Royal Engineers Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

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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Walter George Bugler

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

Surname: Bugler

Other names: Walter George

Locations in this story:
Winfrith, Dorset
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France

Story:
Walter George Bugler was born in Winfrith, Dorset, on 23rd December 1888 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire on 16th May 1889, the son of Thomas Bugler and Elizabeth Bugler (née Mabey). By 1911 his family had moved to Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire where he married Ellen Louise Scammel on 14th April 1913. They went on to have five children.

He enlisted on 6th November 1914 with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (with whom he had served as a Territorial earlier) as a Private (Service No. 3138 updated to 3730). He was immediately discharged on 7th November 1914 as being medically unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 22nd November 1915 and was accepted into the 13th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 30947). He served in France before being transferred to the Royal Engineers on 1 Jun 1917 as a Sapper (Service No. 308716) then again to the Labour Corps on 27 Jun 1917 (Service No. 98541). He was eventually discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Slate Cottage, Donhead St. Mary, working as a General Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, now working as a Stone Mason. His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, District Registry on 8 Sep 1968 and he was later buried at Donhead St. Mary.

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Richard Henry Baker

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

Surname: Baker

Other names: Richard Henry

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Marlborough, Wiltshire
Military Hospital, Bangor, North Wales
Swindon, Wiltshire
London

Story:
Richard Henry Baker was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th September 1898, the son of Edward John Baker and Lillian Maria Baker (nee Hart). He lived all his early life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset, receiving some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. His father was in business at 47 & 49 High Street, Shaftesbury. Richard enlisted on 21st September 1916 but was not mobilized until 7th May 1918 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Signals) as a Pioneer (Service No. 349937). He served in the UK only. He was latterly treated at the Military Hospital, Bangor, North Wales, for Rheumatic Fever and was discharged being no longer physically fit for service on 24th January 1919. He was granted a reduced pension. There are no medal records.

He appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine. No record of the 1921 Census can be found but the Electoral Roll 1920 shows him living at 49 High Street, Shaftesbury. He married Eileen Gwen Mumford in Shaftesbury during 1928. By the 1939 Register he was living at 133 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, described as a Chemist Shopkeeper and Optician. He died in the Swindon, Wiltshire, Registry District in 1985.

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Shastonian

Henry King

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Tarrant Hinton, Dorset
Deganwy, Conway, Wales

Story:
Henry King (sometimes referred to as 'Harry') was born on 15th December 1876 in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 28th January 1877, the son of Alfred King and Elizabeth King (née Lewis). By 1891 the family had moved to Tarrant Hinton, Dorset. Henry married Agnes Jane Dixon in Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 11th April 1896 and they went on to have three children. Henry (known as Harry on Military Records except for the Silver War Badge Record) enlisted and was deemed mobilized on 24th June 1916, joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 286481). He served in the UK only at Depot TC Deganwy. He was deemed physically unfit for further service and discharged on 11th January 1918. There are no medal records but he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 453719. The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at 14 Oakwood Road, Moordown, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as Secretary of a Registered Friendly Society (The Independent Order of Rechabites - principally a temperance movement). He died in Bournemouth on 3rd June 1947.

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Charles Lane

21st November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lane

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Church Hill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Bourton, Dorset
Sally King's Lane, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury

Story:
Charles Lane was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, (Parish of Motcombe), on 3rd June 1878 and baptised there on 18th August 1878, the son of John and Maria Lane. He lived his early life in Enmore Green on Church Hill and in Sally King's Lane. He married Rachel Hicks at Enmore Green on 2nd October 1902 and there were three children of the marriage. He enlisted on 14th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 26th February 1917 when he joined the 336th Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, as a Pioneer (Service No. 240500). He later transferred to the Railway Construction Company (Service No. WR25169). He served in France from 16 Mar 1917 eventually being demobilized on 25th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Glen Cottage, Bourton, Dorset, and was still when registered there in the 1939 Register working as a Permanent Way Charge Hand on the railways. His death was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, Registry on 23 Apr 1962.

Charles' brothers Walter John (b.1892) and James (b.1883) also served with the Royal Engineers in the war.

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Walter John Lane
James Lane
The National Archives

Ernest John Biddiscombe

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Biddiscombe

Other names: Ernest John

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Sherborne, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire
Salisbury Road, Ludwell

Story:
Ernest John Biddiscombe was born on 3rd August 1879 in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, the son of Henry Biddiscombe and Emma Foot Biddiscombe (née Smart). Apart from his war service Ernest spent his whole life in and around Ludwell. He married Rose Park in Sherborne, Dorset, on 20th June 1906 and they went on to have four children. Ernest's brother Arthur James (b.1877) joined the Welsh Regiment and died in Flanders on 6th November 1914. Ernest enlisted on 7th December 1915 and was issued with a Reservist's Khaki Armband No. 57825 to wear until mobilized on 17th August 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 185119) becoming in time a Corporal. On 1st January 1917 he was transferred to the 445th (Welsh) Company, Railway Operating Division, and was posted to France on 23rd March 1917 (New Service No. 448719). He then transferred again to the R.E. (ROD) with a new Service No. WR/282836 on 9th September 1917. He was discharged on 13th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. His address throughout was consistently shown as Hope Cottage, Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, confirmed in the 1921 Census as well as the 1939 Register and always described as a Builder. He death was registered at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry on 16th May 1959.

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Arthur James Biddiscombe

John White

28th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: White

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Stendal, Germany
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bavilliers, Northern France.

Story:
John White, sometimes known as Jack, was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd January 1890, the son of William White and Lydia White (née Hillier). The family lived at 8 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, for many years. His mother, Lydia, died in 1915 and shortly after Jack, who had worked as a Carpenter and Joiner, enlisted on 14th November 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 143211). He served in France and Flanders from 15 Jun 1916 with the 281st Army Transport Company and was reported missing on 30th March 1918 at Bavilliers, Northern France, with a subsequent report on 1st April 1918 that he had become a Prisoner of War, eventually ending up at a camp and Military Hospital in Stendal, Germany. Following his repatriation on 2 Dec 1918 he was attached to the 'G' Depot Company RE and was diagnosed with rheumatism caused by conditions in the POW Camp and finally discharged on 16th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He went back to live at 8 St. James Street, as confirmed in the 1921 Census, living with his widower father and working as a Carpenter. He married Minnie Elizabeth Davis in Shaftesbury during 1930 and set up home at 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he was living at Winterton, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, still working as a Carpenter. His death at the early age of 50 years was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, in 1940 and he was buried in the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 24 Jul 1940.

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Arthur Thomas White

John Pearson

18th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pearson

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Norfolk Mount, Halifax, Yorkshire
Love Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Leeds, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chapel Allerton, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Story:
John Pearson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, on 16th January 1898 and baptised there at St. James Church on 10th February 1898, the son of Joseph Wild Pearson and Annie Pearson (née Barker). Shortly after his baptism the family moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, where his father carried on business as a Bookseller, Printer and Stationer at 11 High Street, Shaftesbury. (John's mother had died in 1904 and his father re-married a Sarah Hitchens in Halifax in 1905.) He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. John was working for the Post Office when he enlisted on 2nd March 1916 and mobilized on 23rd October 1916 joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 127658). Because of his expertise he trained as a Wireless Operator and served in France from 23 Feb 1917. Whilst serving there with the East Divisional Signals Company he was gassed on 16th September 1917. He was demobilized on 14th October 1919 and gave his address as 11 High Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also recorded in the 1921 Census working as a Post Office Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By 1927 John had moved back to Halifax where he married Doris Greenwood during 1927. They appear to have had only one child. By the 1939 Register John was living at 99 Norfolk Mount, Chapel Allerton, Halifax, West Yorkshire, working as a Post Office Sorting Clerk plus being a volunteer Fireman with the Auxiliary Fire Service. John's brother Ralph (b.1891) also served in the conflict, with the East Yorkshire Regiment and the King's African Rifles. John died in the Leeds Registry District in 1966.

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Ralph Pearson

Bertie Merefield

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Merefield

Other names: Bertie

Locations in this story:
North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Church Farm, West Stour, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Bertie Merefield was born on 27th November 1889 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Frederick and Mary Ellen Merefield (nee Gray). The family lived in 3 North Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset. By the outbreak of war Bertie had moved to Church Farm, West Stour, Dorset, where he was employed as a Wheelwright. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 16th November 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 212394). He carried on his trade as a Wheelwright. He transferred to the Durham Light Infantry on 17 Sep 1917 (Service No. 77005) with whom he served in France and Flanders. He transferred back to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 212394) eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. He was discharged on 14th October 1919. (Note his military records show him as Bertram but he was registered as Bertie.) He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Dorothy May P. Yeatman in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1928. It is not known if there were any children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was living at Restmor, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury and was working as a General Carpenter. He died locally in 1974. His brother, Sidney Stanley Merefield, also served in the conflict.

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St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Percy Albert Mayo

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mayo

Other names: Percy Albert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wandsworth, London
Kempshott Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire
High Street, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury
Basingstoke, Hampshire

Story:
Percy Albert Mayo was born on 10 March 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church on 7th April 1895, the son of Alfred Mayo and Eva Mayo (née Warren). He lived with his parents at 93 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and later at 1 High Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 20th Nov 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 226291). On being posted to France on 22 February 1917 he joined the 312th Road Construction Unit and was allotted Service No. WR/22416. He was demobilized on 21st November 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back with his parents at 1 High Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Painter (out of work). He married Mildred Kate Day in Wandsworth, London, in 1923. By the 1939 Register he was living in Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, working as a Hall Porter and had moved to 105 Kempshott Lane, Basingstoke, by the time he died on 1st December 1949.

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The National Archives