Royal Defence Corps Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Walter William Reeves

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Walter William

Locations in this story:
Bourton, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Indies
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Walter William Reeves was born in Blandford, Dorset, on 30 Jul 1858 and baptised at Bourton, Dorset, on 10th October 1858, the son of William Reeves and Hannah Reeves (nee Suter). He married Emily Jane Bennett at Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th January 1885 and they went on to have thirteen children. From 24 Jul 1877 Walter had served in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 490) serving some of his time in the East Indies but had been released on 17 Feb 1889 with the rank of Corporal. He rejoined the Reserve Service Battalion on 19 Feb 1893 and remained until discharged on 10 Jul 1901 with the rank of Sergeant. He re-enlisted on 17th August 1916 at the age of 57 years and joined the 168th Protection Company of the Royal Defence Corps as a Private (Service No. 33820). During his service he also served with the 163, 159, 157 and 165 Companies mainly as a Prisoner of War Camp Guard. He was discharged on 6th March 1919 being no longer physically fit to serve. There are no obvious medal records but he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. B228737. By the time of the 1921 census he was living in 40 Church Street, Fontmell Magna, working as a Gardener on the Glyn Estate. He was still residing at 40 West Street, Fontmell Magna, but died on 27 Jul 1937 in the Red Lion Hotel, Blandford, Dorset. and was buried at Fontmell Magna on 30th July 1937. Of his sons, Cecil John Reeves, died in service whilst Leo Bennett Reeves and Maurice Vernon Reeves served and survived the conflict.

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The National Archives
Maurice Vernon Reeves
Cecil John Reeves
Leo Bennett Reeves

Samuel James Day

14th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Defence Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Day

Other names: Samuel James

Locations in this story:
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pewsey, Wiltshire
Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Samuel James Day was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th May 1871 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27th December 1871, the son of George Day and Mary Ann Day (née Allen). He spent much of his life in the Shaftesbury area until his retirement. He married Sarah Jane Holmes at Pewsey, Wiltshire, on 6th July 1897 and set up home at 14 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have five children. He enlisted and joined the Royal Defence Corps as a Private (Service No. 8628). It is presumed he served in the UK only as no medal record can be found. The 1921 Census shows him still at 14 Parsons Pool working as a Bricklayer's Labourer for J. Short, Builder and Contractor, of Shaftesbury. His wife, Sarah, died in 1924. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset, described as a Retired Gardener. He died in Gillingham in 1948 and was buried there on 30th October 1948.

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The National Archives

Archelaus Myall

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Defence Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Myall

Other names: Archelaus

Locations in this story:
Stour Provost, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Africa
East Stour, Dorset

Story:
Archelaus Myall was born at Stour Provost, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised there on 11th June 1868, the son of Thomas Myall and Eliza Myall (née Pike). He lived most of his life in and around the Stour Provost and Stour Row, Dorset, area. His marriage to Bertha Elizabeth Tucker was registered in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during January 1906 and they went on to have five children. He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the 4th Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th March 1886 (Service No. 2202) and served in South Africa, (for which he was awarded the 1900-1901 South Africa medal and seven clasps) and was then placed on Reserve. He re-enlisted on 26th September 1914 and joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 1634) rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. He moved from Company to Company within the UK, with Service No. 516322 when attached to the Royal Defence Corps. He was eventually discharged on 22nd October 1918 being physically unfit for further service due to Rheumatic Arthritis aggravated by his service and was granted a small pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and issued with the Silver War Badge No. B31665. By the 1921 Census he was living at The Common, East Stour, Dorset, described as a Bricklayer (out of work). His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1937.

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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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William Peach

18th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Defence Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Peach

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Isle of Man

Story:
William Peach was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1874 and was baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 31st January 1875, the son of Walter Peach and Caroline Peach (nee Sims). He lived his whole life in and around Shaftesbury. He married Mary Elizabeth England on 5th January 1901 (the same year William's father died) in Shaftesbury and they appear to have had only one child. William enlisted on 25th July 1918, aged 44 years, and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54406) serving in the UK only. He transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on 18th November 1918 (Service No. 97531) and served in the Isle of Man from 23 Nov 1918 on PoW Camp duties. He was demobilized on 29th January 1919 giving his address as 11 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also shown on the 1921 Census working as a Hairdresser. No medal records can be found in this case. He died on 25th September 1936, his residence still given as 11 Salisbury Street.

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Henry Munday

4th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Defence Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Munday

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Paul Street. Taunton, Somerset
Motcombe Brickyard, Motcombe, Dorset

Story:
Henry Munday was born about 1872 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Harry Munday (mother not known). Military records show a next of kin as Mrs.Gray of Motcombe Brickyard, Motcombe, Dorset. He had served in the Somerset Light Infantry from 31st August 1891 to 31st August 1898 and was then transferred to the Reserve. He married Emily Kate Oaten (née Beale), a widow, on 25th December 1900. They had at least two children. Henry was re-embodied on 10th December 1914 and was posted as a Private with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Defence Corps (Service No. 29584). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 25th March 1918 being 'not physically fit' due to varicose veins. He was issued with the Silver Badge No. 373895 together with the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 13 Chapel Terrace, Paul Street, Taunton, Somerset, working as an Ostler. He died in 1938.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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William Thomas Chaldecott

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Royal Defence Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Chaldecott

Other names: William Thomas

Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Dorset
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Hollybrook Memorial, Shirley, Southampton
Irish Sea
Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
William Thomas Chaldecott was born in 1891 in East Orchard, Dorset. He was the son of Arthur Edmund Chaldecott, a Journeyman Baker, and Selina Hannah Chaldecott (nee Parham). His siblings included Joseph Arthur Chaldecott born in 1894, who also died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Dairyman and living at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset. He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (Service No. 23223) and on 1st December 1917 transferred to the Royal Defence Corps (New Service No. 72314). He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at sea on 10th October 1918 when the Royal Mail Steamer Leinster was torpedoed in the Irish Sea by a German submarine. His name is listed on the Hollybrook Memorial, Shirley, Southampton with those of other military personnel who were on the Leinster when it went down. He is also remembered on the Sixpenny Handley War Memorial. His father died in 1918.

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Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives