Royal Dublin Fusiliers Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold James Stone

Surname: Stone

Other names: Harold James

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
South Newton, Wiltshire
Egypt
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold James Stone was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1890 and baptised there on 13th August 1890, the son of James Stone and Ellen Stone (née Merryweather). He lived in Charlton until his family moved to Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire, just before 1911. He had previously enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Territorial on 22 Jul 1909 but had bought himself out of the service on 12 Oct 1910. He re-enlisted on 5th September 1914 and was posted to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 12181). Almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 7/14949) and served mainly in Salonika and France & Flanders, eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. Whilst serving he had contracted malaria for which he was treated in Egypt. He was discharged on 20th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Sarah Elizabeth Cruse on 31 Jul 1920 in Tilshead, Wiltshire, and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him boarding with his parents at Stotford Hill, South Newton, Wiltshire, working as a Ploughman. Regrettably he died during 1934 (registered at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry) and was buried at St. Andrews Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Walter Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
France & Flanders
East Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Walter Hardiman was born on 16th February 1897 in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 16th March 1897, the son of Charles Hardiman and Louisa Hardiman (née Burton). He spent most of his early life, apart from Military Service, in the Ebbesbourne Wake area. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 6th September 1914 (Service No. 12159) but was almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 15221). He served with the 7th and then the 1st Battalions in Salonika and Egypt from 10 Jul 1915 and France & Flanders from 11 Jun 1918. During his service he suffered various bouts of malaria but not sufficient to qualify for a pension. He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On discharge he went to live at East Winterslow, Nr. Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his brother working as a Dairyman as recorded in the 1921 Census. Records beyond this point have not been found.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

William James Herbert Sansom

12th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Leinster Regiment, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Royal Engineers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sansom

Other names: William James Herbert

Locations in this story:
Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Kantara, Egypt
Wellington, Somerset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
William James Herbert Sansom was born at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 10th September 1890 the son of John Sansom and Amanda Sansom (née Peters). He had pre-war service with the Wiltshire Regiment (Service No. 12790) and was discharged to Reserve. He was embodied on 5th September 1914 and re-joined his Regiment but was transferred on 17th September 1914 to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and on 23rd September 1914 to the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 1843). He was posted to Kantara, Egypt, on 19 Jul 1915 where he was later further transferred to the Royal Engineers (Railway Operating Division) on 20th November 1917 (Service No. 288555). After training at Kantara, Egypt, he qualified as an Operational Driver with the rank of Sapper. He was demobilized on 4th May 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at the Cycle Works, Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, with his parents and helping his father in the business as a Motor Engineer. He married Annie Victoria Wide in Wellington, Somerset, in 1927 and they went on to have one child. His last known address was Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, per the 1939 Register, when he was still described as a Motor Engineer. His death was recorded in Mere, Wiltshire, during 1970 and he was buried at Donhead St. Mary on 9th April 1970.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Herbert Alexander Dudman

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, Royal Dublin Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dudman

Other names: Herbert Alexander

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire
France
Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex

Story:
Herbert Alexander Dudman was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1895, the son of Thomas Dudman and Emily Dudman (née Pike). His early life was spent at 16 Silver Street, Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12186). He later transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 14950) and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He initially served in the Balkans from 9 Aug 1915 and later in France during the latter part of 1918. During his time in France he received gunshot wounds in his back which ultimately caused tuberculosis and was the main cause for his discharge on 4th November 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. He was also issued with the Silver War Badge (No. B331563), The King's Certificate of Service and a war pension. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire, assisting his father in his baking business. He regrettably died, still single, of his disease on 31st July 1923, in the Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex.

Source: Earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives