Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick John Coffin

13th July 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Durham Light Infantry, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coffin

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
France & Flanders
Nesle, Peronne, Somme, France
Germany
Bradpole, Dorset
Chideock, Dorset

Story:
Frederick John Coffin was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th May 1893 and baptised there on 6th August 1893, the son of Elizabeth Coffin (no father was mentioned in the records). Elizabeth went on to marry Robert Domoney; thus Frederick gained a step-father. The family lived at The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, throughout his early life. Frederick enlisted on 14th June 1915 and joined the 3/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3893 & 15052). He served in Egypt with the 7th Battalion until 15th January 1917 when he transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 241328) and was posted to France and Flanders. On 25th December 1917 he was again transferred to the 10th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (Service No. 351539). He took part in a battle in the Somme area which commenced on 21st March 1918 and was reported wounded and missing on 26th March 1918 at Nesle, Peronne, Somme, France, only to later be reported as being a Prisoner of War. He served his imprisonment in Germany and was eventually repatriated on 8th December 1918. He was finally discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Hilda May Grinter at Chideock, Dorset, on 5th April 1920 and by the 1921 Census had set up home 'near' The School, Chideock, living with his wife's parents whilst Frederick was noted as an 'Out of Work Agricultural Labourer'. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Olinku Cottage, Chideock, Dorset, and was employed as a Roadman for Dorset County Council. His death was recorded at Bradpole, Dorset, on 20th December 1967 having latterly moved there to live at 1 Court Close, Bradpole. Printed source: "Iwerne Minster Before, During, and After the Great War", edited by P. Anderson Graham, printed for Private Circulation only.

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Edwin James Fry

22nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fry

Other names: Edwin James

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Edwin James Fry was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 16th March 1879, the son of Charles Fry and Eliza Fry (née Kelly). By the time he was 12 years of age his family had moved to Green Lane, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and he spent the rest of his life in the area apart from his time in the Army. He married Edith Mary West at Ashmore in 1899. He enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2484) and later transferred to the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 202886). He transferred again to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 495986) and was discharged from their service on 6th March 1919 having been declared unfit for further duty due to arthritis and rheumatism (both attributable to his service) for which he received a pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Noad Street, Ashmore, working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker. Regrettably his wife died on 14 Oct 1932 and by the time of the 1939 Register he had remarried Elsie Charlotte Ransome at Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26 Mar 1939 and were living at Freak's Coppice, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, Edwin being described as a Forestry Worker. He died in Ashmore in 1962 and was buried there on 15th February 1962.

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Robert Beman Minchin

30th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Minchin

Other names: Robert Beman

Locations in this story:
Hazelton, Gloucestershire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Horsham, Sussex
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Widford, Essex

Story:
Robert Beman Minchin was born at Hazelton, Gloucestershire, on 20th November 1892 and baptised there on 8th January 1893, the son of William Beman Minchin and Helen Emmitt Minchin (née Tayler). He spent his early life in Hazelton where his father was a Farmer. In 1907 he became a pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School where he thrived academically and represented the school at football, cricket and athletics competitions. In 1911, having completed his education as a pupil, he joined the teaching staff at the school.

Mr. Minchin enlisted at the outbreak of war in 1914 and joined the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private (Service Nos. 2765 and 200702). He served in France and Flanders from 29 Mar 1915 during which time he transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 30 Jun 1917 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant later as a full Lieutenant. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He resumed his career at Shaftesbury Grammar School and, on 20th March 1921, married May Doris Jeffreys at St. Mary's Church, Widford, Essex, and, per the 1921 Census, lived at Vale View, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. There were two children of the marriage before May died on 15 Dec 1925. Robert subsequently went on to remarry Vivien Florence Fraser Scott on 1st August 1935 at St. Saviour's Church, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. They also had two children. By the time of the 1939 Register, Robert was living at Shaftesbury Grammar School and was now the Headmaster. His death is recorded in Horsham, Sussex, in 1971.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Robert Minchin served and the date on which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

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Shastonian

Albert Edwin Littlewood

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Royal West Kent Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Littlewood

Other names: Albert Edwin

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Newmarket, Cambridgeshire
France & Flanders
Tenterden, Kent
Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire

Story:
Albert Edwin Littlewood was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 25th September 1893 and baptised there on 11th November 1893, the son of George Hutton Littlewood and Elizabeth Littlewood (nee Harrison). He lived all his early life in Donhead St. Andrew. His mother died in 1909. He enlisted on 11th September 1914 and was mobilized on 4th November 1914, joining the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service Nos. 2328 & 265664). He served in France and Flanders from 29 Mar 1915 and rose to the rank of Corporal. Around 13 Oct 1917 he received a gunshot wound to the chest and was admitted to the 18th General Field Hospital being sent back to the UK for treatment. He returned to France on 30 Mar 1918 and transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment on 1st Apr 1918 (Service No. 207993) and eventually discharged on 10th March 1919 as being permanently disabled and granted a 30% pension. He was awarded the Military Medal per a note on his record dated 1 Jun 1919. He received the Silver War Badge No. B166224 and was also awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed father at Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, working as a Gardener. He married Lilian Nesta Bowman in Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, on 22nd December 1923 at the Parish Church. They went on to have one daughter. By the 1939 Register he was living at Unity Cottages, Tenterden, Kent, and was still working as a gardener in private service. He died on 19th September 1967 in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.

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Reginald Southgate

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Southgate

Other names: Reginald

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Landsley Farm, Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Knaphill, Woking, Surrey
Honiton, Devon

Story:
Reginald Southgate was born at Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 21st November 1899 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 2nd June 1901, the son of Ernest Southgate and Sarah Sally Southgate (née Dawson). (Reginald's elder brother, Ernest Harold Southgate, was baptised on the same day and also served in the war.) Reginald lived most of his early life at Landsley Farm, Higher Coombe. He enlisted on 27th December 1917 and joined the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 30521). He later transferred to the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars on 29th March 1918 (Service No. 67043). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 10th February 1919. There are no medal records. By the 1921 Census he had returned to Higher Coombe and was working as a Plumber & Fitter for S. Humphries & Son, Shaftesbury. Reginald married Florence Mahalia Bennett at Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, in 1923 and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 34 Herbert Crescent, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, working as a Wholesale Dairy Producer. He died in the Honiton, Devon, Registry District in 1982.

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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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Edwin John Durrant

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Durrant

Other names: Edwin John

Locations in this story:
Stourton Caundle, Dorset
France & Flanders
Merville Communal Cemetery, Merville, Pas de Calais, France
Shaftesbury Road, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Edwin John Durrant was born in 1895 in Stourton Caundle, Dorset. He was the son of James Arthur Durrant, a carter on a farm, and Isabella Durrant (née Williams). His father died in 1907 and was buried at East Knoyle on 20th October, 1907. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Shaftesbury Road, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1978). He later transferred to the 2nd/1st Bucks Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (New Service No. 5416). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War War medals. He died of wounds on 20th July 1916 and was buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, Merville, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. XI.A.37). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His mother died in 1919. His brother, Sidney Frank Durrant, also served in the conflict but survived.

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Nicholas Weatherby Hill

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hill

Other names: Nicholas Weatherby

Locations in this story:
Weeke, Winchester
France & Flanders
Courcelette British War Cemetery, Somme, France
St. Andrew's Church, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Winchester College, Winchester, Hampshre
Donhead Cottage, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire

Story:
Nicholas Weatherby Hill was born on 7th August, 1896, in Weeke, Winchester, Hampshire. He was the son of Henry Leonard Gauntlett Hill, an Architect, and Mary Hill (née Weatherby). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and a student boarding at Winchester College, Winchester, Hampshire, where he attended from 1909 to 1915. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and at the time of his death held the rank of Lieutenant (Acting Captain). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 just a few months before his death as well as the Victory and British War medals. He was killed at Courcelette by shell fire whilst on his way to the trenches on 16th January 1917 and was buried at Courcelette British War Cemetery, Somme, France (grave id. I.D.13). He is remembered on a brass tablet and wooden cross inside St. Andrew's Church at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, also on the Winchester College War Cloister, Area F.1. His parents were living at Donhead Cottage, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, at the time.

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Names on Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial 01

Ernest Henry Lawes

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Lawes

Other names: Ernest Henry

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew
France & Flanders
Anneux British Cemetery, Nord, France
West End, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Reading
Cambrai
Flot Farm Cemetery, Marcoing,

Story:
Ernest Henry Lawes was born on 6th January, 1899 in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and baptised in the Parish Church on 5th February, 1899. He was the son of Henry Lawes, a General Mason, and Julia Lawes (née Cross). He was registered for admission to Donhead St. Andrew C of E School in 1902. At the time of the 1911 Census he was still at school but also working as a Grocer's Errand Boy and living at West End, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire.

He enlisted in Reading as a Private and joined the 4th Reserve Battalion of the Oxfordfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 30249). During his time in the army he served with the 2nd/4th Battalion and finally the 2nd Battalion. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed at Cambrai on 1st October 1918 and interred along with 33 other members of the Battalion in one grave in the Flot Farm Cemetery, Marcoing. Following the Armistice his body along with all the others was re-interred at the Anneux British War Cemetery, Nord, France (grave id. III.D.17). He is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial.

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