Essex Regiment Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Ernest Edward Lucas

Surname: Lucas

Other names: Ernest Edward

Locations in this story:
White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Balkans
Melksham, Wiltshire
Wincanton, Somerset
Galhampton, North Cadbury, Somerset

Story:
Ernest Edward Lucas was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th September 1898 and baptised there on 20th Nov 1898. He was the son of Alfred Charles Lucas and Annie Mary Lucas (née Henstridge). He lived all his early life in and around Melbury Abbas. He enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 14487) and served with the 5th Battalion in the Balkans from 16 Oct 1915. He later transferred to the Essex Regiment (Service No. 59134). On his discharge on 8th August 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Mildred Rose Barnes in Melksham, Wiltshire, in 1920. The Census of 1921 shows him living at High Road, Galhampton, Noth Cadbury, Somerst, working as a Farm Labourer. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 4 Penn View, Wincanton, Somerset, and was working as a Builders General Labourer. His wife, Mildred, died in 1962 and he remarried, to Gladys Maud Sims in Wincanton, Somerset, in 1963. Ernest died in Wincanton in 1970.

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Frank Moore

24th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Moore

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bowling Green Farm, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Manston, Nr. Blandford, Dorset
Wimborne, Dorset
Christchurch, Hampshire
Mesopotamia
India

Story:
Frank Moore was born at West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11th October 1883, the son of Harry William Moore and Elizabeth Jane Moore (née Moore). He lived his early life in and around East and West Orchard, Shaftesbury. He married Beatrice Rideout at Manston, Nr. Blandford, Dorset, on 4th February 1903. By 1911 they were living at Bowling Green Farm, East Orchard, Shaftesbury. Frank enlisted on 17th May 1915 and joined the 7th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 14562). He served in Mespotamia from 18 Jun 1916 and later in India from 16 Oct 1916 where he transferred to the 3rd Garrison Battalion of the Essex Regiment on 25th March 1918 (Service No. 33378). He was discharged on 12th January 1920 with a small pension for deafness which was attributable to his service conditions. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals when the 1921 Census shows he had returned to East Orchard. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 'Duncliffe', Christchurch Road, Wimborne, Dorset, and was working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer. His death was recorded at the Christchurch, Hampshire, Registry in 1968. His brothers Arthur Charles and Harry Philip also served in the war.

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Arthur Charles Moore
Harry Philip Moore

William John Farris

9th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps, Yorkshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Farris

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Russia
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

Story:
William John Farris was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd June 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 3rd July 1898, the son of Charles Farris and Celia Jane Hoskins Farris (née Mayo). He lived his early life with the family at 17 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. William enlisted on 2nd June 1916 and served with, in succession, the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Reserve), the Essex Regiment (Service No. 39586) and the Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 33829). He became in time a Lance Corporal and during his time served in France as well as a short period after the armistice in Russia. He was discharged on 3rd July 1919, being physically unfit to serve due to debility and defective vision. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living in Victoria Street, Shaftesbury described as an Engineer working to John Farris & Sons (the local foundry). He married Olive Rachel Hanney in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, in 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 19 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an Agricultural Engineer (Works Manager) as well as being a volunteer with the local Fire Brigade. He died in Shaftesbury on 1st October 1975.

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Frederick Belbin

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Blandford, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick Belbin was born in Blandford, Dorset, on 26th October 1890 and baptised there on 21st November 1890, the son of Harry (or Henry) Belbin and Elizabeth Belbin (née Tucker). By 1901 the family had moved to 11 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Frederick enlisted with the 2/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 201837), later transferring to the 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment (Service No. 59152). 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 married Sarah Ann Dora Stacey in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th July 1919. The 1921 Census shows him living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working as a Painter and Decorator and later by the 1939 Register he was recorded at 'Glencot', Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, still working as a Decorator. His death was registered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 11 Feb 1961 and he was later buried at St. John's Church, Enmore Green on 16 Feb 1961. Of Frederick's brothers, George Reginald Belbin, also served and survived but regrettably both Charles Belbin and William John Belbin died during the conflict.

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George Reginald Belbin

Harold Joseph Garland

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Essex Regiment, Norfolk Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Garland

Other names: Harold Joseph

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Parkstone, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pernes British Cemetery, Pernes-en-Artoir, Pas de Calais, France

Story:
Harold Joseph Garland was born at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1899, the son of George Garland and Caroline Garland (née Baker), a local family. He lived his early childhood in Compton Abbas until, by 1911, his family had moved to Parkstone, Dorset. Harold enlisted with the Norfolk Regiment (Service No. 37331) and later, at the time of his death, was a Private with the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment (Service No. 42717). He was serving in France and Flanders when he died of his wounds on 22nd April 1918 when only 18 years old. He was buried in the Pernes British Cemetery, Pernes-en-Artoir, Pas de Calais, France, (Grave Ref: I.D.10). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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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