Royal Air Force Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William Alexander Stewart Blucke

29th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Blucke

Other names: William Alexander Stewart

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wandsworth, London
Southwark, London
France & Flanders
Ireland
Hurstpierrepoint Collage, Hassocks, Sussex

Story:
William Alexander Stewart Blucke was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 24th July 1895 and baptised there on 17th August 1895, the son of Dr. Harry Frederick Stokes Blucke and Elizabeth Harriet Blucke (née Collins). He was a pupil at Hurstpierrepoint College, Hassocks, Sussex, from 1909 to 1912. William, whose father was the local Doctor, lived in Donhead St. Andrew for his early years until, by 1911, the family had moved to Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset.

William enlisted on 24th November 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He transferred on 29th June 1918 to the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) as an Observer with the rank of Lieutenant. He served in France and Flanders and on his discharge on 4th November 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was attached for sometime after to the ADRIC (Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary) in Ireland. The 1921 Census shows him visiting his parents at Cann Lodge, Cann. He married Jessica Huxford in 1932 and by the time of the 1939 Register they were living at 27 Christchurch House, Wandsworth, London, he was described as a Company Secretary and Director with a Commission Agent. He died, aged only 47, on 5th May 1943 and was buried at Southwark, London, on 12th May 1943.

His brother, Frederick Charles Blucke, also served in the conflict, with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Frederick Charles Blucke

William George Brickell

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Branksome, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Poole, Dorset
Port Said, Egypt
Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
William George Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th July 1891 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 6th September 1891, the son of James Henry Harry Brickell and Kate Frances Brickell (née Blanchard). He lived his early life in and around Shaftesbury and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he was living at Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury and was a policeman. He had served as a territorial with the 4th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment prior to WW1 in 1911 but he enlisted with the Royal Navy Air Service on 6th Jul 1915 (Service No. F6312) and served on land based duties as an Airship Rigger in France & Flanders (1915 and 1918) and Port Said, Egypt (1916 to 1917). On 31st March 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (Service No. 206312) for military police duties. He was discharged on 20th April 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Ellen Fisher (Widow of William Warrington Whiitaker) in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1938. By the 1939 Register he was living at 62 Redbreast Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as a Retired Police Officer. His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1964.

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The National Archives

Mary Harris

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harris

Other names: Mary

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Mary Harris was born in Shaftesbury in 1896, daughter of Dr. William James Harris and Kathleen Emily Harris née Howe. In 1901 the family were living at 37 Bell Street, but soon moved to "Avishayes" in Bleke Street. The 1903 Kelly's Directory describes Dr. Harris as "surgeon & hon. medical officer to the Westminster Memorial Cottage Hospital, & public vaccinator to the Shaftesbury district & medical officer to the Workhouse." Mary's brother Maurice William Sydney (b.1897) also served in the war, with the Middlesex Regiment.

Mary was living at "Avishayes" when she joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in the Autumn of 1916. She served as a Nurse at the Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and at Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire, until August 1918 when she joined the Headquarters RAF Salisbury for motor driving. The date on which she completed her military service is not known. Research continues.

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Maurice William Sidney Harris
The National Archives

Oenone Grove

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Grove

Other names: Oenone

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
St. Thomas Hospital, London
Mere, Wiltshire
Maida Vale, London

Story:
Oenone Grove was born at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 1st March 1889, the daughter of Sir Walter John Grove, 2nd Baronet, and Agnes Geraldine Grove (née Fox-Pitt-Rivers). She lived a good part of her civilian life at Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire. She joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) on 1st November 1917 and worked as a Nurse at 5th London General, St. Thomas Hospital, London, until 30th May 1918. She left the Detachment to join the Royal Air Force on 21st June 1918 (Service No. 11807) and is understood to have served in the UK only - occupation unknown. She is likely to have been discharged by 1921 when the general stand down came into effect as the 1921 Census shows her living in Flat 4B, 91 Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale, London. She travelled extensively thereafter, frequently going between the UK, Canada and USA. She died on 21st January 1956 (Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District) whilst living at Sedgehill and was buried on 21st January 1956 at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. She remained single throughout her life.

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The National Archives

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

Howard William Highman

2nd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Irish Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Highman

Other names: Howard William

Locations in this story:
Fieldings, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Stour Provost, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Howard William Highman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th January 1897, the son of George Highman and Elizabeth Highman (nee Roberts). He lived at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, up until he volunteered for war service during which time his father had died on 13 Sep 1901. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment (7th Reserve Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 17605). He transferred shortly after to the Royal Irish Rifles (Service No. 10074). Having served in Salonika from 5 Jan 1917. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2nd January 1918 (later the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 138549) and served in Egypt from2 Jan 1918. He achieved the rank of AC1 and remained until demobilized on 21st May 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother still at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working a a Motor Mechanic. He re-enlisted in the RAF (Service No. 138519) on 18th April 1931 and served through until placed on Reserve on 18th April 1939. He had married Florence Amelia Alice Hyde in 1928 (Bournemouth District Register). There were possibly two children of the marriage. The family lived at 12 Fieldings, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1939 Register and, once no longer serving with the RAF, Howard became an Automobile Association Road Patrolman. He died in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December 1976.

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The National Archives

William George Barter

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Barter

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Fulham Military Hospital, London, W.8.
St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Throop Farm, Christchurch, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Hampstead, London
Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
William George Barter was born in 1895 in the registration district of Shaftesbury. He was the son of Frederick Sidney Barter, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Jane Barter (née Sims). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a grocer and living at Throop Farm, near Christchurch, Hampshire. He enlisted at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 66659) and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. Moving from Battery to Battery he was eventually promoted to Bombardier and finished up with the 39th Brigade. On 29th September 1918 he returned to the UK for officer training with the Royal Air Force during which time he held a temporary commission. Shortly after his posting to RAF Flying School he contracted Cerebo Spinal Fever and was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, Dunstans Road, London, W.8. where he died on 16th October 1918. He was buried in the churchyard to the north of St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster (the inscription gives Hampstead as his place of death.)

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Sidney Jukes

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force /by Ann Symons

Surname: Jukes

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
St Mary's Church, East Knoyle
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Sidney Jukes was born on 10th January, 1899 in East Knoyle and baptised there on 12th February, 1899. He was the son of Joseph Jukes, a Farm Carter, and Elizabeth Jukes (née Norris). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted sometime early in 1918 in the Royal Flying Corps (shortly to become the Royal Air Force) and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1st April, 1918. By then he had seen some service in France albeit he had spent time in hospital in Boulogne. Once fit for duty he was posted to the 4th Training Depot, Hooton Park. It was whilst flying over Cheshire on 27th November, 1918 that he was in a flying accident when his aircraft, a Dolphin C4101, had a mid-air collision with an Avro 504 piloted by Sgt. Joseph Buckley. Both men were killed as a result. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Following his death he was buried in the cemetery extension at St. Mary's Church, East Knoyle (grave id. 246). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial as Sydney Jukes.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Robert Bishop Slade

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force /by Ann Symons

Surname: Slade

Other names: Robert Bishop

Locations in this story:
Shawbury Aerodrome, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford, Berkshire
Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury
Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Shorncliff
Oxford
Canada

Story:
Robert Bishop Slade was born on 30th June, 1892 in Aston Upthorp, Wallingford, Berkshire. He was the son of Leonard Gillot Slade, a Farmer, and Maria Slade (nee Bishop). The family lived at Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury. In February, 1911 he sailed for Canada. He enlisted in the 28th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Service No. 73837) on 23rd October, 1914 as a Private. He sailed to England on the SS Northland on 29th May, 1915, and then on to France by the 17th September,1915. On 30th October, 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. on 21st January, 1917 he was transferred to Shorncliff and then on to Oxford where he joined the School of Military Aeronautics on 12th April, 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force on 23rd May, 1917, which date coincided with his discharge from the Canadian Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died at Shawbury Aerodrome, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on 23rd July 1918, following a flying accident when attacked by enemy aircraft. He was buried in the All Saints Churchyard at Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford and is remembered on Wiltshire Roll of Honour. His brother, Brian Benjamin Slade, had enlisted on 21 Dec 1914 but was discharged shortly after on medical grounds.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Thomas Cole

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force /by Ann Symons

Surname: Cole

Other names: William Thomas

Locations in this story:
Blandford
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
The Bank House, High Street, Gillingham
Salisbury Street, Blandford
The Square, Axbridge, Somerset
Wimborne, Dorset

Story:
William Thomas Cole was born in 1897 in Blandford. He was the son of John Cole, a bank manager, and Caroline Jessie Cole (nee Atkinson). Due to the father's employment the family moved around often. In 1901 they were in Salisbury Street, Blandford and by 1911 they had moved to The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, leaving William as a boarder at school in Wimborne. Between then and the death of their son, the family were recorded at The Bank House, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset. William enlisted with the 100th T.R. Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 46016). He later transferred to the Royal Air Force and held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at the time of his death in a flying accident on 23rd October 1918. He was buried to the west of the church at Holy Trinity Churchyard in a private grave.

The Victory and British War medals were sent to his parents at 156 New North Road, Islington, London N1 on 29th May 1923. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives