Royal Navy Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Rebbick Leonard Wright

Surname: Wright

Other names: Rebbick Leonard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jutland
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire

Story:
Rebbick Leonard Wright (Registered as Rebbeck but various spellings used throughout his life) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th July 1890, the son of Sylvester Wallace Wright and Laura Wright (née Young). He lived some of his early life at the Half Moon Inn where his father was the licensee. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 22nd February 1912 with the eventual rank of Cook Class 1 (Service No. L3369). He served initially on HMS Warrior and later on HMS Conqueror, an Orion Class Dreadnought Battleship, at the Battle of Jutland. He was discharged on 5th December 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 census record has not been found but in 1920 he was registered in the Electoral Roll at 18 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He married Emily Weaver in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 69 Wellsted Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, and was working as a Joiner's Labourer. His death was recorded in Kingston-upon-Hull on 22nd July 1964. His brother, Maurice William Wright, also served in the conflict.

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Maurice William Wright
The National Archives

William Richard Gamlin

Surname: Gamlin

Other names: William Richard

Locations in this story:
Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hanover Square, London
Suez Canal, Egypt
Cowes, Isle of Wight
Osborne, Isle of Wight
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Richard Gamlin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd October 1865 and baptised at St. Peter's Church, as Richard Willie, on 25th October 1865, the son of Richard Gamlin and Elizabeth Gamlin (née Parrott). He lived his early life in the family home in Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury. By 1881 he had moved to serve the Jolliffe family as a footman at 43 Charles Street, St. George's Hanover Square, London. He enlisted on 7th May 1886 and joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 3543) and by 1901 was serving in the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt. He married Phyllis Moody at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 2nd November 1905 and they went on to have two children. He transferred to the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman (Service No. J101935) on 14th April 1921, and served at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, following which he was discharged on 9th September 1922. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. On discharge he joined the Merchant Navy for a period of time from 10 Sep 1923 whilst his family lived at 23 Bimport, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 71 Adelaide Grove, Cowes, Isle of Wight, and was working as a General Labourer, but also noted as a Royal Marine pensioner. His death was recorded on the Isle of Wight in 1952.

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The National Archives

Austin Frederick Stainer

4th May 2020/in 1914-1918 King’s Liverpool Regiment, Royal Navy, Royal Welsh Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Austin Frederick

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
France & Flanders
Parkstone, Dorset

Story:
Austin Frederick Stainer was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th July 1891, the son of Gideon Stainer and Emily Stainer (née Sims). Apart from his Military Service and in later retirement, he lived all his life in the Shaftesbury area. He had enlisted in the Royal Navy on 5th December 1911 but only served until 5th September 1912 when he was discharged due to his health. He then re-enlisted in the war and joined The King's (Liverpool) Regiment (Service No. 89253). He later transferred to 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Service No. 14375). During this time he was promoted to Lance Corporal and served in France and Flanders from 5 Sep 1915. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census record is missing on-line but the Electoral Register of that year shows him living back at Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, with his widowed father. He married Elsie Kathleen Goodfellow in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1924. They went on to have two children. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 50 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Baker and Confectioner. He was living at 8 Birds Hill Road, Poole, Dorset, in retirement when he died on 8th June 1976 and later buried in Parkstone Cemetery, Parkstone, Dorset. His brothers, Ernest Stainer, Francis Hubert Stainer, William Edgar Stainer and Harry Gilbert Stainer, all served during the conflict.

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The National Archives
Francis Hubert Stainer
Ernest Stainer
Harry Gilbert Stainer

William George Brickell

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Branksome, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Poole, Dorset
Port Said, Egypt
Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
William George Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th July 1891 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 6th September 1891, the son of James Henry Harry Brickell and Kate Frances Brickell (née Blanchard). He lived his early life in and around Shaftesbury and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he was living at Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury and was a policeman. He had served as a territorial with the 4th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment prior to WW1 in 1911 but he enlisted with the Royal Navy Air Service on 6th Jul 1915 (Service No. F6312) and served on land based duties as an Airship Rigger in France & Flanders (1915 and 1918) and Port Said, Egypt (1916 to 1917). On 31st March 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (Service No. 206312) for military police duties. He was discharged on 20th April 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Ellen Fisher (Widow of William Warrington Whiitaker) in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1938. By the 1939 Register he was living at 62 Redbreast Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as a Retired Police Officer. His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1964.

Images:

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The National Archives

Frederick Mansfield

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mansfield

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick Mansfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd August 1875 and baptised there on 29th August 1875, the son of Thomas James Mansfield (a watchmaker and jeweler) and Ellen Mansfield (née Andrew). He lived all his life, apart from Naval Service, in Shaftesbury. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 29th October 1891 and in time had served on more than fifteen ships of the line. He held the rank of Leading Seaman. On his discharge on 27th June 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Electoral Roll shows him living in Alcester Cottage, Shaftesbury, with his widowed mother but by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Grove Villas, Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still single and employed as a Schools Attendance Officer. His death was recorded in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1954 and he was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 5 Jun 1954.

Images:

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The National Archives

Stanley Edgar Saunders

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Saunders

Other names: Stanley Edgar

Locations in this story:
Barnet, Hertfordshire
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Cheam, Surrey
Hammersmith, London

Story:
Stanley Edgar Saunders was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire on 7th March 1899, the son of Frederick Saunders and Mary J. Saunders. By 1911 the family had moved to Iwerne Minster where Stanley's father was employed as an Estate Carpenter and Stanley was a Hall Boy at Iwerne Minster House. He originally enlisted in the Royal Navy on 27th January 1916 (Service No. J49351) but he was discharged on 9th June 1916 as unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 12th March 1917 and was mobilized on 23rd April 1917, joining the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private (Service No. 112382). He was posted to the 329th (Lowland) Field Ambulance, serving in the UK only. He was discharged on 12th February 1919. No medal records have been found. According to the 1921 Census he had returned to Iwerne Minster House, living in as a Footman. He married Mildred Sutherland at Cheam, Surrey, on 30th March 1936 (he was described as a Butler) and there is possibly one child of the marriage. His death is not confirmed but could have been in Hammersmith, London, in 1967. (No other information can be found).

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The National Archives

Ernest Broomfield

17th January 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Broomfield

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Ringwood, Hampshire
Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St Mary, Wiltshire
Ousby, Penrith, Cumberland
Lancaster, Lancashire

Story:
Ernest Broomfield was born on 8th April 1893 in Ringwood, Hampshire, the son of Harry Jesse Broomfield and Fanny Broomfield (née Cook). At the time of the outbreak of war he was living with his parents at the Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, where his father was the licensee.

Ernest enlisted in the Royal Navy (Service No. SS115989) on 10th July 1914 as a Stoker Class II. From the 10th December 1914 he served as a member of the armaments crew on various ships (Service No. M11941). He was finally discharged on 28th January 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1939 Register shows him living at The Fox Inn, Ousby, Penrith, Cumberland, working as a Gamekeeper. He died in 1960 in the Lancaster District Registry area. The 1939 Register also indicates he was married but no record can be found of a marriage.

His brothers also served: Frederick John Robert and Edward William Broomfield were both killed in action whilst Harry, Arthur and Walter James survived. Also serving and surviving was William Percy Norman the husband of Ernest's sister, Eva Theresa Rose.

Images:

Motcombe Methodist Chapel and the Royal Oak Inn

Rufus William Inkpen

8th December 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Inkpen

Other names: Rufus William

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Dorset
Jutland
West Parley, Bournemouth, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Bittles Green, Motcombe
West Moors, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Rufus William Inkpen was born at Motcombe, Dorset, on 18th October 1884 and baptised there on 16th November 1884, the son of Edwin Thomas Inkpen (Licensee of the former Royal Oak Inn, Motcombe), and Mary Ann Inkpen (née Clack). Rufus spent his early years at the Royal Oak Inn with his parents. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 18th October 1902 (Service No. 216884). He served on many ships in his time and held the rank of Able Seaman. After serving on various ships and shore establishments he joined HMS Thunderer, the last of the Orion-class Dreadnought Battleships, when it was commissioned on 15th June 1912. The ship entered the war and in 1916 was eighth in line at the Battle of Jutland. Rufus was eventually discharged on 8th June 1921 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. Acording to his discharge information he intended to live back in Motcombe at Bittles Green near his parents but the 1921 Census shows him actually boarding at 63 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an Unemployed Labourer. He married Mabel Annie Barter on 16th April 1927 at West Moors, Dorset, and they set up home at West Parley, Bournemouth, Dorset. There appeared to be no children of the marriage. No record of the 1939 Register could be found. Rufus died on 24th November 1951 which fact was registered at the Blandford, Dorset, District Register Office though his last address on the Probate was noted as 4 Moorlands Road, West Moors, Dorset. His brother, Loftus Sam Inkpen, also served but survived the conflict.

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The National Archives

Frank Gray

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jutland
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blaenau, Gwent, Wales

Story:
Frank Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th September 1895 and baptised at St. James' Church on 29th September 1895, the son of John Thomas Gray and Linda Louisa Gray (nee Jenkins). The family lived at Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury (now called Church Hill). Frank enlisted in the Royal Navy on 4th September 1913 to serve for a period of 12 years (Service No. J17472). He served on a number of ships but memorably on HMS Colussus at the Battle of Jutland. The battleship was the only ship of the Dreadnought Class to be damaged in the battle but nevertheless managed to remain on station throughout. Frank had by then become a leading seaman. He married Fanny Orlinda Ellen Pike on 21st December 1918 in Shaftesbury and they went on to have two children. Frank continued in the Navy until his first discharge on 18th May 1927. He had been awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1914/15 Star and the RN Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Frank had immediately signed on for a further period of service and went on into WW2 until his final discharge on pension on 22 Aug 1945. At the time of the 1939 Register his wife had been living with her parents at 67 St, James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Frank's death was recorded at the Blaenau, Gwent, Wales, Registry in Apr 1975. His brothers, Sidney Charles Gray and Harry Gray, both served in the Army but regrettably both lost their lives in the conflict.

Images:

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The National Archives

Douglas Harold Brine

11th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brine

Other names: Douglas Harold

Locations in this story:
Sherborne Causeway, Motcombe, Dorset
Hillview, East Stour, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Douglas Harold Brine was born at Sherborne Causeway, Motcombe, Dorset, on 13th December 1895. He was the son of John Brine and Louisa Brine (née Prior) and brother of Albert (b.1887) and Frank (b.1889), both of whom died in the Great War and Percival who served and survived. He lived most of his childhood with his family at Sherborne Causeway.

He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 21st August 1913 (Service No. K19991). During his time he served on a number of ships, the last one being HMS Centurion - a King George V-class Dreadnought battleship - as a Stoker (1st Class). He was discharged on 18th April 1922 following completion of his engagement. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Katherine Sarah Francis in 1931 in the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registration District. They went on to have four children. By the time of the 1939 Register he and his family were living at Hillview, East Stour, Dorset, and he was working as a Roadman for the Dorset County Council. He died on 24th November 1940 in Salisbury General Hospital, Wiltshire.

Douglas' cousin Reginald Brine also served in the Royal Navy but sadly died on board HMS Lion in 1918.

Source:
Photograph of the Brine family home on Sherborne Causeway provided by Nigel Garrett.

Images:

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The National Archives
Albert Brine
Frank Brine
Reginald Henry Brine
Percival Brine