Labour Corps Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Gilbert Frank Lodge

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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Cecil James Lodge

Henry John Ransom

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ransom

Other names: Henry John

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Greenwich, London
Mampitts Cottage, Shaftesbury
Cann Common, Shaftesbury

Story:
Henry John Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1874 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 28th June 1874, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans). He lived his early life in and around Cann. He went for work in the Greenwich, London, area and met and married Violet Jane Gaskin Roberts at St. John the Baptist Church, Greenwich, London, on 21st October 1907 and they went on to have one child. He was back in Shaftesbury when he enlisted on 25th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 117595). He served in France and Flanders from 3 Sep 1915 where, on 14th October 1917, he received gunshot wounds to his right arm and right thigh. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 10th February 1918 (Service No. 292865) and served as a Private with the 609th Agricultural Company. He was discharged on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Jasmine Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, working as a Ploughman for J. J. Brickell, (Farmer of East Melbury Farm). By the 1939 Register he had moved to Mampitts Cottage, (near Mampitts Farm), Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was employed as a Carter. He died in 1956 and was buried at The Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 21st January 1956. His brother, Joseph Ransom(e), also served in the conflict with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

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Joseph Ransom

Richard Stacey

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Richard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Richard Stacey was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6th July 1874 and baptised at St. Peter's Church on 6th August 1874, the son of Richard Stacey and Elizabeth Stacey (née Arnold). Apart from his Military Service he lived all his life in the St. James/Alcester area of Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the 642nd Labour Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 190323). There are no evident medal records in this case. By the 1921 Census he was living at 50 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Labourer. By 1931 he was living in the Men's Almshouses, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and, by the 1939 Register, had moved to the Public Assistance Institute, Alcester House, Alcester, Shaftesbury, where he was described as single and an Inmate (General Labourer Retired). His death is recorded at the Dorchester, Dorset, Registry in 1944.

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Walter Adams

7th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Adams

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Efford, Plymouth, Devon
Upper Parkstone, Dorset

Story:
Walter Adams was born at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1888, the son of Albert Adams and Alice Mary Adams (née Feltham), themselves from local families. (All other records indicate that he was born in 1891 but his birth was registered in Shaftesbury in the 4th Quarter of 1888 - mother's maiden name Feltham). He lived his early life in and around Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, until by 1911 his family had moved to Bournemouth, Hampshire. He originally enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment on 26 Feb 1916 as a Private (Service No.17423) but was rapidly transferred to the 12th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Service No. 28964) on 26 Mar 1916 and served with them in France & Flanders. He was transferred again on 9 May 1917 to the Labour Corps (Service No. 116112) and but regrettably died in the UK from pulmonary tuberculosis on 16th August 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The War Graves Commission list his grave at Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery, Efford, Plymouth, Devon, (Grave Ref. Church C. 4890). His mother, then living in Upper Parkstone, Dorset, was granted a limited pension.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William Edward Pike

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pike

Other names: William Edward

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Fordingbridge, Hampshire
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France & Flanders
Latchfield, Hampshire
Christchurch, Hampshire
Deanland, Sixpenny Handley

Story:
William Edward Pike was born at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 16th August 1875 and baptised there on 24th October 1875, the son of Edward Pike and Ann (also known as Hannah) Pike (nee Foot). He spent his early life in Deanland, Sixpenny Handley. He married Eleanor Elizabeth Witt at Fordingbridge, Hampshire, on 31st July 1901 and they set up home at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, from where they went on to have four children. William enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 15th June 1916, joining the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 4099). Within days he had been transferred to the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 40664). On the 20th September 1916 he was again transferred to the 155th Labour Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. (92804). He served in France & Flanders and was eventually discharged on 10th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Around the time of his discharge he made a claim for the effects of Rheumatism, which was partly caused by service conditions, for which he received a 20% pension. The 1921 Census shows him living at Bowers Barn, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Latchfield, Hampshire, still working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker. His death is recorded at Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1960.

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Henry Arthur Oborn

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Oborn

Other names: Henry Arthur

Locations in this story:
Hammersmith, London
Horseshoe Inn, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Crism Cottage, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Arthur Oborn was born in Hammersmith, London, on 2nd June 1882, the son of Arthur Oborn (a Police Constable originally from Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire) and Emily Jane Oborn (née Smith). By 1911 Henry's father had retired and moved back to his birthplace and become landlord of the Horseshoe Inn, Ebbesbourne Wake. Henry married Mabel Young at the Parish Church on 2nd May 1914 and they went on to have four children. Henry enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 3rd June 1916, joining the 13th Works Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2648). He was transferred to the 312th Home Service Works Company of the Labour Corps on 28th April 1917 (Service No. 172906). He served in the UK and was eventually discharged on 15th July 1919. His military record shows he qualified for Medals which would have been the Victory and British War Medals. By the 1921 Census he was back in Ebbesbourne Wake working as a Carpenter and by the 1939 Register had moved to Crism Cottage, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, in the same occupation. He died on the 29th December 1961 in Salisbury, Wiltshire. His brother, Ernest William Oborn, also served for a short time before being discharged as unfit fit further duty. Henry's sister Emily Beatrice (b.1886) also served in the war, with the Voluntary Aid Detachment in a number of military hospitals around the UK.

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Emily Beatrice Oborn
The National Archives

Walter George Bugler

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bugler

Other names: Walter George

Locations in this story:
Winfrith, Dorset
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France

Story:
Walter George Bugler was born in Winfrith, Dorset, on 23rd December 1888 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire on 16th May 1889, the son of Thomas Bugler and Elizabeth Bugler (née Mabey). By 1911 his family had moved to Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire where he married Ellen Louise Scammel on 14th April 1913. They went on to have five children.

He enlisted on 6th November 1914 with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (with whom he had served as a Territorial earlier) as a Private (Service No. 3138 updated to 3730). He was immediately discharged on 7th November 1914 as being medically unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 22nd November 1915 and was accepted into the 13th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 30947). He served in France before being transferred to the Royal Engineers on 1 Jun 1917 as a Sapper (Service No. 308716) then again to the Labour Corps on 27 Jun 1917 (Service No. 98541). He was eventually discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Slate Cottage, Donhead St. Mary, working as a General Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, now working as a Stone Mason. His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, District Registry on 8 Sep 1968 and he was later buried at Donhead St. Mary.

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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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Alfred John Toogood

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Army Service Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Toogood

Other names: Alfred John

Locations in this story:
Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire
Reading, Berkshire
Caversham, Reading, Berkshire

Story:
Alfred John Toogood was born on 16th May 1884 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 13th July 1884, the son of George Levi Toogood and Mary Toogood (née Haines). He lived all his early life at Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 7th April 1916 and joined the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 21463) as a Private. On 30th March 1917 he transferred to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment, Agricultural Company, (Service No. 34284) and again on the 30th June 1917 to the 442nd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 263189). He was transferred yet again to the Motor Transport Section of the Royal Army Service Corps on 1st December 1918 (Service No. M/410835). Throughout this period he served solely in the UK. He was discharged on 17th February 1919. There are no evident medal records though he qualified for at least the British War Medal. By the 1921 Census he was back living with his parents in Gutch Common, Semley, where he assisted his father on the farm. He married Harriet Sarah Kate Trowbridge in Semley in 1929 and they went on to have one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 16 Valentine Crescent, Reading, Berkshire, working as a Road Labourer. He died in Reading on 19th December 1964 and was buried in the Henley Road Cemetery, Caversham, Reading, on 23 Dec 1964.

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Jack Parsons

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Jack

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Wardour, Semley, Wiltshire
Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France & Flanders

Story:
Jack Parsons was born on 21st August 1896 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised on 20th September 1896, the son of Fred Parsons and Emma Maria Parsons (née Gray). He lived his early life in the Semley and Wardour, Wiltshire, area. He enlisted on 15th February 1916 as a Private with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 23671). He served with both the 3rd and 1st Battalions in France & Flanders from 25 Jun 1916. At a medical examination on 29th July 1917 he was found to have defective vision and was transferred to the 447th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 496005) on 9 Aug 1917. He was discharged on 26th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elizabeth Laura Parham at the Zion Hill Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, during in Jan 1921 and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 125 Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and was working as a Roadman for the Wiltshire County Council. He had moved to 9 Doctor's Place, Tisbury, by the time of his death on 19th Oct 1959 which was registered at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry.

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