Dorsetshire Regiment Archives - Page 9 of 23 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick James Read

Surname: Read

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Meharicourt, France
India

Story:
Frederick James Read was born on 16th January 1871 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of William Read and Selina Read (née Fletcher). He lived in and around East Knoyle for all of his early life including 2 Church Hill. He had enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 21st January 1892 (Service No. 3379). He served in India from 13 Sep 1893 until 15 Dec 1905 until discharged on 5th January 1906. He re-enlisted on 27th April 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14337) as a Private and was immediately attached to the Royal Engineers 14th Labour Battalion. He was transferred on 14th December 1916 to the 11th Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 38395) and served with them in France & Flanders from 9 Feb 1917. During this period he received bomb wounds at Meharicourt, France. Following his recovery he was attached to the Devonshire Regiment (Labour Company) and then to the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 52622). On the 21st November 1917 he returned to the UK and transferred to the Labour Corps (166th Labour Company) followed by the 651 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 99317). He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his brother at The Green, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a General Labourer (out of work). He married Minnie Ayres in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1924 but she regrettably died in 1927. There appear to be no children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register Frederick was living at 17d Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a casual labourer. He died in 1952 in the Blandford, Dorset, Registration District and was buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 29 Feb 1952. (NB. He was registered at birth as Frederick but all later records give his name as Frederick James (the second name could have been added at baptism but no record can be found)).

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The National Archives

Henry Frank Wilkins

6th December 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wilkins

Other names: Henry Frank

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Chickerell, Dorset
France & Flanders
Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium
Milborne St. Andrew, Blandford, Dorset.
Camberwell, London
Abingdon, Berkshire

Story:
Henry Frank Wilkins was born in Farnham, Dorset, in 1887 and baptised there on 19th June 1887, the son of Henry Wilkins and Julia Wilkins (née Mills). He lived his early years in and around Farnham, Dorset. He married Emily Ethel Harborne at St. Bartholemew's Church, Camberwell, London, on 5th March 1910 and they set up home at Chickerell, Dorset. They went on to have two children. Due to lack of military records it is not known when Henry enlisted for service but he was in France and Flanders as a Private with the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 29739) when he died of wounds on 10th July 1917 in Belgium. There is a note that he had previously been with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 15107). He was buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium. (Grave Reference l.B.15). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. the 1921 Census shows his wife living at Little England, Milborne St. Andrew, Blandford, Dorset, and Henry's name appears on the Village War Memorial there. By the 1939 Register his wife was living in Abingdon, Berkshire, and she died there in 1948.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Albert Bennett

5th December 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bennett

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Brighton, Sussex.
Deanland, Nr. Wimborne, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Albert Bennett was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 19th February 1878 and baptised there on 17th April 1878, the son of Charles Bennett and Anne Bennett (nee Woodford). Whilst the family moved around the area during his early years he was mainly associated with the Farnham area. He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1905 but had bought himself out within a few days of joining. He again enlisted on 6th December 1915 and joined the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/160362) serving with the 128th Company. On the 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 16th Reserve Regiment of the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 220813) and posted to France on 14 May 1918. He was taken ill in France and invalided back to the UK on 30 Jan 1919 spending some time in the Brighton War Hospital, Sussex. He was demobilized on 28th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows he had returned to Farnham and worked as a Farm Labourer and that by the 1939 Register he had moved to Deanland, Nr. Wimborne, Dorset, now working as a Contractors Labourer. His death was recorded at the Blandford, Dorset, Registry in 1947 and he was buried at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 5th May 1947.

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William Charles Barrett

30th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barrett

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Chettle, Nr. Farnham, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
William Charles Barrett was born on 13th September 1880 in Farnham, Dorset, the son of Joseph Barrett and Eliza Barrett (née Hiscock). He spent most of his life, apart from Military Service, in and around the Farnham area. His father died in 1910. He enlisted on 20th January 1916 but was not mobilized until 10th October 1916 when he joined the 13th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 42126). Within days he was transferred to the 2nd Works Company of the Devonshire Regiment until the 28th April 1917 when he was transferred again to the 311th (Home Service) Labour Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 171979). On the 23rd July 1918 he was again moved, this time to the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 46831). He served his whole time in the UK until being demobilized on 17th March 1919. No medal records can be found in this case. The 1921 Census shows he was living in Chettle, Nr. Farnham, Dorset, living with his widowed mother and working as a House Carpenter. The 1939 Register shows him still living in Farnham, Dorset, as a Carpenter. He died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District during 1968 and was cremated on 27th September 1968 at Salisbury. His ashes were buried in the churchyard of Farnham Church on 24 Oct 1968. He had remained single throughout his life.

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Charles Imber

21st November 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Staffordshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Malta
Crete
South Africa
Gibraltar
Highbury, London
Harbour Hill Road, Poole, Dorset
Litchfield, Staffordshire

Story:
Charles Imber was born on 31st January 1875 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 28th February 1875, the son of Harry Imber and Marian Hodder Imber (née Flood). He lived with his parents in Semley and later on Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He trained as a Tailor which came in useful during his military career. Charles enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 7th January 1895 (Service No. 4607). He served in Malta, Crete, South Africa and Gibraltar, during which time he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (5 Clasps), the King's South African Medal (2 Clasps) and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He had married Susannah Grummitt at Christ Church, Highbury, London, on 18th February 1905 and they went on to have six children. He was transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment on 15th December 1915 (Service No. SS8506). He held the rank of Sergeant Tailor, serving in the UK. He took his full pension on 7th January 1917 but was not discharged until 3rd December 1919 when his term of engagement had terminated. He was awarded the British War Medal. The 1921 Census shows him living at the Council Cottage, Botany Bay, Litchfield, Staffordshire, working as a Tailor but by the 1939 Register he had moved to 12 Harbour Hill Road, Poole, Dorset, now described as a Master Tailor (Army Retired) and as an ARP Warden. He died in Poole on 5th September 1952.

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Harry Dennis

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Seaforth Highlanders /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Church Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Nairn, Scotland
Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland

Story:
Harry Dennis was born on 11th November 1884 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 28th December 1884, the son of John Dennis and Ellen Dennis (née Jeffrey). He lived with his family in Church Street, Fontmell Magna, until he enlisted on 6th May 1902 and joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4696). He transferred to the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders on 10th April 1907 and later the 6th Battalion (Service No. 8920). On the 2nd December 1910 he transferred yet again to the 4th Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders (Service No. 899). During this time he had progressed from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He was posted to France at the outbreak of war and on 19th March 1915 was wounded in action and was posted back to the UK with yet another Service No. 200050. On his recovery he joined the 7th Division (Salvage Company) of the Labour Corps as he was considered unfit for field duty (Service No. 222325). He was discharged on 22nd February 1919 and a few days later, on 26th February 1919, married Helen Dunbar in Nairn, Scotland. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1914/15 Star and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. He re-enlisted with the Labour Corps on 9th April 1920 until finally discharged on 8th April 1923. The 1939 Register shows him living at Denson Villa, Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland, described as Laundry Manager (Proprietor). He died in Nairn, Scotland, in 1953.

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Richard William Brown

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: Richard William

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire
Dorchester, Dorset
Pennington, Neasr Lymington, Hampshire

Story:
Richard William Brown was born in Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886 and baptised there on 22nd August 1886, the son of Frederick Brown and Emily Brown (née Mullens). He lived his early life in and around Sutton Waldron and Fontmell Magna, Dorset. He enlisted as a Territorial Reservist with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1985) prior to the outbreak of war gaining experience of Field Hospitals. He married Grace Lilian Herbert at Lower Stratton, Wiltshire on 4th December 1912 and they went on to have two children. He was mobilized on 14th June 1915 with the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) (Service No. 88407) and joined the 77th Field Ambulance serving in France on 14 Jun 1917. He received a gun shot wound in the left thigh on 25th May 1918 and was repatriated to the UK on 26th July 1918, receiving treatment in various military hospitals until 2nd January 1919. He was discharged on 8th March 1919 and gave his address as 12 Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals plus a limited pension. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living in Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, (or Stratton St. Margaret), Highworth, Wiltshire, and was described as a Pattern Store Manager (GWR). He died in the Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, on 5 Oct 1963 having been previously living in Pennington, Near Lymington, Hampshire.

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Herbert Alford

29th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Herbert

Locations in this story:
The Street, Motcombe, Dorset
Guillemont, France
Kinson, Wallis Down, Bournemouth, Dorset
Axbridge, Somerset
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
Herbert was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 28th August 1890, the son of Sidney Herbert Alford and Clara Jane Alford (née Marshall). He lived with his family in The Street, Motcombe. By 1911 he was boarding in Kinson, Wallis Down, Dorset, where he married Elsie Mary Maud Williams at St. Andrews Church, Kinson, on 5th June 1911. There were three children of the marriage. He enlisted on 9th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 12th April 1916 when he joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 17410). He served in France and Flanders from 26 Jul 1916 and Whilst serving at Guillemont, France, he received a Shell Shrapnel Wound in the left foot on 3th September 1916. He was repatriated to the UK on 9th September 1916, at the same time transferring to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 31636). He was admitted to the B178 Military Hospital on 10th September 1916 where he remained until 5th January 1917. The medical report after his recovery indicated that his foot was now deformed and pieces of shrapnel remained embedded. He was declared unfit for further service and discharged with a limited period pension on 16th March 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as Silver War Badge No. 145625. The 1921 Census shows him living in Canford Road, Kinson, Bournemouth, working as a Firewood Merchant. By the 1939 Register he moved to Sunny Mead, Axbridge, Somerset, working as a gardener. According to family records he died during 1954 in the Devizes, Wiltshire, area. Of his brothers, James Alford and Bertie Alford, both served and survived the conflict.

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Austin Henry Young

29th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Young

Other names: Austin Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster, Dorset
India

Story:
Austin Henry Young was born on 3rd June 1885 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Henry Young and Martha Young (née Critchell). The family lived continuously at 26 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. Austin's younger brother Philip James (b.1889) was killed on 28th October 1918 while serving with the Devonshire Regiment in France. Austin enlisted on 7th September 1914 and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private (Service No. 2544). He served in India until he was discharged on 27th April 1915. Austin re-enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was allotted to the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 22184). His mother regrettably died in 1915. However he was not embodied until 29th February 1916 when he was instructed to join the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 27558). He served with them in France form 14 Jan 1917 and whilst on duty received a severe injury to his foot on 23rd April 1917. He was eventually transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps on 10th July 1918 and joined the General Headquarters Mechanical Transport Company (Service No. T/419350). He was demobilized on 23rd August 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On the day of his discharge he applied for the position of Gardener's Labourer at a War Graves Commission site in France but there is no indication that he was successful. The 1921 Census show him living at 26 Salisbury Street with his widowed father described as a House Painter (out of work) and by the 1939 Register he was still living in Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, now described as Incapacitated. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, District Registry in 1955 and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 24 Feb 1955.

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Philip James Young
The National Archives

Reginald Harry White

28th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: White

Other names: Reginald Harry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Charlton, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
St. James Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Reginald Harry White was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th June 1897, the son of Charles Henry White and Thirza White (née Mayo). He spent his early years with the family at 68 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. His father died in 1911. Reginald enlisted on 13th November 1915 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 15792). He served in France from 24 Feb 1916 variously with the 3rd, 7th and 6th Battalions and in October 1917 received severe Gas Burns following which he was transferred back to the UK for treatment. It is also noted he also frequently suffered from Trench Foot. He returned to France on 16th July 1918 but was eventually discharged on 1st March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

His brother Frank (b.1885) died on 4th October 1917 while serving with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Flanders. The 1921 Census shows Reginald living with his widowed mother at 53 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Painter. Reginald married Emma Elizabeth Stone in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration area in 1924 and they went on to have one son. By the 1939 Register he is shown living at 5 Council Houses, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, now described as a Builder's Painter. He died in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1970 and buried at Charlton, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.

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Frank White