflict but no grave reference is given.) He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star. He was later granted the 1915 Star clasp following application from the family. It is understood his widow remarried, to Ernest Arthur Besant in 1922. His brother, Wyndham Burden, had also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hugh Davey Labrum

10th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Labrum

Other names: Hugh Davey

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Warminster, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq

Story:
Hugh Davey Labrum was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8th May 1895, the son of Richard Newman Labrum and Frances Mary Labrum (née Davey). Hugh lived his very early childhood in Shaftesbury before the family moved to Warminster, Wiltshire. Hugh enlisted with the 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 1550 and 200220). He served in Mesopotamia attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment where he was captured and eventually died as a Prisoner of War on the presumed date of 24th May 1917. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq and on the Warminster War Memorial, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William Edward Pike

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pike

Other names: William Edward

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Fordingbridge, Hampshire
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France & Flanders
Latchfield, Hampshire
Christchurch, Hampshire
Deanland, Sixpenny Handley

Story:
William Edward Pike was born at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 16th August 1875 and baptised there on 24th October 1875, the son of Edward Pike and Ann (also known as Hannah) Pike (nee Foot). He spent his early life in Deanland, Sixpenny Handley. He married Eleanor Elizabeth Witt at Fordingbridge, Hampshire, on 31st July 1901 and they set up home at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, from where they went on to have four children. William enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 15th June 1916, joining the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 4099). Within days he had been transferred to the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 40664). On the 20th September 1916 he was again transferred to the 155th Labour Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. (92804). He served in France & Flanders and was eventually discharged on 10th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Around the time of his discharge he made a claim for the effects of Rheumatism, which was partly caused by service conditions, for which he received a 20% pension. The 1921 Census shows him living at Bowers Barn, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Latchfield, Hampshire, still working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker. His death is recorded at Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1960.

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Archelaus Myall

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Defence Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Myall

Other names: Archelaus

Locations in this story:
Stour Provost, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Africa
East Stour, Dorset

Story:
Archelaus Myall was born at Stour Provost, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised there on 11th June 1868, the son of Thomas Myall and Eliza Myall (née Pike). He lived most of his life in and around the Stour Provost and Stour Row, Dorset, area. His marriage to Bertha Elizabeth Tucker was registered in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during January 1906 and they went on to have five children. He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the 4th Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th March 1886 (Service No. 2202) and served in South Africa, (for which he was awarded the 1900-1901 South Africa medal and seven clasps) and was then placed on Reserve. He re-enlisted on 26th September 1914 and joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 1634) rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. He moved from Company to Company within the UK, with Service No. 516322 when attached to the Royal Defence Corps. He was eventually discharged on 22nd October 1918 being physically unfit for further service due to Rheumatic Arthritis aggravated by his service and was granted a small pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and issued with the Silver War Badge No. B31665. By the 1921 Census he was living at The Common, East Stour, Dorset, described as a Bricklayer (out of work). His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1937.

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Walter George Bugler

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bugler

Other names: Walter George

Locations in this story:
Winfrith, Dorset
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France

Story:
Walter George Bugler was born in Winfrith, Dorset, on 23rd December 1888 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire on 16th May 1889, the son of Thomas Bugler and Elizabeth Bugler (née Mabey). By 1911 his family had moved to Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire where he married Ellen Louise Scammel on 14th April 1913. They went on to have five children.

He enlisted on 6th November 1914 with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (with whom he had served as a Territorial earlier) as a Private (Service No. 3138 updated to 3730). He was immediately discharged on 7th November 1914 as being medically unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 22nd November 1915 and was accepted into the 13th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 30947). He served in France before being transferred to the Royal Engineers on 1 Jun 1917 as a Sapper (Service No. 308716) then again to the Labour Corps on 27 Jun 1917 (Service No. 98541). He was eventually discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Slate Cottage, Donhead St. Mary, working as a General Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, now working as a Stone Mason. His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, District Registry on 8 Sep 1968 and he was later buried at Donhead St. Mary.

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The National Archives

Benjamin Fanner

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fanner

Other names: Benjamin

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset
Hillbourne, Poole, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Benjamin Fanner was born on 12th September 1877 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of William Fanner and Sophia Fanner (née Blandford). By 1901 he had moved to Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset. It was here that he married Mary Cox on 26 Oct 1906 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Bournemouth, Hampshire. There was one son of the marriage before Mary died in 1908. Edward remarried on 25th October 1913 at All Saints Church, Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset, to Laura Cox (no relation to his previous wife). Benjamin enlisted on 20th July 1916 and joined the 1/7th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2289). He was later attached to the 608th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 441327). He served in the UK only. He had medical problems and appeared before a medical board on 15th July 1918. It is possible he was discharged thereafter although no date can be ascertained from the records available. No medal or Silver War Badge records have been found. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Hillbrow, Hillbourne, Poole, Dorset, and was described as a smallholder. His death is recorded in Poole, Dorset, in 1962.

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The National Archives

Henry Coombes

16th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombes

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Alma Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire
India
Gallipoli, Turkey
Baghdad War Cemetery, Iraq
Baghtche PoW Camp, Turkey

Story:
Henry Coombes was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, in 1891, the son of Alfred Coombes and Mary Elizabeth Coombes (née Kingsbury). He lived most of his early life at the family home in The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. His father died in 1901. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 4th April 1910 as a Private (Service No. 8914). He served first at Alma Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire, and then in India. The 2nd Battalion was later transferred to the Middle East where he took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was captured, becoming a prisoner of war on 29th April 1916. The Ottoman Red Crescent advised the allies that he had died in captivity at the PoW Camp, Baghtche, Turkey, on 17th August 1916. His body was later recovered and he was buried at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq, (Grave ref. XXI.B.38). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. No UK memorial record has been found.

Images:

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The National Archives

Charles Whitmarsh

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bath, Somerset
Watchet, Somerset

Story:
Charles Whitmarsh was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th April 1877, the son of Ambrose John Whitmarsh and Maria Whitmarsh (née Lane). He lived his early life in Melbury Abbas. He had served in the Army from 1896 until his discharge on 13th March 1906. During this first period of Military Service he had been in India and had been awarded the India Frontier Medal with two clasps. He married Huldah Amelia Hacker at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd October 1906 and moved to Watchet, Somerset. They went on to have four children. Charles re-enlisted on 21st December 1914 as a Private with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service Nos. 4320 & 8790). While serving in France & Flanders from 13 May 1915 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 3/16372) on 23 Dec 1915; soon after he received a gunshot wound which left him physically unfit for further duty. He was discharged on 2nd April 1918 and eventually awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star together with the Silver War Badge No. 361693. He died in Bath, Somerset, on 29th September 1920. His brother, Sidney Whitmarsh, also served in the conflict and survived, eventually dying in 1936.

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Sidney Whitmarsh
The National Archives

Frederick John Marchant

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Marchant

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Wimborne, Dorset
Cranbourne, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Egypt
The Glebe, Semley

Story:
Frederick John Marchant was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 3rd November 1881 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th January 1882, the son of Henry Thomas Marchant and Elizabeth Marchant (née Burt). His early life was spent with his family at the The Glebe, Semley, Wiltshire. He married Edith King on 9th April 1913 in Holt, Wimborne, Dorset and they went on to have one child.

Frederick enlisted on 27th June 1916 as a Private with the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18657) and attached to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 28 Jun 1916. He reverted back to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 27863) on 22 Aug 1916 and on 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders as a Lance Corporal. His moves continued with one to the 1st (Reserve Battalion) of the Worcestershire Regiment on 27 Jul 1917 (Service No. 48995) then to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 37618) on 17 Oct 1917 at which time he was posted to Egypt. He was assessed with poor eye sight and finally transferred, on 12th March 1918, to the 36th Battery Hospital of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 145481). He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at The Shop, Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Draper and Grocer and by the 1939 Register at The Stores, Cranbourne, Dorset, now described as a Master Grocer as well as being an ARP Warden. He died in the Jan/Mar Quarter of 1961 in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District.

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The National Archives