Royal Army Service Corps Archives - Page 7 of 8 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

1913 Shaftesbury Grammar School Football Team

William Jeffery

Surname: Jeffery

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Andover, Hampshire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dardanelles, Turkey
Andover Cemetery, Hampshire
Chelsea, London

Story:
William Jeffery was born in 1897 in Charlton, Andover, Hampshire. He was the son of James Jeffery, a farmer and cattle dealer, and Elizabeth Lampon. “Willie” attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from November 1908 to December 1913 and he appears in the 1911 Census as a boarder at the school. He was a member of 1911, 1912 and 1913 football teams and a member of 1912 and 1913 cricket teams. In 1913 he was Head Prefect and passed the Cambridge Senior Locals Examination in July. On leaving school he returned to Hampshire to work on the family farm.

He joined the Army Service Corps soon after the outbreak of war (Service No. T4/1856030) and he appears on the Roll of Honour published in the Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine in October 1914. By March 1915 he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and the June edition of the magazine reported: “W.Jeffery visited the school on March 31st. Owing to an attack of mumps he was unable to sail with his regiment to the Dardanelles, and is now applying for a commission with the A.S.C.”

William received a commission and served in France as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Rifle Brigade. The Grammar School Magazine reported: “William Jeffery was wounded in the eye and sent over to a hospital at Chelsea. For a time he made splendid progress, but had a relapse and died suddenly.” He died on 7th October 1917. The death was recorded as a civilian death in the Chelsea Registry, but he was buried in the military section of Andover Cemetery. He is remembered on the Andover Cenotaph and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School Memorial, now in Shaftesbury School.

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 William served and the date and term in 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. An asterix can be seen next to William's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:  
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1914
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1917

Images:

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Shastonian

Charles Score

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Score

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3, , Ypres, Belgium
Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
London Road Cemetery Memorial, Salisbury
Hove, Sussex
Steyning, Sussex

Story:
Charles Score was born in 1888 in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. He was the son of Levi George Score, a Farm Labourer, and Prudence Kate Score (nee Haines). At the time of the 1911 Census he had left home and was working as a Carman and boarding at 32 Montgomery Street, Hove, Sussex. His parents were living at Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire. In 1913 he married Mary Ann Tomblinson (Registered at Steyning, Sussex). (There is no record of any children of the marriage). He enlisted in Hove, Sussex, as a Private in the Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/184202). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was serving with the 70th Auxiliary Petrol Company at the time he died on 18th September 1917 and was buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3, Yores, Belgium (grave id. I.F 9). He is remembered on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church, the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, Semley, Wiltshire, and on the London Road Cemetery Memorial, Salisbury.

Images:

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Walter Vernon Stainer

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Walter Vernon

Locations in this story:
Bradford Abbas, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery, Tourcoing, Pas de Calais, France
Church Green, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
Grove Park, Greenwich

Story:
Walter Vernon Stainer was born in Bradford Abbas, Dorset in 1892 and was baptised there on 16th October, 1892. He was the son of Walter George Stainer, a Foreman Platelayer, and Mary Emma Stainer (nee Pavitt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Domestic Gardener and living at Church Green, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted at Grove Park, Greenwich, on 7th December, 1915 but was not mobilized until 23rd August, 1916 as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/203030). He served in many differing Units in both the UK and France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. At the time of his death he had just returned to France from leave and was admitted to the 43rd Field Ambulance on 2nd February, 1919 with influenza. This condition worsened over the next few days and he died on 11th February 1919 and was buried at Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery, Tourcoing, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. L.8). He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name was recorded as "Vincent Stainer" on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church. His older brother, Percy George Stainer, also enlisted but was discharged after 76 days as he was unlikely to make an efficient soldier whereas Theodore Bridge Stainer served and survived.

Images:

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Samuel Sidney Hubbard

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hubbard

Other names: Samuel Sidney

Locations in this story:
Houghton, Docking, Norfolk
France & Flanders
Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Iwerne Minster, Dorset

Story:
Samuel Sidney Hubbard (normally referred to as Sidney for all purposes) was born in 1891 in Houghton, Docking, Norfolk. He was the son of Thomas Hubbard, a gamekeeper, and Georgina Hubbard (née Coaston). His siblings included Asker Edgar Hubbard, born in 1896 who was also killed in the war. His family moved from Norfolk and, at the time of the 1911 Census, Sidney was single and living at Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/032367) and served with the 42nd Motor Transport Company. At the time of his death he held the rank of Corporal. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died of pneumonia on 20th November 1918 and was buried at Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France (grave id. I.C.12). He is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial as "Sergeant Samuel Sidney Hubbard", although all official records show the rank of Corporal.

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Asker Edgar Hubbard

Cecil John Reeves

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Cecil John

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
St. Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna
Lahore, India
Wrexham
Babergh, Hadleigh, Suffolk
Michaels Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Cecil John Reeves was born in 1888 in Fontmell Magna and baptised there on 9th September, 1888. He was the son of Walter Reeves, a Brewer's Drayman, and Emily Reeves (née Bennett). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Confectioner and boarding with a family at 35 Michaels Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, whilst the family were living at 40 Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Wrexham and joined the (Royal) Army Service Corps (Service No. SS/1310). There is an indication from his records that he was posted to Lahore, India, with the 63rd Field Bakery attached to the 551st Company of the RASC. He returned to England and was admitted to a Military Hospital in the Babergh area of Hadleigh, Suffolk, where he died on 9th May, 1917. At the time of his death he held the rank of Corporal. He was interred in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna, on 14th May, 1917. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals and is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Cecil's father and two of his brothers, Leo Bennett Reeves and Maurice Vernon Reeves, also served during the conflict and survived.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

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Leo Bennett Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves

Robert Stanley Tanswell

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Tanswell

Other names: Robert Stanley

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Egypt
Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Ismalia, Egypt
Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
Robert Stanley Tanswell was born on 5th September, 1894, in East Knoyle and baptised there on 7th October, 1894. He was the son of John Tanswell, a Farm Labourer, and Louisa Tanswell (nee Snook). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Labourer and living at Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. DM2/168978). He served in Egypt with the 303rd Mechanical Transport Company and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died as a result of an accident on 10th May 1917 and was buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Ismalia, Egypt (grave id. A. 145.). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. Of his brothers, Oliver David Tanswell, Henry Harold Tanswell and Charles Victor Tanswell served and survived the conflict.

Images:

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Albert Hayter

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hayter

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton Cemetery, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Salisbury Road, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Albert Hayter was born on 16th April, 1893 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 21st May, 1893. He was the son of Henry M. Hayter, a Market Gardener, and Emily Georgina Hayter (née Harris). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living in Salisbury Road, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. On the 8th May, 1912, he enlisted in the Territorial Forces and joined the T & S Col, 1st SWM Brigade (Service No. T182) - this was the precursor of the Army Service Corps which came into being in 1914. He transferred to the Army Service Corps as a Driver on 11th September, 1916 (Service No. T4/247397). Though he did not serve abroad he was eventually discharged as unfit on 2nd April, 1917, on the grounds he was no longer physically fit for military service whilst suffering from Tubercular Laryngitis. He received the Silver War Badge (No. 154013) and was qualified for the Victory and British War medals though there is no record on his medal cards. He died on 24th August 1918 and was buried in a War Graves Commission marked grave at St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton Cemetery, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, (grave id. II.13). He is remembered on the war memorial at Ludwell. His mother continued to receive a dependents allowance for a period after Albert's passing - certainly up until 1924.

Images:

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Victor James Stacey

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Victor James

Locations in this story:
Alderholt, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Hinton St. Mary, Dorset
Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hursley, Hampshire
Warlincourt, France

Story:
Victor James Stacey was born on 13th January, 1888, in Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands and baptised in Alderholt, Wiltshire, on 6th May, 1888. He was the son of Thomas (Tom) Stacey, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Stacey (nee Foster). (NB The records show Victor variously as 'James'; 'Victor James' and 'James Victor'. The Military records give his name as 'Victor James' as he was baptised.) At the time of the 1911 Census his family were living in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. Victor was boarding with his brother at Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire, where he worked as a Builder's Labourer. Shortly after the Census his father died in that year. On 2nd April, 1916 he married Ethel Mona King and they lived in Hinton St. Mary, Dorset. He enlisted at Hursley, Hampshire, as a Private in the 146th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. T4/124982), later he joined the 17th Divisional Company. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at Warlincourt, France, on 21st August 1916 and was buried near the north-west corner of Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His brother, George Francis Arthur Stacey, also served but survived.

Images:

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Names on Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial 03

George Charles Puig

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Puig

Other names: George Charles

Locations in this story:
Marylebone, Middlesex
Balkans
Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece
Carlisle Street, Marylebone, London
Bournemouth
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Gussage St. Michael, Wiltshire
Salisbury
Overway, Donhead St. Andrew
Salonika

Story:
George Charles Puig was born on 14th October, 1890, in Marylebone, Middlesex, and baptised at St. Barnabas Church, Marylebone, on 4th January, 1891. He was the son of Henry Puig, a House Painter, and Jane Ann Puig (née Barker). At the time of the 1901 Census the family was living at 65 Carlisle Street, Marylebone, London. By 1911 the family had moved to Gussage St. Michael, Wiltshire though George does not appear on the census at that time.

George enlisted in Salisbury (giving Bournemouth as his residence), and joined the 854th Horse Transport Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. TS/9451). His rank was Private (Shoe Smith). He served in the Balkans and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Salonika on 24th October 1918 and was buried at Mikra British War Cemetery, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece (grave id. 1890). This cemetery was used to re-inter personnel from other smaller graves sites in the area. By this time his parents had moved to Overway, Donhead St. Andrew and George is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial. His father died in 1920. His brother, William Henry Puig, also served and survived.

Images:

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William Henry Puig

Harry Walter Alner

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Alner

Other names: Harry Walter

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Denain Communal Cemetery, Department du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Battenberg Road, Richmond, Surrey
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
London

Story:
Harry Walter Alner was born in 1886 in Shaftesbury and was baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 13th September, 1886. He was the son of Sidney William Alner, a labourer, and Mary Ellen Alner (née Franklin). The family lived at 14 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He married Emily Elizabeth Franklin in the Holborn Registration District, London, on 3rd December, 1910. They had 2 boys and 2 girls. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a chauffeur and living at 63 Battenberg Road, Richmond, Surrey. On 13th September 1915 he enlisted in London as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/120963) and on 3rd October embarked with the Expeditionary Force for France, only 3 weeks after enlistment. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died in France on 30th October 1918 and was at the time attached to the Canadian Corps Motor Transport Siege Park. He was buried at Denain Communal Cemetery, Department du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (grave id. A.24). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Harry's brothers Sidney William (b.1899) and Frederick Sidney (b.1896) also served in the war. Sadly Sidney died in hospital in Farnham, Surrey, less than a month after Harry.

Images:

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Sidney William Alner
Frederick Sidney Alner