Royal Army Service Corps Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Albert Kiddle

Surname: Kiddle

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Alverstoke, Hampshire
Gosport, Hampshire
Rugby, Warwickshire

Story:
Albert Kiddle was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 14th May 1894, the son of James Kiddle and Rose Kiddle (née Whitlock). He lived most of his early life around Farnham and Sixpenny Handley, Dorset. He enlisted on 15th April 1915 and joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M2/077250). He served in France and Flanders from 1 May 1915 where he contracted malaria in June 1916. This led to him receiving a small pension in due time. The effects of the disease were still evident from various medicals received up until 1923. He was demobilized on 29th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows he him boarding at 146 Railway Terrace, Rugby, Warwickshire, where he had obtained employment as a Motor Driver for a local firm. He married Dorcas Emily Miller in 1923 at Alverstoke, Hampshire. They went on to have four children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 10 Whitworth Road, Gosport, Hampshire, and was working as a Bus Driver. He died in Gosport in 1973. His brother, Harry James Kiddle, also served in the conflict but suffered greatly after his discharge.

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George James Harrison

Surname: Harrison

Other names: George James

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Gussage St. Michael, Wimborne, Dorset
Holt, Dorset
Germany
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Gussage All Saints, Dorset

Story:
George James Harrison was born in Farnham, Dorset, in 1880 and baptised there on 13th June 1880, the son of James George Harrison and Sarah Ann Harrison (née Parsons). He lived much of his life in and around Farnham and Gussage St. Michael, Dorset. He married Jane Barnes Cole at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 30th September 1902 and they went on to have five children. Sadly Jane, though in trouble with the law herself, died on 11th November 1918 whilst in an Isolation Hospital. George had enlisted on 21st December 1914 and joined the 206th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) as a Driver (Service No. T4/038896). He served in France and Flanders from 13 Aug 1915 where, at some stage, he received shrapnel wounds which eventually led him to receiving a small pension. He also served as part of the occupying forces in Germany and was eventually discharged on 20th June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He re-married Mabel Annie Burden on 18th May 1920 at Holt, Dorset, and they had four children. The 1921 Census shows him living in Gussage All Saints, Dorset, where he worked as a Carter on a farm. George died at the age of 56 years at Gussage All Saints on 14th April 1936.

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Albert Bennett

5th December 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bennett

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Brighton, Sussex.
Deanland, Nr. Wimborne, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Albert Bennett was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 19th February 1878 and baptised there on 17th April 1878, the son of Charles Bennett and Anne Bennett (nee Woodford). Whilst the family moved around the area during his early years he was mainly associated with the Farnham area. He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1905 but had bought himself out within a few days of joining. He again enlisted on 6th December 1915 and joined the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/160362) serving with the 128th Company. On the 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 16th Reserve Regiment of the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 220813) and posted to France on 14 May 1918. He was taken ill in France and invalided back to the UK on 30 Jan 1919 spending some time in the Brighton War Hospital, Sussex. He was demobilized on 28th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows he had returned to Farnham and worked as a Farm Labourer and that by the 1939 Register he had moved to Deanland, Nr. Wimborne, Dorset, now working as a Contractors Labourer. His death was recorded at the Blandford, Dorset, Registry in 1947 and he was buried at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 5th May 1947.

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Bartley Hiscock

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hiscock

Other names: Bartley

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lambeth, Surrey
Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire
India
Mesopotamia
Manor Farm, East Stour, Dorset

Story:
Bartley Hiscock was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 3rd July 1881 and baptised at the Methodist Chapel, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st August 1881, the son of Albert Hiscock and Sarah Hiscock (née Bartley). During his early life he lived with his family at Manor Farm, East Stour, Dorset. He moved from place to place from the age of 20, learning his trade as a Butcher. He married Mary Margaret Stevenson at Lambeth, Surrey, Registry Office on 9th August 1911 and they went on to have four children, two of whom died shortly after birth. Bartley enlisted on 9th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 18th May 1917 as Private with the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) 970th Company (Service No. M322460). He served in Mesopotamia and India from 31 Aug 1917, being eventually demobilized on 13th August 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 5 Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, working as a Butcher on his own account and by the 1939 Register at 9-11 Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, now described as a Registered Butcher's Shop Keeper. He died in the Aldershot on 25 Mar 1968.

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John George Day

19th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Day

Other names: John George

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Branksome, Dorset
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France
Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset

Story:
John George Day was born at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, in 1874, the son of Charles Day and Jane Day (née Cookman). He lived most of his early life in and around Sixpenny Handley and nearby Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset. He married Emily Agnes Martin on 6th October 1897 at Pentridge and they had one child, Stewart Arbuthnot Day (b. 1898 in Branksome, Dorset). Regrettably Emily died in 1909. John went on to re-marry Adelaide Ellen Rogers at Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, on 12th November 1910. There were no children of this marriage. John enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 14th June 1918 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) as a Driver (Service No. T/422713). He served in France from 9 Aug 1918 and was demobilized on 4th March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Tragically his son, Stewart, was killed on 3 Dec 1917 whilst serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment in France and whose name is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France. The 1921 Census shows John living at 'Neath', Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, working as a Bricklayer and later, at the time of his death on 25th June 1930, at Prestbury, Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Dorset. He was buried in Branksome Cemetery.

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Leo Bennett Reeves

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Leo Bennett

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Weymouth, Dorset
Pimperne, Dorset
University Road, Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Leo Bennett Reeves was born on 15th August 1893 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 8th October 1893, the son of Walter William Reeves and Emily Reeves (née Bennett). He lived with his family during his early years in West Street, Fontmell Magna. By 1911 he had moved to Weymouth, Dorset, working as a baker. At the outbreak of war his firm were making bread for the military. He enlisted on 2 Nov 1915 and joined the 21st Field Bakery of the Army Service Corps (Service No. S4/145269). He served in Salonika from 24 Dec 1916 and was eventually demobilized on 19th August 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Frances Harris in Pimperne, Dorset, on 25th August 1920 and they set up home in Pimperne where, by the 1921 Census, he was working as a Baker's Saleman. No 1939 Register record can be found. In 1984 he was living at 141 University Road, Southampton, Hampshire, where he died on 14th Aug 1984 aged 91 years.

Leo's father and brother Maurice Vernon also served in the war and survived. Sadly brother Cecil John died in a military hospital in Suffolk on 9th May 1917, having also served as a baker with the Army Service Corps.

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Cecil John Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves

William John Barter

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps, Royal West Kent Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barter

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Grove Inn, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
South Dulwich, London
Upper Norwood, London, S.E. 19
High Street, Sheppey, Kent
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William John Barter was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire on 3rd October 1876 and baptised there on 29 Oct 1876 the son of Ebenezer Barter and Bessie Ann Barter (née Down). He lived with his parents most of his early life at the Grove Inn, Ludwell, where his father was the licensee. He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Lucy Gladys Trowbridge at St. Stephen's Church, South Dulwich, London, on 23rd April 1914 and they went on to have one child. William was living at 15 Colby Road, Upper Norwood, London, S.E. 19 when he was enlisted on 3rd August 1916 and joined the Army Service Corps 2/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion (Service No. 2644). His unit eventually came under the command of the Royal West Kent Regiment (New Service No. 266568). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 19th February 1919. There are no medal records for his service though he may have been entitled to the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him back living at 15 Colby Road, Upper Norwood, working as a Clerk for the Ministry of Labour. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 92 High Street, Sheppey, Kent, and was described as a Tobacconist and Confectioner. He died in Sheppey, Kent, during 1945.

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Austin Henry Young

29th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Royal Army Service Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Young

Other names: Austin Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster, Dorset
India

Story:
Austin Henry Young was born on 3rd June 1885 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Henry Young and Martha Young (née Critchell). The family lived continuously at 26 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. Austin's younger brother Philip James (b.1889) was killed on 28th October 1918 while serving with the Devonshire Regiment in France. Austin enlisted on 7th September 1914 and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private (Service No. 2544). He served in India until he was discharged on 27th April 1915. Austin re-enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was allotted to the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 22184). His mother regrettably died in 1915. However he was not embodied until 29th February 1916 when he was instructed to join the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 27558). He served with them in France form 14 Jan 1917 and whilst on duty received a severe injury to his foot on 23rd April 1917. He was eventually transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps on 10th July 1918 and joined the General Headquarters Mechanical Transport Company (Service No. T/419350). He was demobilized on 23rd August 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On the day of his discharge he applied for the position of Gardener's Labourer at a War Graves Commission site in France but there is no indication that he was successful. The 1921 Census show him living at 26 Salisbury Street with his widowed father described as a House Painter (out of work) and by the 1939 Register he was still living in Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, now described as Incapacitated. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, District Registry in 1955 and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 24 Feb 1955.

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Philip James Young
The National Archives

Frederick Weldon

28th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Weldon

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kempton Park, Surrey
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury
Magdalen Lane, Shaftesbury
St. James Street, Shaftesbury
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick Weldon was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 14th February 1877 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 4th March 1877, the son of William Weldon and Frances Mary Weldon (née Cass). The family lived in and around the Bimport area of Shaftesbury for many years. Frederick, who was working as a Dealer, enlisted on 3rd March 1916 but was not embodied until 18th June 1917 when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 120913) and was posted to the 6th Company. On 8th January 1918 he was transferred to the Western Command Labour Company, then part of the Army Service Corps (Service No. 506097). He was again transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Division) on 20 Feb 1918 (Service No. M/376837). His final transfer was to the VR Depot at Kempton Park (Horse Transport Company) (Service No. T/406598). Throughout his service he was posted within the UK only. His only medical problem appeared to be a case of vertigo which was reported on 16th August 1918. He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and went to live at 13 Magdalen Lane (or No. 3 per the 1921 Census), Shaftesbury, working as a Fish Hawker. There are no medal records in this case. By the 1939 Register he is shown living at 17 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, employed as a General Labourer. He remained single all of his life and died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1951.

Frederick's brother, Harold Cecil Weldon (b.1884) also served in the war, with the Coldstream Guards and the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Harold Cecil Weldon

Cecil George Pickford Wareham

27th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps, Training Battalion /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: Cecil George Pickford

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salonica, Greece
Hambledon, Surrey
Church Lane, Shaftesbury
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury
High Street, Shaftesbury
Chard, Somerset

Story:
Cecil George Pickford Wareham was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st December 1892 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5th February 1893, the son of George Wareham and Anna Wareham (née Pickford). The family home throughout Cecil's early life was 8 Church Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 16th August 1915 with the 3rd/1st Wessex Divisional Training Battalion as a Reserve Private (Service No. T1889). He was embodied on the 15th April 1916 with the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/185635). He was posted to Salonica, Greece, on 9 Aug 1916 and whilst there he had an accident in March 1918 resulting in the loss of his right middle finger. He was discharged on 8th July 1919 with an eventual gratuity in lieu of pension for his disability in addition he was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

The 1921 Census shows him boarding in East Street, Chard, Somerset, where he was working as a Grocery Assistant. He married Gertrude Amy Pocock at Hambledon, Surrey, in 1932 and there is evidence of at least two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Quinton', Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, and described as a Wool and Draper Shopkeeper. The Kelly's Directory for that year lists his business as a "wool shop" at 37a High Street. He died in Shaftesbury on 15th April 1975.

Cecil's brother John Thomas (b.1886) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

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John Thomas Wareham