Royal Garrison Artillery Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Richard Charles Mullins

Surname: Mullins

Other names: Richard Charles

Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Richard Charles Mullins was born on 1st May 1895 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 2nd June 1895, the son of Charles Mullins and Elizabeth Mullins (née Lucas). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 560) but later transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) as a Gunner (Service No.334552). During his time in the services he had been in France & Flanders. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elsie Greenwood at Ludwell, Wiltshire, on 3rd April 1920 and they went on to have two children. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th September 1973 and was later interred at Melbury Abbas alongside his wife who had predeceased him in 1966.

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Sidney Whitmarsh

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire
Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset
Runfold, Farnham, Surrey

Story:
Sidney Whitmarsh was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1871, the son of Ambrose John Whitmarsh and Maria Whitmarsh (nee Lane). The family lived for a time at White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas. He had enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1897. He married Kate Lane at Melbury Abbas on 11th July 1898. He had been discharged from the army and according to the 1911 Census, when they were living at Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset, there was at least one child of the marriage. He re-enlisted as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th August 1914 (Service No. 7373). He was transferred as a Gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 1st January 1915 (Service No. 6720) and served with them in France. On 5th May 1917, having returned to the UK, he was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 435341) and joined the 644th Agricultural Company. He was demobilized on 31st March 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Tices Farm, Runfold, Farnham, Surrey, working as a Farm Carter. He was obviously in some financial difficulty in 1923, when by then living at 1 Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, as he was trying to obtain copies of his military record in order to prove his need to the authorities. He died in Aldershot in 1936. His brother, Charles Whitmarsh, also served but was discharged on 2 Apr 1918 being physically unfit due to gun shot wounds and died in 1920. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Charles Whitmarsh

John Morgan Snook

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Field Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Snook

Other names: John Morgan

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Hong Kong
Wandsworth, London
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Lower Winchcombe, Wiltshire

Story:
John Morgan Snook was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1870 and baptised there on 27th March 1870, the son of Thomas Snook and Emma Snook (née Goddard). He was living with his parents at Lower Winchcombe, Wiltshire, at the time of the 1881 Census. He enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 6th May 1887 as a Private (Service No. 2373). The Army was re-organised in 1889 and he was transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 63403) on 1st July 1889 with a further transfer to the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 20501) on 23rd June 1903. He served in Hong Kong until placed on reserve. He had married Bertha Fisher on 22nd September 1897 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and they went on to have five children. By the time of Word War 1 he had moved to Wandsworth, London, where he was employed by the London County Council as a Park Keeper. He was embodied on 6th August 1914 (Service No. 1596) and posted to the 3rd London General Territorial Hospital which was based in the Royal Victorian Patriotic School buildings in Wandsworth. He was however discharged on 16th October 1914 on the grounds that he should not have been called up. No medals were awarded. The 1921 Census shows him living by now at The Street, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and it was noted he was out of work. He died in 1931 at the home of his son, Morris, who lived in Donhead St. Mary, the death being registered in Tisbury, Wiltshire. Morris was his next-of-kin following the death on John's wife in 1916.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Norman Henry King

23rd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Norman Henry

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Porton Down, Wiltshire
Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Norman Henry King was born at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, on 8th February 1893, the son of Henry and Sarah King. He enlisted on 3rd September 1914 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 44725). He was discharged on 14th September 1914 (after only 11 days service) due to 'being unlikely to be an efficient soldier' as he only had one eye. He resumed his occupation of Farm Labourer and went on to marry Nellie Mary Dunn in 1922. They had four children. His last known address was 6 Council Houses, Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire, per the 1939 Register, which shows him working as a Civil Defence Messenger at Porton Down Camp, Salisbury. He died in 1977.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter

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George Jenkins

22nd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jenkins

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Alton, Hampshire
Sierra Leone
Richmond Gardens, Hammersmith, London
Uxbridge, Middlesex
France
Southfield, Wandsworth, London

Story:
George Jenkins was born on 2nd April 1874 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, the son of Eli Jenkins and Sarah Ann Jenkins (nee Witt). He had enlisted on 10th March 1896 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 14475). He served in many parts of the then Empire, including Sierra Leone, where he was at the time the War broke out. He was posted to France on 3 Oct 1915 for a period and then back to the UK. His career in the Army was very distinguished and after the full 21 years he was duly discharged on 10th March 1918 with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. Apart for the Victory and British War medals and 1915 Star he was also the holder of the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He married Lavinia Violet Jane Smith on 4th June 1918 in Alton, Hampshire, from which marriage there were no children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 51 Clonmore Street, Southfield, Wandsworth, London, working as a Clerk at the War Office. The last known address was 7 Richmond Gardens, Hammersmith, London, per the 1939 Register. George died in 1957 in the Uxbridge, Middlesex, Registration District.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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George Garrett

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Garrett

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Egypt
Newton Abbott, Devon
The Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon

Story:
George Garrett was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire in 1870, the son of John Garrett and Mary Ann Garrett (née Maidment). The family lived at Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire until George's father died in 1890. Following this, his mother moved to The Hollow Way, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where she is recorded still living in the 1911 Census. George married Ann Venning on 14th September 1889 and there were 2 children of the marriage. George had previously served for a period in the Royal Garrison Artillery and had spent some time in Egypt. He re-enlisted on 2nd September 1914 and joined the 1st Service Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Special Reservists) where he eventually became a Lance Sergeant (Service No. 7223). He was at the time living in the Newton Abbott, Devonshire, area and working as a Groom. He served in Egypt from 27 Sep 1915 and was subsequently demobilized on 19th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at 77 East Street, Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, working as a Chimney Sweep and Carpet Beater on his own account. He died in 1956 in the Newton Abbot, Devon, Registration District.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter

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William Charles Abraham Burridge

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burridge

Other names: William Charles Abraham

Locations in this story:
Stoney Path, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William Charles Abraham Burridge (also known as 'Willie') was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st June 1897 the son of Charles Burridge and Alice Bessie Burridge (née Wilmott). He lived his whole life, apart from Military Service, in the locality. He enlisted on 21st October 1916 as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery attached to the R.A.E. Tank Corps serving in France from 14 Apr 1917 (Service No. 125985). He was demobilized on 14th October 1919 with a War Pension due to the effects of his service. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He re-enlisted for a period of one year in 1920 as a Territorial with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 5720627). He was finally demobilized on 18 Mar 1921 and by the 1921 Census was shown living with his parents at 3 Stoney Path, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Gardener. He remained single throughout his life at the same address as recorded in the 1939 Register. He was always employed as a Gardener. William died in 1949 and was buried at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 16th September 1949. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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William George Barter

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Barter

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Fulham Military Hospital, London, W.8.
St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Throop Farm, Christchurch, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Hampstead, London
Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
William George Barter was born in 1895 in the registration district of Shaftesbury. He was the son of Frederick Sidney Barter, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Jane Barter (née Sims). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a grocer and living at Throop Farm, near Christchurch, Hampshire. He enlisted at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 66659) and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. Moving from Battery to Battery he was eventually promoted to Bombardier and finished up with the 39th Brigade. On 29th September 1918 he returned to the UK for officer training with the Royal Air Force during which time he held a temporary commission. Shortly after his posting to RAF Flying School he contracted Cerebo Spinal Fever and was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, Dunstans Road, London, W.8. where he died on 16th October 1918. He was buried in the churchyard to the north of St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster (the inscription gives Hampstead as his place of death.)

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Arthur New

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: New

Other names: Arthur

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
France & Flanders
Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, Armentieres, France
Vale Farm, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Dean End, Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset

Story:
Arthur New was born in 1877 in Sixpenny Handley and baptised there on 26th August, 1877. He was the son of Esan New, a Traction Engine Driver and Ann New (née Sanger). His siblings included Tom New, born in 1895, who also died in the war. The family lived at Vale Farm, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. On 23rd December, 1907, Arthur married Margaret Ethel Hill at St. Giles Church, Uley, Stroud, Gloucestershire. They had four children: 3 girls and a boy. At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a Traction Engine Driver and living at Dean End, Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset. His mother died in 1911 and his father in 1913. Arthur had enlisted on 9th March, 1899 and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3987) and then the Royal Engineers. He was discharged from that engagement on 16th June, 1906, and placed on reserve. He was recalled to duty on 21st November 1914 and, after a short spell with the Royal Garrison Artillery, transferred as a Sapper to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 12918). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals. He was killed in action whilst serving with the 12th Field Company on 23rd March 1915 and was buried at Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, Armentieres, France (grave id. III.C.15). He is remembered on the Sixpenny Handley War Memorial. His wife Margaret remarried, to Joseph Rideout on 2nd August, 1919.

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Tom New

Thomas John Stone

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stone

Other names: Thomas John

Locations in this story:
Shipton Gorge, Bridport, Dorset
France & Flanders
Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Parsonage Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
West Street, Bridport, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Weymouth

Story:
Thomas John Stone was born in 1890 in Shipton Gorge, Bridport, Dorset. He was the son of John Stone, an estate carpenter, and Eliza Elizabeth Stone (nee Gale). One of his siblings was brother Charles Henry (b. 1894) who also died in the war whilst Bertram Robert Stone survived the conflict. At the time of the 1911 Census John and Eliza were living in Parsonage Street, Fontmell Magna. Thomas (along with his brother, Charles,) was employed by his uncle as an ironmonger's assistant in the cycle business and living in West Street, Bridport. He married Martha Alice Clist Chick at Fontmell Magna, Dorset, on 10th March, 1916. There were no children of the marriage. He enlisted in Weymouth as a Gunner in the 111th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 165818). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 16th August 1917 and was buried at Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave id. V.B.13). His wife went on to re-marry Cecil J. Day in 1928 and they had one daughter and lived at Brach Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury. Thomas is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

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Charles Henry Stone
Bertram Robert Stone