Labour Corps Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick James Read

Surname: Read

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Meharicourt, France
India

Story:
Frederick James Read was born on 16th January 1871 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of William Read and Selina Read (née Fletcher). He lived in and around East Knoyle for all of his early life including 2 Church Hill. He had enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 21st January 1892 (Service No. 3379). He served in India from 13 Sep 1893 until 15 Dec 1905 until discharged on 5th January 1906. He re-enlisted on 27th April 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14337) as a Private and was immediately attached to the Royal Engineers 14th Labour Battalion. He was transferred on 14th December 1916 to the 11th Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 38395) and served with them in France & Flanders from 9 Feb 1917. During this period he received bomb wounds at Meharicourt, France. Following his recovery he was attached to the Devonshire Regiment (Labour Company) and then to the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 52622). On the 21st November 1917 he returned to the UK and transferred to the Labour Corps (166th Labour Company) followed by the 651 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 99317). He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his brother at The Green, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a General Labourer (out of work). He married Minnie Ayres in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1924 but she regrettably died in 1927. There appear to be no children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register Frederick was living at 17d Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a casual labourer. He died in 1952 in the Blandford, Dorset, Registration District and was buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 29 Feb 1952. (NB. He was registered at birth as Frederick but all later records give his name as Frederick James (the second name could have been added at baptism but no record can be found)).

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Frederick Tom Sharp

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Sussex Regiment, Territorial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Frederick Tom

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Farnham, Dorset
Sussex
Lewes, Sussex
France & Flanders
Egypt
East Chiltington, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Tom Sharp was born at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th May 1894, the son of Tom Sharp and Eliza Emmeline Sharp (née Hibbs). He lived most of his early life at Farnham, Dorset, until moving to Sussex with his family by 1911. His father died in 1914. He enlisted on 15th November 1915 and joined the 2nd/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5/3492). He was posted to France on 22nd April 1916 and almost immediately caught rheumatic fever and had to be sent back to the UK on 24th June 1916 for treatment. Following his recovery he was attached to the 4th Battalion (T.F. Reserve) (Service No. 4/5281) and posted to Egypt on 1 Nov 1916. He was transferred to the 800th Agricultural Employment Company of the Labour Corps on 8th December 1917 (Service No. 361819). He was discharged with a small pension due to the earlier indisposition and also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother at 'Rumara', Malling Street, Lewes, Sussex, working as an Agricultural Engineer. Frederick married Dorothy May Ware on 5 Feb 1924 at East Chiltington,Sussex, and they went on to have one known child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 26 St John Street, Lewes, Sussex, now described as a Fitter and Agricultural Engineer. He died in 1967.

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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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Nathaniel Sidney Stacey

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Middlesex Regiment, Royal Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Nathaniel Sidney

Locations in this story:
Shorts Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Ilfracombe, Devon
Germany

Story:
Nathaniel Sidney Stacey was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 27th May 1887, the son of Samuel and Caroline Stacey. He lived his early life in Shorts Green, Motcombe, Dorset. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 18th May 1916, joining the 35th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (Service No. 151426) but shortly after was transferred on 1st July 1916 to 29th TW Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Service No. 31881). He was transferred yet again to the Labour Corps ('F' Company) and became part of the army of occupation in Germany at the end of the war. He had been promoted to Corporal and was eventually discharged on 22nd September 1920. There is no information about any medals being awarded. He had married Margery Coleman in Ilfracombe, Devon, on 1st February 1916 and they went on to have one child. The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living at 2 Merridan Terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon, working as a Jobbing Gardener. He died in 1971 and was buried in the Marlborough Road Cemetery, Ilfracombe, on 14 Jun 1971.

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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

William Charles Barrett

30th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barrett

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Chettle, Nr. Farnham, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
William Charles Barrett was born on 13th September 1880 in Farnham, Dorset, the son of Joseph Barrett and Eliza Barrett (née Hiscock). He spent most of his life, apart from Military Service, in and around the Farnham area. His father died in 1910. He enlisted on 20th January 1916 but was not mobilized until 10th October 1916 when he joined the 13th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 42126). Within days he was transferred to the 2nd Works Company of the Devonshire Regiment until the 28th April 1917 when he was transferred again to the 311th (Home Service) Labour Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 171979). On the 23rd July 1918 he was again moved, this time to the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 46831). He served his whole time in the UK until being demobilized on 17th March 1919. No medal records can be found in this case. The 1921 Census shows he was living in Chettle, Nr. Farnham, Dorset, living with his widowed mother and working as a House Carpenter. The 1939 Register shows him still living in Farnham, Dorset, as a Carpenter. He died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District during 1968 and was cremated on 27th September 1968 at Salisbury. His ashes were buried in the churchyard of Farnham Church on 24 Oct 1968. He had remained single throughout his life.

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Harry Dennis

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Seaforth Highlanders /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Church Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Nairn, Scotland
Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland

Story:
Harry Dennis was born on 11th November 1884 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 28th December 1884, the son of John Dennis and Ellen Dennis (née Jeffrey). He lived with his family in Church Street, Fontmell Magna, until he enlisted on 6th May 1902 and joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4696). He transferred to the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders on 10th April 1907 and later the 6th Battalion (Service No. 8920). On the 2nd December 1910 he transferred yet again to the 4th Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders (Service No. 899). During this time he had progressed from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He was posted to France at the outbreak of war and on 19th March 1915 was wounded in action and was posted back to the UK with yet another Service No. 200050. On his recovery he joined the 7th Division (Salvage Company) of the Labour Corps as he was considered unfit for field duty (Service No. 222325). He was discharged on 22nd February 1919 and a few days later, on 26th February 1919, married Helen Dunbar in Nairn, Scotland. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1914/15 Star and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. He re-enlisted with the Labour Corps on 9th April 1920 until finally discharged on 8th April 1923. The 1939 Register shows him living at Denson Villa, Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland, described as Laundry Manager (Proprietor). He died in Nairn, Scotland, in 1953.

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Ernest Frank Young

29th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Young

Other names: Ernest Frank

Locations in this story:
Forest Farm, Motcombe, Dorset
Penridge Farm, Penselwood, Somerset
Wincanton, Somerset
Gillingham, Dorset
Ireland
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lodge Farm, Motcombe, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Frank Young was born at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 10th September 1896 and baptised there on 18th October 1896, the son of James Young and Emma Jane Young (nee Ricketts). James Young was a farmer at Forest Farm, Motcombe. Ernest's brother George James (b.1893) also served in the war, with the Dorset Yeomanry. Ernest attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for some of his education. Ernest enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not embodied until 16th May 1918. This delay was possibly due to the fact that his father had died in 1910 and he was needed on the farm. Eventually he was called up to join the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 50565). He joined the 3rd Battalion and served only in either Ireland and the UK at some time holding the rank of acting Lance Corporal. He was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private on 14th October 1918 (Service No. 663120) and was attached to the 609th Agricultural Company. He was demobilized on 20th February 1919. There is no medal record although one of his Service Record forms has a rubber stamp 'Medal' but nothing else. He married Ida Ruth Rose on 22nd June 1920 at the Parish Church in Gillingham, Dorset. They went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows him now living at Lodge Farm, Motcombe, described as a Farmer but by the time of the 1939 Register he has moved to Penridge Farm, Penselwood, Somerset, now described as a Dairy Farmer. His death was recorded at the Wincanton, Somerset, District Registry on 11 Jun 1969.

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George James Young

Walter Edwin Stainer

22nd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Walter Edwin

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jesty's Avenue, Broadwey, Melcombe Regis, Dorset
Weymouth, Dorset
Ireland
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Walter Edwin Stainer was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, on 15th January 1879, the son of Edwin Stainer and Martha Stainer (née Foot). He lived his early childhhood in Cann, Shaftesbury, until the family had, by 1891, moved away from Shaftesbury. Walter married Laura Clare on 31st March 1902 at St.Mary's Church, Melcombe Regis, Dorset, and they went on to have two children. He enlisted on 3rd September 1914 and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2407). He was later transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion (Service No. 200743) and again, on 30th June 1917, to the 512th Home Service Company and the 628th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 285747). He served with the latter unit in Enniskillen and Londonderry, Ireland. He was discharged on 29th March 1919. No medal records can be found under any of the above Service Nos. The 1921 Census shows him living at 5 Louise Road, Dorchester, Dorset, working as a House Decorator. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Jesty's Avenue, Broadwey, Melcombe Regis, Dorset, still working as a House Decorator. He died in Broadway on 21 Jan 1951.

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Harry Walter Stainer

22nd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Territorial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Harry Walter

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harry Walter Stainer was born on 22nd September 1898 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Albert George Stainer and Martha Rosina Stainer (née Warren). The family home was at 9 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury and Harry lived there throughout his life. He enlisted on 21st September 1916 but was not mobilized until 20th August 1917 when he joined the 34th Territorial Battalion as a Private (Service No. 8/20524). He transferred to the 303rd Reserve Labour Company of the Labour Corps on 7th October 1917 and later, on the 17th November 1917, to the 649th Agricultural Company (Service No. 432205) as a Lance Corporal. He was discharged as being physically unfit, by virtue of deformed feet, on 13th March 1919. Whilst no medal record has been found there is an imprint on his Service Records which simply says 'MEDAL' and nothing else. It is assumed he may have received the Victory and British War medals but the index cards are missing. The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was still living at 9 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, with his sister. He was single and working as a Builders Labourer. He died locally in 1962 and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 20 Jun 1962.

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