Kings Royal Rifle Corps Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Cecil James Lodge

Surname: Lodge

Other names: Cecil James

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Westcliff on Sea, Essex
Glenside, Hailsham, Sussex
France & Flanders
Heathfield with Waldron, Sussex

Story:
Cecil James Lodge was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th February 1888 and baptised there at St. Rumbold's Church on 13th May 1888, the son of James Lodge and Emily Elizabeth Lodge (née Brickell). He lived his early life in Cann until, by 1911, he had moved with his family to Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted and joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 240) and served in France and Flanders. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as a Sergeant (Service No. 13393). On his discharge 12 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had married Barbara Emily Longman Hodgson at St. Alban the Martyr Church, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, on 4th September 1915 and they had three children. By the 1921 Census he was living at 17 East Melbury, Shaftesbury, working as a Farm Carter. Regrettably Cecil's wife died in 1934. He subsequently married Edith Mary Rumary at All Saints Church, Glenside, Hailsham, Sussex, in 1937 and they had one daughter. By the 1939 Register he was living at Dumbreck, Hailsham, Sussex, working as a Cowman. He died at Hailsham on 28th October 1962 and was buried at Waldron with Heathfield, Hailsham, Sussex, on 31 Oct 1962. His brother, Gilbert Frank Lodge (b.1893) also served in the conflict.

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Gilbert Frank Lodge
The National Archives

Gilbert Frank Lodge

1st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lodge

Other names: Gilbert Frank

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Walthamstow, Essex
Waltham Forest, London
Chingford, Essex
Wealdstone, Middlesex
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Gilbert Frank Lodge was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th November 1893, and baptised there on 18 Mar 1894 the son of James Lodge and Emily Elizabeth Lodge (née Brickell). He lived his early life in Cann and later at Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted and joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 7136). He served with them in France and Flanders from 30 Jul 1915 where he became a Lance Corporal. He later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 447954) as a Corporal. On his discharge on 4th March 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 census gives his address as Cann Common, Shaftesbury, where he worked as a Cowman. He married Violet May Crumpton at St. Saviour's Church, Walthamstow, Essex, on 25th June 1921. They went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 28 Burnham Road, Chingford, Essex, working as a Carpenter and Joiner. He died in the Waltham Forest Registry area on 13 Jul 1974. His brother, Cecil James Lodge (b.1888) also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives
Cecil James Lodge

Frederick John Bown

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Guards Machine Gun Regiment, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bown

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Blandford, Dorset
France
Gigant Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick John Bown was born on 13th March 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Frederick John Bown and Ellen Bown (née Wareham). The family lived at 8 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, moving, by 1911, to Park Road, Blandford, Dorset. Frederick enlisted on the 23rd February 1916 and joined the Royal Flying Corps eventually holding the rank of Corporal (Service No. 23420). On 23rd March 1918 he was compulsorily transferred to the 6th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 46196) quickly followed by a further transfer to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Guards Machine Gun Regiment (Service No. 2155) finally holding the rank of Sergeant. Whilst with the RFC he had served in France; otherwise he was based at home except for a short period from 27 Jun 1918. He was demobilized on 18th July 1919 and took up residence at 161 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. By the 1921 Census he was shown living with his parents at 159 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, described as a Motor Garage Proprietor He married Violet Annie Courtney in 1925 and they went on to have three children. By the 1939 Register the family had moved to 125 Gigant Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he was employed as a Motor Engineer. He died in Salisbury on 16th January 1970.

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The National Archives

Reginal Charles John Head headstone, Donhead St. Andrew

Reginald Charles John Head

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Head

Other names: Reginald Charles John

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Northamptonshire War Hospital, Duston, Northamptonl
St. Andrew's Church, Donhead St. Andrew
Lowndes Square, Chelsea, London
Ludwell, Wiltshire

Story:
Reginald Charles John Head was born in 1898 in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and was baptised there on 16th October, 1898. He was the son of William and Thirza Jane Head (née Biddiscombe). His father died in 1905 and in 1907 his mother remarried a Reginald Andrews and they set up home at Birdbush, Ludwell, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, and living in Ludwell but by 1917 was working as an Indoor Servant and living at 43 Lowndes Square, Chelsea, London. He enlisted in London on 3rd March, 1917, as a Private and joined the 19th Training Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. TR/13/14596 (later shortened to 14596)). At the time of his death his mother was living at The Rambler, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He contracted Lobar Pneumonia and died in the Northamptonshire War Hospital, Duston, Northampton, on 8th April 1917 and was buried in the north-west part of St. Andrew's churchyard, Donhead St. Andrew. He is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial. His brother, William Frederick George Head, also served in the war and survived.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
William Frederick George Head

Henry Steel

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Steel

Other names: Henry (Harry)

Locations in this story:
Bromley, Kent
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Ash Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury
Woodside, Surrey
Stroud Road, Croydon, Surrey

Story:
Henry Steel was born in 1894 in Bromley, Kent. He was the son of Edwin George Steel, a market gardener, and Elizabeth Mary Steel. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was living at Ash Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Croydon, Surrey, on 18th July 1915 as a Rifleman joining the 18th (Service) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. C//6415). At the time of his enlistment he gave his address as 16 Stroud Road, Woodside, Surrey. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 15th September 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier & Face 13A and 13B). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Frederick Miller

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Miller

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Whitfield, Northants
France & Flanders
Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension, Mesnil, Somme, France
Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Miller was born in 1899 in Whitfield, Northants. He was the son of Frederick Nichols Miller, a Grocer, and Edith Miller (nee Hedges). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants. He enlisted in Coventry (giving Shaftesbury, Dorset, as his residence) as a Private in the 35th T.R. Battalion of the Dorsethsire Regiment (Service No. 31498). He later transferred as a Rifleman to the 1st Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (New Service No. 44994). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 1st April 1918 and buried at Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extn., Mesnil, Somme, France (grave id. II.C.14). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His personal effects were eventually sent to his father.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Bertram George Brown

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Brown

Other names: Bertrand "Bertram" George

Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Hamburg Cemetery, Germany
Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne, Dorset
Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Bertram Brown was born in 1895 in Cann and his name was registered as "Bertrand George Brown". He was the son of Samuel Brown, a miller's labourer, and Clara Brown (née Moore) who died in 1899. The family lived at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1911 Census he had left home and had become known as "Bertram". He was single, working as a dairyman on a farm, Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne and was living at the home of the owner, Frederick Sheppard.

He enlisted in Dorchester as a Rifleman in the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles Corps (Service No. 11140). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War medals. He died as a Prisoner of War on 4th April 1915 in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In 1923 his body was transferred to Hamburg Cemetery (grave id. I.G.9). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His father, Samuel, sadly died in 1917 leaving Bertram's brother Frederick as his representative.

One of his brothers, Obery Archibald (b.1891) also died in the war on 19th March 1917 while serving with the East Kent Regiment in France. Three other brothers also served in the war: Harry (b.1885), William Thomas (b.1888) and Cyril (b.1894)

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Obery Archibald Brown
Cyril Brown
William Thomas Brown
Harry Brown