Story:
Robert Dean was born on 26 Feb 1894 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 1st April 1894 the son of Herbert Francis Dean, a carpenter, and Kate Ellen Dean (née Adams). By 1901 the family had moved to Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset. By 1911 Robert was working as carpenter's apprentice. He enlisted on 3rd December 1915 but was not mobilized until 22nd January 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers as a Private (Service No. 146048). After training and passing his proficiency Test as a Carpenter he was posted to France on 25 Jun 1916 as a Sapper. Records show he was admitted to hospital in December 1916 after which he returned to duty. He was admitted to hospital again on 3rd August 1917 and transferred back to England on 24th August 1917 to the Red Cross Hospital at Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, where he remained until 24th October 1917. Just prior to his hospitalization he was awarded the Military Medal whilst serving with the 155th Field Company per an announcement in the London Gazette on 17th July 1917 - no citation can be found except for a medal certificate. The medal awarded was numbered 93815. Following his recovery he was posted to the 17th Field Company on 3rd April 1918. After the Armistice he found himself in the Rhine Area of Germany and it was from here he proceeded to England for discharge on 30th September 1919. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Dorothy Nellie Pepper on 8 Nov 1919 at Christ Church, Newark, Nottinghamshire. They went on to have two children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 44 Askern Road, Carcroft, Adwick le Street, West Riding, Yorkshire, working still as a Carpenter on buildings. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 64 Headstone Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, where he was described as a carpenter and joiner. He died in the Brent, Greater London, area during 1971 aged 77 years.

Story:
Sidney Brockway was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th September 1893 and baptised at St. James' Church on 3rd December 1893, the son of Mary Ellen Brockway (a single person). Sidney lived in the house of his grandmother at Andrews Yard, 41 St. James, Shaftesbury. Post 1911 he was boarding at 101 Sutherland Road, Maida Vale, London, NW and enlisted at Marylebone, Middlesex, on 8 Sep 1914 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 48669). He qualified as a Proficient Carpenter prior to posting to France on 27 Jul 1915 where, on 24th June 1916, he received gunshot wounds in the right thigh. He was transferred from the Field Hospital back to England and arrived at the War Hospital, Leeds, Yorkshire on 2nd July 1916. He was not discharged until 3rd October 1916 having joined the 419th Field Company. He was demobilized on 13th March 1919 giving 41 St, James, Shaftesbury, as his home address. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. (The 1915 Star was returned for replacement as the name was spelt wrongly on the back and a new corrected medal issued on 5th March 1920). The 1921 Census shows him then boarding out at 32 West Leyes, Rugby, Warwickshire, working as a Builders Labourer, He eventually moved back to London where he married Ethel Marie Brazier during 1924 in the Barnet Registry District. They went on to have three children. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 7 Old Council Houses, Clifton upon Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire, still as a Builder's Labourer. He died in 1942 in the Birmingham Registry area.