Royal Engineers Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Sidney Charles Morgan

Surname: Morgan

Other names: Sidney Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Guernsey, Channel Islands

Story:
Sidney Charles Morgan was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd December 1885, the son of George Morgan and Emily Morgan (née Brockway). Apart from Military Service he spent all his life in and around Shaftesbury. He married Annie Louisa Morgan at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 8th October 1910 and they went on to have one son. He enlisted on 26 Sep 1914 and joined, successively, the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 20090), the Royal Engineers (Transport) as a Sapper (Service No. T/2903) and the Royal Engineers (Service No. 508483). He served in France & Flanders from 12 Feb 1917 to 7 Apr 1918 after which he was posted to 166th Fortress Company based at Fort George, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Following his discharge on 19 Feb 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Fitter and Turner for J. Farris & Sons, Agricultural Engineers, of Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 56 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as a Fitter and Turner (Agricultural Work). He died in the Newbridge Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 14th April 1961 and was buried in the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 18 Apr 1961.

Sidney's brother Percival Stewart (b.1887) also served in the war, with the King's Dragoon Guards.

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Percival Stewart Morgan

Reginald Charles Humphries

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

Surname: Humphries

Other names: Reginald Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
High Street, Shaftesbury
Donhead St. Mary with Charlton, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Reginald Charles Humphries was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd June 1889, the son of Samuel Humphries and Mary Humphries (nee Young). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in Shaftesbury. The family home was at 10 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 1st January 1916 and joined the Royal Engineers (Motor Cycle Section) being promoted in time to Corporal (Service No. 148678). His training as a Motor Cycle Mechanic was useful to the Army and he served in France and Flanders from 14 Jul 1916 with various Troops. Whilst with the 9th Signal Troop was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal given for service in the field as announced in the London Gazette dated 3 Jun 1919. Following his discharge on 20th February 1919 he was further awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living with his parents in the family home working on his own account as a Motor Cycle Mechanic. He married Alice Bertha Mullins at St. John the Baptist Church, Donhead St. Mary with Charlton, Wiltshire, on 26 Dec 1921 and they went on to have one daughter. They set up home at 54B High Steet, Shaftesbury, where they were still residing at the time of the 1939 Register with Reginald still working as a Cycle and Motor Mechanic. In retirement he was living at 'Ladymede', 41 Lower Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, when he died at the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 27th June 1960.

Reginald's brother Stanley Frank (b.1896) also served during the war, with the Royal Naval Division.

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Stanley Frank Humphries

Albert Padfield

1st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wandsworth, London
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Albert Padfield's birth was registered at Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1883, the son of Charles Padfield and Sarah Maria Padfield (née Mussell). He lived his early life in Margaret Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted on 13 Oct 1902 with the Corps of Lancers of the Line as a Private (Service No. 6173). He remained in service until discharged on 3 Jan 1906 following a Courts Martial. He married Phoebe Maud Coombes at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd March 1911 and they went on to have one daughter. Within weeks of his marriage he had moved to Wandsworth, London, to live with his brother-in-law. He enlisted on 16 December 1916 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 226294). He served in France and Flanders and at some time transferred to the 312th Road Construction Company RE as a Lance Corporal (Service No. WR/40245). He was discharged on 13th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. His wife and daughter had moved back to Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1918 and in 1919 Albert had given an address in Tisbury, Wiltshire, on his discharge. The 1921 Census shows him at the New Inn, Cann, Shaftesbury, as the Licensed Victualler. (No mention of his wife at this time.) The last record of him is in the Electoral Register 1926 where he gave Foots Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, as his address. There is no record of him in the 1939 Register or of an obvious death record.

Albert's brothers Levi and James also served in the war, but James sadly died shortly after his discharge from the army in 1919.

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James Padfield
Levi Padfield

Charles Jesse

30th April 2020/in 1914-1918 City of London Regiment, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jesse

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cosford Grange, Shifnal, Shropshire
France & Flanders
St. Lucia, West Indies

Story:
Charles Jesse was born at Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1898 and baptised there on 20th March 1898, the son of William Jess and Kate Rose Jesse (née Jeanes). He lived his early life in and around Fontmell Magna and later at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School with his younger brother Frank, who sadly died in 1918 while serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in France. Another brother, Percy William, also served and survived whilst with the New Zealand Forces.

Charles enlisted on 18th October 1916 and joined the City of London Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 6968), seeing service with the 2/8th Battalion. He was transferred to the 1st London Field Battalion (Service No. 373821) and served in France and Flanders from 4 Feb 1917 until 22 Sep 1917. He was later transferred again to the Royal Engineers following ill health with the rank of Sapper (Service No. 547822) and served as a Clerk at the 1st London Field Company. He was declared no longer physically fit for service and discharged on 12th September 1918 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 448645 along with the Victory and British War Medals. His Pension Record ceased on 7th March 1920 where it is indicated that he had moved abroad. According to information received he had moved to St. Lucia, West Indies, and became in due course a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. He wrote a number of books about St. Lucia as well as being the writer of the lyrics of that island's National Anthem in 1967 which was adopted officially in 1979. He was awarded the MBE. He died in St. Lucia in 1985 and is buried at Castries Cathedral. Castries, St. Lucia.

Charles's name was included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to his brother Frank's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

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Frank Jesse
Percy William Jesse

William Doggrell

29th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Doggrell

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Warnford, Hampshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
Taunton, Somerset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kenton Farm, Semley, Wiltshire
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury
Higher Beetham, Comb St. Nicholas, Near Chard, Somerset

Story:
William Doggrell was born in Warnford, Hampshire, in 1889, the son of William Doggrell and Tamar Doggrell (née Smith). The family moved to Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by 1901 and later to Kenton Farm, Semley, Wiltshire. William enlisted on 13th July 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 108339). He served in Egypt with the M Signal Company as a Telegraphist. He was discharged on 13th June 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was working as a Farmer in partnership with another at Higher Beetham, Combe St. Nicholas, Near Chard, Somerset. He married Phyllis Elaine Power in Taunton, Somerset, in 1923. He died at the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th January 1934 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 8th January 1934 aged only 36 years.

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Henry John Ransom

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ransom

Other names: Henry John

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Greenwich, London
Mampitts Cottage, Shaftesbury
Cann Common, Shaftesbury

Story:
Henry John Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1874 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 28th June 1874, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans). He lived his early life in and around Cann. He went for work in the Greenwich, London, area and met and married Violet Jane Gaskin Roberts at St. John the Baptist Church, Greenwich, London, on 21st October 1907 and they went on to have one child. He was back in Shaftesbury when he enlisted on 25th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 117595). He served in France and Flanders from 3 Sep 1915 where, on 14th October 1917, he received gunshot wounds to his right arm and right thigh. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 10th February 1918 (Service No. 292865) and served as a Private with the 609th Agricultural Company. He was discharged on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Jasmine Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, working as a Ploughman for J. J. Brickell, (Farmer of East Melbury Farm). By the 1939 Register he had moved to Mampitts Cottage, (near Mampitts Farm), Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was employed as a Carter. He died in 1956 and was buried at The Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 21st January 1956. His brother, Joseph Ransom(e), also served in the conflict with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

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Joseph Ransom

Samuel George Alford

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Samuel George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
King's Arms Inn, Shaftesbury

Story:
Samuel George Alford was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1875 and baptised there on 27th February 1875, the son of Samuel George Alford and Martha Alford (née Hillier). Samuel lived most of his life, apart from military service, in and around Shaftesbury. At one time he was living at the Kings Arms Inn where his father was the licensee. He married Eliza Jane Oborne in 1895 in Shaftesbury and they went on to have seven children. Samuel joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 168964) and at one time was with the 'A' Company Railway Troop. No medal records have been found in this case. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 33a St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fish Hawker. Regrettably he died in 1932 in Shaftesbury, and was buried at St. James Church on 21 Sep 1932. It is noted that his sons, Frederick George Thomas Alford, also served in the war, with the Wiltshire Regiment, and spent time as a Prisoner of War in Germany and Thomas Henry Alford joined the Royal Navy towards the end of the war and served until 1931.

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Frederick George Thomas Alford

Ernest King

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Northamptonshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Pigtrough Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Swindon, Wiltshire
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Fovant, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Ernest King was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 6th December 1886, and baptised there on 9 Jan 1887 the son of Augustus King and Anne King (née Lewis). He spent his early life at the family home in Pig's Trough Lane, Donhead St. Andrew. (Modern usage of the address is Pigtrough Lane). He married Kate Gibbs in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 11th February 1911 and they went on to have five children. By 1911 they were living at Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.

Ernest enlisted on 27th February 1915 as a Private with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18895). He was posted to France on 6 Jul 1915 and transferred on the 13th March 1915 to the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment (Service No. 202423). He was admitted to Hospital on 4 Aug 1915 suffering from shell shock and was repatriated to the UK. He returned to France having transferred once again to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 359463) working with the Transport Section with the rank of Sapper. He moved back to the UK and was posted to the Fovant Light Railway Training School, Fovant, Wiltshire, as a Lance Corporal (Service No. WR/284715) employed as a Tailor. He was eventually discharged on 27th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the time of the 1921 Census he was back living in Pigstrough Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, and had resumed his calling as a Tailor with T. E. Gatehouse, Tailor of Ludwell, Wiltshire. He was at the same address by the time of the 1939 Register described as a Journeyman Tailor. His death is recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry in 1965 and he was buried in the Donhead St. Andrew Cemetery on 15 May 1965.

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William Crutcher

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Crutcher

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
France & Flanders
Deanland, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset

Story:
William Crutcher was born at Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 14th March 1888 and baptised at Sixpenny Handley on 6th May 1888, the son of William Crutcher and Mary Anne Crutcher (née Witherington). He lived all his civilian life in and around Sixpenny Handley. William enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 22nd May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 82122). He served in France & Flanders. He was transferred to the No. 1 (RGA) Sussex Company (Service No. 374578) and then to the 368th Forestry Company, Royal Engineers 2 Aug 1918 as a Pioneer (Service No. 327932). He was finally discharged on 20th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Deanland, Sixpenny Handley, living with his, by then, widowed father working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker on his own account. He married Margaret Ellen Lane at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 31st October 1921. There are no records of children. By the 1939 Register he was still living at Deanland, with the same occupation. His death is recorded on 17th August 1968 and he was buried at Sixpenny Handley on 20 Aug 1968.

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Edward James Emm

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Emm

Other names: Edward James

Locations in this story:
Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Poona, India
Flamestone, Wilton, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bishopstone, Wiltshire

Story:
Edward James Emms was born in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, on 23rd April 1898 and baptised there on 22nd May 1898, the son of George Emm and Linda Emm (née Barter). The family had moved to Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, by 1911 and from there Edward enlisted on 13th May 1916. He was mobilized on 11th January 1917, joining the Royal Engineers becoming a Sapper (Shoeing Smith) (Service No. 222108). He served in Poona, India, and was eventually discharged on 21st January 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Violet May (or Marguerite according to the marriage record) Warman in Wilton, Wiltshire, on 9th Jun 1921 and initially, per the 1921 Census, lived in Water Street, Berwick St. John where Edward was described as a Shoeing and General Smith. There are no records of children. By the 1939 Register he was living at the Cottage, Flamestone, Wilton Wiltshire. His death is recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1972 and he was buried at Bishopstone, Wiltshire, on 1 Dec 1972.

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