Story:
Wilfred Harry Merefield was born in Compton Abbas, Dorset, in 1882. He was the son of James Merefield and Amelia Merefield (née Merefield). Though by 1901 he was living with his brother Albert in Bridgend, Glamorgan, and working as a coal miner. He returned to Semley and married Louisa Gertrude Woodrow on 18th January 1904 at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a Cowman on a Farm and they were living at Compton Abbas, Dorset. By the time of his enlistment they were living at 229 Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire. His father had died in 1909 and his mother in 1913.

He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, and joined 'C' Battery, 82nd Brigade, of the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 57938). He served in France & Flanders and he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 1st August 1917 and was buried at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. II.F.14). He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name was included on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church.    

Story:
James Weeks was born in 1897 in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, and baptised there on 15th April, 1898. He was the son of Edward Jesse Weeks, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Weeks (nee Avery). His siblings included Sidney, born in 1887, who also died in the war whereas Edward Jesse Weeks served and survived.  At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He enlisted in Bournemouth as a Driver with the Territorial Force of the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 645269). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. At the time of his death he was serving with the RFA (3rd Army Reinforcements) and died of an unspecified illness in Rouen on 26th June 1918 and was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France (grave id. Q.II.C.11). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial in St. Lawrence's Church.

Story:
Ernest Trowbridge was born in 1883 in Okeforde Fitzpaine, the son of Samson Trowbridge and Mary Amelia Trowbridge (nee Roberts). Regrettably his mother died in 1891 and his father went on to remarry Jane Mary Thompson (widow of John Thompson) in 1894 taking on her son, John Francis Joiner Thompson (generally known as Frank), as stepson and step-brother to Ernest. At sometime prior to the 1901 Census Ernest had enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 8358). Whilst serving in Ireland he met and married Kathleen (Catherine) Mary McGaharan in Belturbet, Cavan, Ireland, on 26 Feb 1905. There were five children of the marriage: two boys and three girls. At the time of the 1911 Census Ernest being a career soldier was living with his family in army accommodation near Crookham, Hampshire, and later moved to married quarters at the Artillery Barracks, Hartley Whitney. Hampshire. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War, 1915 Star and Distinguished Conduct (DCM) medals finally holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class II. The citation for the DCM stated 'for conspicuous and consistent good work, notably with anti-aircraft guns'. He died at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station from pneumonia whilst serving with 'A' Battery, 158th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, as their Battery Sergeant Major on 27th November 1918 and was buried at Caudry British Cemetery, Near Cambrai, Nord, France, (grave id. II.D.28). His father had by then moved to Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Ernest is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury, near where his father was eventually interred at St. Rumbold's Church in 1931. By the 1921 Census his wife was living at 45 New Crescent Street, Brighton, Sussex, working for the Convent of the Sacred Heart,Brighton. It is also understood Kathleen had been taking a course in Midwifery as recorded on her military pension records. She did not remarry and died in Brighton General Hospital on 26 June 1970. Ernest's step-brother, Frank. also died in the conflict and his name also appears on the Cann War Memorial.