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

Herbert Darrell King

Surname: King

Other names: Herbert Darrell

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Herbert Darrell King was born on 23rd December 1896 at Alvediston, Wiltshire, the son of Mark King and Kate King (née Stanley). He lived most life, apart from Military Service, in Alvediston. He enlisted as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 44773) on 8th September 1914 and served with various units in Salonika from 19 Mar 1915 and France & Flanders from 15 Apr 1916. Whilst in France he suffered gas poisoning and later a severe gunshot wound which led to him being discharged as unfit for further duty on 29th March 1918. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was also issued with the Silver War Badge No. 372725. In time he was also granted a Pension. The 1921 Census shows him back living in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston, living with his parents and working as an Agricultural Labourer and the 1939 Register indicates he was at the same address now described as a Farm Tractor Driver. He remained single throughout his life and died in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registration District in 1948.

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The National Archives

Henry George Brown

Surname: Brown

Other names: Henry George

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
India
Bromsden, Henley, Oxfordshire
Bloxwich, Staffordshire
Lower Whatcombe, Winterbourne Whitchurch, Dorset
Bix, Oxfordshire

Story:
Henry George Brown was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 26th August 1884 and baptised there on 6 Jun 1886 the son of George Brown and Emma Brown (née Rideout). He lived most of his very early life in and around Farnham. He married Edith Annie Keay on the 11th April 1914 in Bloxwich, Staffordshire, where he was working as an Under Game Keeper. They went on to have five children. He enlisted on 6th June 1916 and was placed on reserve with the 5th Reserve Brigade (Territorial Force) of the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 126248). He was mobilized on 30th October 1916 and posted to France. He was transferred on 11th June 1917 to the 4th Mountain Battery of the RGA in India (Service No. 301744). He was fully discharged on 31st March 1920 and awarded the British War Medal and the India General Service Medal with Clasp (Afghanistan 1919). The 1921 Census shows him living at Lower Whatcombe, Winterbourne Whitchurch, Dorset, working as a Gamekeeper and by the 1939 Register he had moved to West Lodge, Bromsden, Henley, Oxfordshire, and described as a Head Gamekeeper. He died in Bix, Oxfordshire, of a coronary thrombosis on 22nd April 1964.

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The National Archives

Harry Percival Holly

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

Surname: Holly

Other names: Harry Percival

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Pembridge, Weobley, Herefordshire
Monkland, Herefordshire

Story:
Harry Percival Holly was born on 1st September 1891 in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 13th December 1891, the son of Mark Holly and Harriett Holly (née Smith). He lived his early life in and around Melbury Abbas. He enlisted on 30th October 1915 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 57735). He served for some of the time in France with the 25th Fire Command and whilst there sustained a service injury to his right hand which eventually led to the amputation of his index finger. This event led to him being in hospital for nearly three months. He married Clara Beedles on 26th June 1917 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and they went on to have two children. He was eventually demobilized on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Wallend Cottage, Monkland, Herefordshire, working as a Cowman but by the 1939 Register he had moved to Stockmoor, Pembridge, Weobley, Herefordshire, and now described as a Munitions Worker. He died on 3rd April 1983 in the Hereford Registration District.

Harry's brothers also served in the war: Herbert John (b.1892) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Devonshire Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment; Ernest Walter (b.1895) died on 27th December 1918 while serving with the Royal Army Service Corps in Greece.

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Ernest Walter Holly
Herbert John Holly

Frederick James Gray

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Buscot House, Farringdon, Berkshire
Mitford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire
The Rhine, Germany
France
St. Osmond's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire
The Borough, Downton, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick James Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 19th July 1888 and baptised there on 16th September 1888, the son of William Gray and Mary Jane Gray (nee Rogers). His early life is recorded in the Semley Workhouse (by then living accommodation) until the 1911 Census when he is shown as working as a Gardener at Buscot House, Farringdon, Berkshire. By 1913 he had moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, and married Elizabeth Anne Haskell on 29th July 1913 at St. Osmond's Church, Salisbury. They appear to have had only one child. Frederick enlisted on 6th December 1915 but was not embodied until 29th May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 91304). He served with various units in France from 5 Sep 1917 including the 185th Siege Battery and ended his service at the Rhine Army Control Camp, Germany. He was finally demobilized on 4th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him working as a Licensed Publican at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, The Borough, Downton, Wiltshire, a tied house owned by Asher Wiltshire Brewery. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 26 Mitford Street, Salisbury, described as a Restaurant Proprietor. He later moved to 73 Downton Road, Salisbury where he died on 6 Oct 1944.

Frederick's brother, Ernest William, also served in the war but was sadly killed in 1917 while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment in France.

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Ernest William Gray

Harold Cecil Weldon

28th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Weldon

Other names: Harold Cecil

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury
Alcester House, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harold Cecil Weldon was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th February 1884 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 9th March 1884, the son of William Weldon and Frances Mary Weldon (née Cass). The family lived in and around the Bimport area for many years. Harold enlisted on 11th December 1915 and joined the Coldstream Guards as a Private (Service No. 20489). He was transferred at a later date to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 225765). He served in France and was eventually discharged as being physically unfit for further duty on 3rd June 1919 and received the Silver War Badge No. B222466 plus he was awarded a short-term pension due to his disability. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him working as a Fish Dealer and living in Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he was shown as 'Cecil' Weldon and residing in Alcester House, Shaftesbury and described as a General Labourer. He remained single according to the Register. He died in Shaftesbury in 1948 and was buried in St. James Churchyard on 6th September 1948.

Harold Cecil's brother Frederick (b.1877) also served in the war, with the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Royal Army Service Corps.

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Frederick Weldon
The National Archives

Charles Edward Ranger

19th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ranger

Other names: Charles Edward

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire
India
Gibralter
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Bermuda
France & Flanders
St. James, Shaftesbury
Newton Longville, Bletchley, Buckinhamshire
Northampton

Story:
Charles Edward Ranger was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1870 and baptised at St. James Church on 27th May 1870, the son of Charles Ranger and Sarah Anne Ranger (née Elliott). He lived his early life in St. James, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 21st March 1889 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 4219). He saw service in India, Gibralter, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda until his discharge after 18 years service on 12th July 1907. During this time he had married Emma Jane Hillier on 25th December, 1892. It is thought they had one child.

By 1911 Charles had moved to Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire where he had employment as a Collier Coal Hewer. His wife died in the same year and he went on to marry Laura Frances Charles in Pontnewydd on 6th October 1916. They had four children - one of whom died in early infancy. Charles had been mobilized on 17th October 1914 and returned to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 71904). He served a short time in France but spent most of the war in the UK. He was transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment as a Private on 27th April 1918 (Service No. 62273). He had been diagnosed with Rheumatism in 1915 and this was a constant source of concern. He was discharged on 19th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He later applied for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal but this was refused after an official inquiry. By the 1921 Census he had moved to Brickyard Cottages, Newton Longville, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, where he worked as a General Labourer in the Gravel Pits. He died in 1930 in the Northampton Registry area.

Images:

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The National Archives

Bertram James Pike

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

Surname: Pike

Other names: Bertram James

Locations in this story:
Stour Provost, Dorset
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Italy
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James Street, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Bertram James Pike was born at Stour Provost, Dorset, on 18th January 1883 and baptised at Stour Row Church, Dorset, on 29th January 1883, the son of James Pike and Julia Agnes Christina Pike (née Bastable). He lived his early life in and around the Stour Row, Shaftesbury, area. He became a wheelwright like his father and married Lucy Maria White at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 17th February 1908. They went on to have one child.

Bertram enlisted on 10th December 1915 and was placed on reserve until mobilized on 30th April 1917 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner Wheelwright (Service No. 158683). He served in Italy from 29 Sep 1918, the latter period with the 438th Siege Battery, and was discharged on 28th March 1919 having been awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents-in-law at 8 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Wheelwright on his own account. He then went on to live at Higher Duncliffe, Stour Provost, until, by the 1939 Register, he had moved back to 8 St James Street, Shaftesbury, now described as a Builder. His wife died in 1943 and he subsequently re-married Violet Coombs in 1951 in Shaftesbury. He died on 4th January 1954 whilst living at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 9 Jan 1954.

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The National Archives

Frederick Charles Hillier

27th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hillier

Other names: Frederick Charles

Locations in this story:
Corner Lane, Motcombe, Dorset
North End, Motcombe, Dorset
St. Mary's Church, Motcombe
Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Charles Hillier was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 30th August 1886, the son of William Thomas Hillier and Mary Hillier (née Sharp). The family lived in Corner Lane, Motcombe, Dorset. Frederick, a baker, married Bessie Rachel Fletcher in Motcombe on 20th June 1915 at Gillingham Parish Church, Gillingham, Dorset. They went on to have four children. He enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 2nd May 1918 when he joined the 'Y' Battery of the 2nd Reserves of the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No 213365). He served in the UK only until his demobilization on 28th February 1919. No medal record can be found. The 1921 Census shows him living at 83 Corner lane, Motcombe, working as a Baker's Assistant. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 76 North End, Motcombe, Dorset, (adjacent to North End Farm) now working as a Cowman. He died on 8 Apr 1975 and was interred in St. Mary's Churchyard, Motcombe.

Images:

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The National Archives

Douglas Eric Bowra

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bowra

Other names: Douglas Eric

Locations in this story:
Coombe, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Tucker House, Longfield Colony, Surrey
Dormansland, Surrey
France & Flanders
Farnham, Dorset

Story:
Douglas Eric Bowra was born at Coombe, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 9th April 1896, the son of William Charles Bowra and Margaret Eliza Bowra (née Ingram). Shortly after his birth the family moved to Farnham, Dorset. Douglas enlisted on 20th October 1914 with the 185th and later the 18th Siege Battalions of the Royal Garrison Artillery, eventually becoming a Bombardier (Service No. 47473). He served in France and Flanders where, on 29th October 1915, he received shrapnel wounds. He went on final leave to his, by then, parents home at Tucker House, Longfield Colony, Surrey. On 27th January 1919 he became ill and on 12th February 1919 died of influenza and pneumonia due to the effect of war service (per the citation). The Army noted his demobilization officially on 1st March 1919. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals and laid to rest with a Commonwealth War Graves headstone at Dormansland (St. John) Churchyard in Surrey. The CWGC citation also notes that his brother, Claude Victor Bowra, was also killed during the conflict.

Images:

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Percy Thomas Alford

3rd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Percy Thomas

Locations in this story:
Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Down, Blandford, Dorset
Bozley Hill, Cann
Butts Knapp, Cann
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bath, Somerset

Story:
Percy Thomas Alford was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1887, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 13 Mar 1887 the son of James Alford and Hannah Alford (née Pike). In 1891 the family were living at 5 Butts Knapp in Cann. In 1891 they were still living there and Percy was employed as an errand boy. By 1911 they had moved to Boyne Cottage, Cann and he was working as a carter on a farm. He married Mary Ann Perrett at Cann on 23rd December 1913. They lived at East Down, Blandford, Dorset, where he worked as a gardener and lodge keeper. They had one child in 1914 who regrettably passed away in 1918. Percy enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery on 10th December 1915 as a Gunner (Service No. 126723). He is known to have served abroad and contracted tuberculosis at some time towards the end of the war and was eventually declared unfit for further service and discharged on 6th December 1919, receiving the Silver War Badge No. B347557. He was also awarded the Victory and British medals. After the war Percy and Mary had a home in Bozley Hill, Cann, though the 1921 Census shows he was a patient at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Bath, Somerset, described as a Gardener. On 31st March 1925 Percy died at Bath Military Hospital and on 4th April he was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann.

Sadly two of Percy's brothers served and died in the war: Ernest John (b.1882) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and William (b.1890) with the Welsh Regiment.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

Images:

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The National Archives
William Alford