Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Ernest George Short

Surname: Short

Other names: Ernest George

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Ernest George (sometimes known as George Ernest) Short was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1888, the son of Charles Short and Emma Short (née Stainer). He lived all his life in the Enmore Green and Shaftesbury area apart from when on Military Service. He enlisted as George Ernest Short and joined the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 24768). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1920 at the early age of 32 years.

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The National Archives

Sidney William Coward

16th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Irish Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coward

Other names: Sidney William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Sidney William Coward was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26th December 1882 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 21st January 1883, the son of William Coward and Blanche Sarah Coward (née Hayter), He lived all his life, apart from when on Military Service, in the St. James, Shaftesbury, area. He married Blanche Gray in Shaftesbury on 26th December 1908 and they went on to have one daughter. He enlisted and served as a Private, successively, with 10th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 35868), the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment (Service No. 16167) and the 7th/8th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Service No 44258). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register both show him living at 7 Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Cabinet Maker for G.L. Johnson, Cabinet Makers, of High Street, Shaftesbury. He died at the Odstock Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 12th May 1950 and later buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 17 May 1950.

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The National Archives

Stanley Charles Hunt

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hunt

Other names: Stanley Charles

Locations in this story:
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Stanley Charles Hunt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th November 1889, the son of Charles Hunt (a Seedsman and Ironmonger) and Sarah Hunt (née Wilkins). Apart from Military Service, Stanley lived all his life in Shaftesbury. He married Amy Sarah King in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1915 and they went on to have one daughter. Stanley enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 29245), eventually becoming a Lance Corporal. It is not know in which area he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 29 High Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fruiterer and Greengrocer. By the 1939 Register the address was given as 12 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still a Fruiterer and Greengrocer as well as a Special Constable. His death is recorded in the Sherborne, Dorset, Registry on 27th August 1973. His brother, Percy George Hunt, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives

Douglas Charles Weldon

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Weldon

Other names: Douglas Charles

Locations in this story:
Round House, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Pine Cottages, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Douglas Charles Weldon was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th November 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1887, the son of Charles Weldon and Harriet Madonna Louisa Weldon (née Roberts). He lived all his early life with his family at the Round House (or Toll House), Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the 4th Reserve Battalion and later with the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 202999). It is not known where he served during the conflict but on discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had married Emily Pickford in Shaftesbury in 1917 and they had one son. By the 1921 Census he was living at 1 Pine Cottages, St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Cowman and by the 1939 Register was living at the same address and now employed as a General Labourer. His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1964 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 28 Nov 1964.

Three of Douglas's brothers also served in the war: Edgar Reginald, Montague Wyndham and Victor Stanley.

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Henry John Tuffin

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tuffin

Other names: Henry John

Locations in this story:
The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster Newton, Dorset

Story:
Henry John Tuffin was born in Sutton Waldron on 23rd January 1877 and baptised there on 1st April 1877, the son of Frederick James Tuffin and Sarah Anne Tuffin (née Mullins). He spent all his civilian life in Sutton Waldron. His father died in 1912. He enlisted on 18th November 1915 and was mobilized on 24th March 1916, joining the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 24987). Almost immediately he was transferred with the same Service No. to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry with whom he served in France & Flanders. He was again transferred and attached to the 1039th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps on 6th May 1917 (Service No. 93437). He was discharged on 15th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at his old family home at 17 The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset, working as an Agricultural Labourer. He remained single throughout his life and died in 1967. His death was registered at the Sturminster Newton District Registry, Dorset, and he was buried at Sutton Waldron on 30th November 1967.

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The National Archives

Fred Richard Godden

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Somerset Light Infantry, Training Reserve Battalion /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Godden

Other names: Fred Richard

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Bradford Peverell. Dorset
France & Flanders
Dorchester, Dorset
High Street, Yeovil, Somerset
Sutton, Surrey
Arras, France
Halifax, Yorkshire

Story:
Fred Richard Godden was born on 10th April 1899 at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, the son of William George Godden and Susanna Godden (née Whitmarsh). By 1901 he had moved with his parents to Bradford Peverell, Dorset, where he spent most of his early life. He enlisted on 6th February 1917 but was not mobilized until 7th May 1917 when he joined the 34th/35th Training Reserve Battalion as a Private (Service No. 8/55876). He was later attached to the Somerset Light Infantry (Training Reserve) (Service No. 40987). He was posted to France and Flanders on 3 Apr 1918 and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 9 Apr 1918 (Service No. 38951). He received shrapnel wounds in the hand and chest at Arras, France, on 23rd August 1918 and was hospitalized both in the field and at the Spring Hill Hospital and the St. Lukes War Hospital, both in Halifax, Yorkshire. He was awarded the Military Medal. Regrettably he was eventually discharged on 8th February 1919 being no longer physically fit for service and received a life pension as well as the Silver War Badge No. B.170848. In addition he also recived the Victory and British War Medals. His marriage to Florence Parsons was registered in Dorchester, Dorset, during 1922. There are no known children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 342 High Street, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a road rolling machine driver. He died on 6th October 1993 in Sutton, Surrey, at the age of 94 years.

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The National Archives

Those Who Served on Ebbesbourne Wake Memorial

Fred Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Fred

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Newton, Wiltshire
Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Fred Hardiman was born on 24th January 1879 at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, the son of William Hardiman and Sarah Jane Hardiman (née Moxham). He lived most of his early life in and around Pound Street, Ebbesbourne Wake. He married Priscilla Mary Williams Everett on 11th December 1915 at Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire, and they went on to have one child. Fred enlisted on 25th March 1916 and joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 25191) with whom he saw service in France & Flanders from 7 May 1916. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 9 May 1917 (Service No. 93810) and served with various units with the (Home Service) Employment Company eventually being promoted to Lance Corporal on 17 Oct 1918. He was demobilized on 26th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Labourer. He died on 3rd May 1956 and was buried at St. Andrew's Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

Arthur Eldred Woolfries

6th December 2019/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Northumberland Fusiliers, Somerset Light Infantry, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Woolfries

Other names: Arthur Eldred

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Stroud Farm, Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Arthur Eldred Woolfries was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 9th October 1892 and baptised there on 20th November 1892, the son of Francis Woolfries and Elizabeth Annie Woolfries (née Jeans). He spent much of his early life in and around Farnham. He enlisted on 9th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 8th February 1916 when he joined the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 33851). He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 9th September 1916 (Service No. 21227) then on three other occasions to 10th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry (14th November 1916) (Service No. 33065), the Northumberland Fusiliers (14th July 1917) (Service No. 55155) and finally the 683rd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (20th February 1918) (Service No. 528523). Throughout his military service he was apparently based in the UK. He was finally discharged on 3rd April 1919 and went back to his parents home in Farnham. No medal records have been found in this case. The 1921 Census shows him living with his sister at Sutton Steeple, Arne, Dorset, working as a Farm Labourer. By the 1939 Register he had moved to Stroud Farm, Sturminster, Dorset, and described as a Farmer. He apparently had moved to Meadow Farm, Trinity, Jersey, and was held on the Island following the German Invasion on 10 Jan 1941. He survived this experience but remained single throughout his life and eventually died 13 Mar 1961 back in Farnham, Dorset, being buried there at St. Lawrence Church on 16th March 1961. Of his brothers Edwin Woolfries served but regrettably died at Gallipoli whilst Harry Woolfries and Charles Woolfries both served and survived.

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Harry Woolfries
Edwin Woolfries

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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The National Archives

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