Durham Light Infantry Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick John Coffin

13th July 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Durham Light Infantry, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coffin

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
France & Flanders
Nesle, Peronne, Somme, France
Germany
Bradpole, Dorset
Chideock, Dorset

Story:
Frederick John Coffin was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th May 1893 and baptised there on 6th August 1893, the son of Elizabeth Coffin (no father was mentioned in the records). Elizabeth went on to marry Robert Domoney; thus Frederick gained a step-father. The family lived at The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, throughout his early life. Frederick enlisted on 14th June 1915 and joined the 3/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3893 & 15052). He served in Egypt with the 7th Battalion until 15th January 1917 when he transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 241328) and was posted to France and Flanders. On 25th December 1917 he was again transferred to the 10th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (Service No. 351539). He took part in a battle in the Somme area which commenced on 21st March 1918 and was reported wounded and missing on 26th March 1918 at Nesle, Peronne, Somme, France, only to later be reported as being a Prisoner of War. He served his imprisonment in Germany and was eventually repatriated on 8th December 1918. He was finally discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Hilda May Grinter at Chideock, Dorset, on 5th April 1920 and by the 1921 Census had set up home 'near' The School, Chideock, living with his wife's parents whilst Frederick was noted as an 'Out of Work Agricultural Labourer'. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Olinku Cottage, Chideock, Dorset, and was employed as a Roadman for Dorset County Council. His death was recorded at Bradpole, Dorset, on 20th December 1967 having latterly moved there to live at 1 Court Close, Bradpole. Printed source: "Iwerne Minster Before, During, and After the Great War", edited by P. Anderson Graham, printed for Private Circulation only.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Edward John Gray

16th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Army Pay Corps, Durham Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Edward John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Edward John Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on the 14th August 1889 and baptised there on 6th September 1889, the son of Thomas Gray and Gertrude Eliza Gray (née Stokes). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in Shaftesbury. He married Martha Sharp at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 31st May 1909 and they went on to have three children. He had enlisted for Military Service on 22nd February 1913. The Absent Voters List for 1918 shows his address as 58 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and that he was a Private in the 25th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (Service No. 252230). However other records, namely his pension record, show he had possibly transferred to the Army Pay Corps (Service No. 22339). He was granted a limited pension due to aggravated gastric ulcers and his address was confirmed as 58 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He was discharged on 3rd January 1919 being no long physically fit for service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B146974. There are no other medal records. The 1921 Census shows him at the same address working on his own account as a Boot and Shoe Dealer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Boot and Shoe Maker. He died in Shaftesbury on 13th January 1966.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Henry Stephen Lampard

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Durham Light Infantry, Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lampard

Other names: Henry Stephen

Locations in this story:
Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Egypt
Fovant, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Stephen Lampard was born on 12th February 1888 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of Cicely Lampard. (The name of the father is not known). He lived his entire life, except for the period of military service, at Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew. He married Ella Elsie Mullins at Donhead St. Andrew on 25th March 1913 and they went on to have three children. Henry enlisted on 5th June 1916 and was mobilized on 16th July 1916 when he joined the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as a Private (Service Nos. 5343 & 301369) with whom he served in France & Flanders from 1 Jul 1917 until 7 May 1919. He later transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 55332) and served with them in Egypt guarding a Prisoner of War Camp. Whilst there he suffered from the Influenza pandemic of the time. He at sometime held the rank of Lance Corporal but this is not reflected on his medal records. He was discharged on 20th January 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census gives his address still as Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, working as a General Labourer for the Military at Fovant, Wiltshire. By the 1939 Register was at the same address now a Roadman for the Wiltshire County Council. He died on 26th February, 1963 at Donhead St. Andrew and was buried in the local cemetery.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

William Thomas Brown

7th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Durham Light Infantry, Hussars, Labour Corps, Northumberland Fusiliers, Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: William Thomas

Locations in this story:
Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
France
Railway Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset
Wavering Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
William Thomas Brown was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, on 7th March 1888 the son of Samuel Brown and Clara Brown (née Moore). William lived with his family in Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, until enlisting in the 11th Hussars on 19th March 1906 (Service No. 5872). He was transferred shortly after to the 13th Hussars (Service No. 1177). He qualified as a Private (Shoeing Smith) and served in India. In March 1913 he was placed on Reserve during which time he became a Postman in the Shaftesbury area and married Constance Kate Gray in Gillingham, Dorset, on 10th December 1913. They went on to have four children. At the outbreak of war he was embodied on 5th August 1914 and re-joined his Regiment. On 17th June 1915 he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment (Service No. 3/20836) and posted to France. On the 16th September 1916 he was again transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers (Service No. 1073) and again to the Durham Light Infantry on 12th December 1916 (Service No. 25835). He spent his final few months of service from 30th June 1917 until his discharge (due to being unfit for further duty) on 19th November 1917 in the 378th Home Service Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 165859) and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B156031 and a limited pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals along with the 1914/15 Star. On discharge he went to live at Railway Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset. where, in the 1921 Census, was described as a Blacksmith. By the 1939 Register William and family were living at 10 Wavering Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset, with the same occupation. He died in Gillingham in 1961 and was buried there on 8th July 1961.

Two of William's brothers died in the war: Bertram George (b.1895) died on 4th April 1915 while a prisoner of war in Germany; Obery Archibald (b.1891) was killed in France on 19th March 1917 while serving with the East Kent Regiment. Two more brothers served in the war: Cyril (b.1894) in the Royal Navy and Harry (b.1885) with the Royal Army Service Corps.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Cyril Brown
Harry Brown
Obery Archibald Brown
Bertram George Brown

Gerald Bardsley Taylor

28th December 2017/in 1914-1918 Canadian Infantry, Durham Light Infantry, Leicestershire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Taylor

Other names: Gerald "Jerry" Bardsley

Locations in this story:
Loughborough, Leicestershire
Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Nottingham University
Canada
France
Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France

Story:
Gerald “Jerry” Bardsley Taylor was born in 1886 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He was the son of John William Taylor, a Bellfounder, and Ann Mary Bardsley. His siblings included John "Jack" William (born 1885), Pryce Taylor (born 1891) and Arnold Bradley (born 1894). The family lived at Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough. “Jerry” attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1893 to July 1902. He was captain of the cricket and football teams, and was “Champion Athlete” in 1901 and 1902. After leaving the school he entered Nottingham University and then, in 1905 went to Canada, where he remained until the outbreak of the war.

The Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine reported: “Jerry Taylor enlisted in a Canadian Infantry Battalion (31st Alberta) soon after the war broke out, and went to the front in September, 1915. He soon rose to be a sergeant, and after the Somme offensive in July, 1916, he came home and took a commission in the Leicestershire Regiment.” In 1918 he was allowed to return to Canada to visit his farm for three months. The first fortnight of September was spent in England before he returned to France.

The report continues: “On Sept. 23rd, a neighbouring battalion of the Durham L.I. applied to his regiment for three officers to go “over the top” with them next day. “Jerry” was one of the three selected, and had scarcely crossed the parapet when he was instantaneously killed by machine gun fire. He was a fine all-round sportsman, and after leaving School played regularly for the Loughborough Corinthians F.C. A magnificent figure of a man, full of life and energy, and yet so gentle and affectionate that he was beloved by all. He is the third of his brothers to die in this war, Arnold having been killed in July, 1916, and John in September, 1916, and we offer our very deepest sympathy to his father and family in their terrible losses.”

He died on 24th September 1918 and was buried at the Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

As a former pupil his name was recorded on the Shaftesbury Grammar School war memorial, now in Shaftesbury School. 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 Gerald served and the date and term in which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Gerald's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
 Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1918
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1918
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Shastonian
The National Archives
Arnold Bradley Taylor
Pryce Taylor
John William Taylor