Labour Corps Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold George Stainer

22nd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Harold George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harold George Stainer was born on the 30th September 1888 in Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised at St. James' Church on 28th October 1888 the son of the George Theodore Stainer and Jane Stainer (née Young). He lived his whole life, apart from during Military Service, in St. James, Shaftesbury. He married Kate Mary King at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 10th September 1914. There are no records of any children.

Harold enlisted on the 7th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 12th March 1917 when he joined the Devonshire Regiment (Labour Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 59879). Shortly after on 9 June 1916 he was transferred to the Labour Corps 3rd Reserve Battalion and was posted to the 303rd Labour Company (Service No. 290276). On the 13th October 1917 he was transferred to the 191 Training Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (which became the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918) (Service No. 104964). He held the rank of Air Mechanic II and was employed as an Aero Rigger. He was discharged, having served the whole time in the UK, on 12th April 1919 as being unfit for further service and received the Silver War Badge No. 7071 and a short lived limited pension. There are no other obvious medal records. The 1921 Census shows him living at 1 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Cabinet Maker and by the 1939 Register he had moved to 18 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, still working as a Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer. He died in Shaftesbury on 1st April 1955 and was buried in St. James Churchyard on 6th April 1955.

Two of Harold's siblings served in the war: Walter Charles (b.1893) with the Royal Field Artillery, and Arthur (b.1896) with the Dorset Yeomanry and Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Walter Charles Stainer
Arthur Stainer

John Proudley

19th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Defence Corps, Royal Scots Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Proudley

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Old Wareham Road, Newton, Parkstone, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tout Hill, Shaftesbury
Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset
Sedgehill, Wiltshire

Story:
John Proudley was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, in 1877, the son of Joseph Proudley and Mary Jane Proudley (née Bown). He lived his early life on Tout Hill, Shaftesbury, until the family had moved to Poole, Dorset, by 1901. He married Maud Phillips (born Bessie Maud Phillips) at Kingstone, Poole, Dorset, on 19th May 1902 and they went on to have five children. John enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was placed on reserve. He was embodied on 14th June 1916 and joined the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 18228). He transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders on 29th January 1917 (Service No. 28048). He was transferred then to the Royal Defence Corps (20th Protection Company) on 27th November 1917 (Service No. 48485). On the 28th June 1918 he was yet again transferred to the 13th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 61567). Finally, on the 4th October 1918 he ended up with the 609th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Final Service No. 670018). Having served his whole time in the UK he was demobilized on 19th March 1919 and went to live at Old Wareham Road, Newton, Parkstone, Dorset. No Medal records have been found though his Active Service form is clearly stamped 'Medal' which indicates he was entitled. The 1921 Census shows he had moved to Dewdrop Cottage, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, working as a Bacon Curer for C & G Prideaux at Motcombe, Dorset. He had later moved to Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, at the time of his death on 1st May 1938 in the Infirmary at Salisbury, Wiltshire.

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George Padfield

17th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wandsworth, London
France & Flanders
Putney, London, S.W.
Battersea, London
Egypt
India
South Africa

Story:
George Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1871 and baptised on 7th January 1872 at St. James' Church, the son of William Padfield and Martha Ann Padfield (née Cross). His father had died in 1886. George lived in the St. James, Shaftesbury, area throughout his early years. He married Elizabeth Howard in Wandsworth, London, during 1899 and they went on to have five children. He had enlisted on 9th January 1899 and served with the 1st (Service No. 2993) and 3rd Battalions (Service No. 3/8458) of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private. He had postings to Egypt, India and South Africa, being awarded various campaign medals. He was discharged after serving 13 years. He re-enlisted on 4th October 1914 and joined the 443rd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 528319). He served in France from 23 October 1914 until 7th August 1917, thereafter in the UK. He was demobilized on 6th March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 census shows him living at 26 Quill Lane, Putney, Surrey, working as a Bricklayer's Labourer, and later moving to 1 Gladwyn Road, Putney, London, S.W. until his death during 1932 in the Battersea, London, Registration District.

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Reginald Nehemiah Love

3rd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Love

Other names: Reginald Nehemiah

Locations in this story:
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hartingdon Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Reginald Nehemiah Love was born in Shaftesbury on 27th August 1884, the son of George Edwin Love and Elizabeth Love (née Lush). The family lived at 3 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. Reginald enlisted on 13th September 1914 with the 126th Company (Horse Transport) of the Army Service Corps as Driver (Service No. T2/10040). He married Beatrice Annie Case on 15th December 1914 in Shaftesbury and she set up home at 95 St. James, Shaftesbury. There are no known children of the marriage. Reginald served only a few months and was discharged on 22nd March 1915 as his services were no longer required. He however re-enlisted on 9th September 1918 and joined the 379th Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 535326). He served on both occasions in the UK only and was eventually demobilized on 22nd March 1919. There are no medal records although this was queried on his Military Records without obvious resolution. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at 18 Hartington Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Milk Tipper on a Milk Farm. He died on 9th October 1978 in Newbridge Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

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James Hunt Imber

28th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment, Hampshire Yeomanry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: James Hunt

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Southampton Lodge, Paulton Ower, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire
Ford New Road, Esher, Surrey
France & Flanders
Calvin Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Totton, Hampshire
Moorside, Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
James Hunt Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th March 1886 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19 April 1886 the son of Frank Imber and Mary Anna Imber (née Hunt) and brother to Mark Imber (b.1879) who died in 1915 while serving with the Household Cavalry in Ireland. They lived at 14 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. James enlisted on 10th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 12th May 1916 when he joined the Hampshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 2220). On 21st December 1916 he transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 33442) and served in France. On 23rd August 1917 he was transferred to the 84th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 629623). He was found to have heart and chest problems occasioned by his service in the field which led to him to receiving a 30% Pension. He was finally discharged on 10th February 1919 being physically unfit for further duty. He gave his address at that time as Southampton Lodge, Paulton Ower, Nr, Romsey, Hampshire - this was a Military Convalescence Hospital. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

He had married Maria Louise Kitcherside in Hampshire on 8th Oct 1918 and they went on to have one child who did not survive her first birthday. The 1921 Census shows him living at 1 Devonia, Totton, Hampshire, working as a Chauffeur and by the 1939 Register had moved to 91 Ford New Road, Esher Surrey, working as a living-in chauffeur. He died on 30th May 1959 at his then home at 20 Calvin Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire, and buried at St. John's Church, Moordown, Bournemouth.

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Mark Imber

Frank Francis

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Rifle Brigade, Royal Surrey Regiment, Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Francis

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hailsham, Sussex
France
Sackville Gardens, East Grinstead, Sussex

Story:
Frank Francis was born at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st September 1888, the son of Frederick Francis and Elizabeth Jane Francis (née Moore). He spent all of his early life in and around East Orchard. He married Ada Chorley at East Orchard on 13th April 1914 and they went on to have two children. Frank enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not embodied until 29th May 1916 when he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5805). He was transferred to the 25th (Reserve) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Service No. 2134) on 26th August 1916 and again to the Royal Surrey Regiment on 5th March 1917 and, finally, to the 443rd Agricultural (134th Labour Company) of the Labour Corps (Service No. 79957). He had served in France from 26 Aug 1916 and was demobilized on 22nd February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1939 Register he and his family had moved to 24 Sackville Gardens, East Grinstead, Sussex, where he worked as a Corn Merchant's Labourer. He died in the Hailsham, Sussex, Registry area in 1963 and was eventually buried at East Orchard, Dorset, on 8 Jan 1963 .

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George Burridge

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Royal Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burridge

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Malta
India
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
George Burridge was born in 1873 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, on 25 Dec 1873 the son of Charles Burridge, a Blacksmith and Farrier, and Agnes Burridge (nee Flower). The family lived in Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. He had originally enlisted on 13th June 1898 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5701) and had served in Malta and India. He was discharged to reserves on 12 Jun 1910. At the outbreak of war he re-enlisted on 26 Aug 1914 with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7652). He was transferred on numerous occasions - 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (S/n 19923), 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (S/n 14683), The Labour Corps (S/n 451361) and finally, the 39th Garrison Company, 43rd (G) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (S/n G/105488). He served in France from 6 May 1915 and received gunshot wounds in July 1916. He was eventually discharged on 23rd February 1917 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave his home address then as Hawkesdene Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, where he was living at the time of the 1921 Census. He had married Ellen Mary Sheridan at Shaftesbury on 13th September 1917 and they had two children. George died on 15th Jun 1924 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19th June 1924. George's brothers, Maurice Burridge and Walter Burridge also served in the conflict in the Royal Navy. A cousin, Percy Albert Burridge, who had been born in Dorchester, Dorset, in 1877 and was also in the Royal Navy, registered the address of the family for the 1918 Absent Voters List and remained so until 1921.

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Percy William Burden

8th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burden

Other names: Percy William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Black House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Yew Tree Farm, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wiltshire
France
Bockner End, Nr. Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Swallowfield, Berkshire
Wokingham, Berkshire

Story:
Percy William Burden was born at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, (registered at Shaftesbury, Dorset) in 1898, the son of Herbert William Burden and Mary Augusta Burden (née Coombes). The family were living at Black House, 2 Sedgehill, Wiltshire in 1901 but had moved away prior to the 1911 Census. Percy enlisted on 25th July 1916 but was not embodied until 14th Feb 1917 when he joined the 93rd Reserve Training Battalion as a Private (Service No. TR/7/7265). After appropriate training he was transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 30005) and posted to France. He was frequently in hospital due to debility and this possibly led him to be transferred to the 77th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 396700) on 5th October 1917. He was demobilized on 9th March 1919 giving has address as Yew Tree Farm, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Minne G. Shackleford in 1936 in the Wokingham, Berkshire, Registry area. It is not known if they had children. By the 1939 Register he was living at Bockner End, Nr. Marlow, Bucks, working as a Cowman on a farm. He died at Swallowfield, Berkshire, in 1967.

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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.

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Cyril Brown
Harry Brown
Obery Archibald Brown
Bertram George Brown

St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Jack Wright Brockway

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brockway

Other names: Jack Wright

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Marylebone, Middlesex
Mere, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France
Salonika, Greece
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
South Wales

Story:
Jack Wright Brockway was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th October 1894 and baptised at St. James' Church on 7th April 1895 the son of Harry Brockway and Kate Brockway (née Wright). The family home was at 3 St. James, Shaftesbury. Jack had moved to South Wales prior to the outbreak of war where he was employed as a miner and it was there on 2 Sep 1914 he enlisted with the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 7/14083). He served in France from 5 Sep 1915 with his Regiment. On 1 Jan 1918 he was transferred to the 983rd Company of the Labour Corps as he was suffering from deformed feet. He was posted to Salonika and based at the 42nd General Hospital. He married Gertrude Elsie Head on 13th October 1918 in Marylebone, Middlesex. They had one child in 1919 who passed away the same year and unfortunately his wife also died in 1920. He was demobilized on 3rd April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at 3 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Blast Furnaceman (Out of Work). He re-married Alice Mary Harris in Mere, Wiltshire, in 1924 and they went on to have seven children. By the 1939 Register the family were living at 39 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. Jack died on 28th October 1971 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 1st November 1971.

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