Royal Warwickshire Regiment Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

John Charles Woods

Surname: Woods

Other names: John Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Charles Woods was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st March 1900 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5th April 1900, the son of Charles John Woods and Harriet Woods (née Pickford). He spent all his life, apart from a short period of Military Service, in and around St. James Street/Gold Hill area of Shaftesbury. By 1911 he was living with his family at 16 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on the 2nd April 1918 and was assigned to the Training Reserve of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12028) he was transferred almost immediately to the 'B' Company of 53rd (YS) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with new Service No. TR/7/25443. He served his whole time in the UK and it appears there are no medal records. He was discharged on 20th February 1919. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at 45 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Labourer for Brockway Bros, Shaftesbury. He married Agnes Louisa Gray at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 1st June 1925 and they went on to have nine children. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 52 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Motor Lorry Driver. He died in Shaftesbury in 1970. His father, Charles John Woods, also served in the conflict, with the Dorsetshire Regiment. His brother Reginald James served with the South Wales Borderers and the Labour Corps.

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The National Archives
Charles John Woods
Harry Woods
Reginald James Woods

James Samuel Horder

Surname: Horder

Other names: James Samuel

Locations in this story:
Littledown, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wincanton, Somerset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
James Samuel Horder was born on 3rd April 1899 in the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registration District, the son of John Horder and Sarah Jane Horder (née Morgan). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. He enlisted originally with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 55957) but later transferred to the 1st & 3rd Battalions of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 55194). It is not known where he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Littledown, Shaftesbury, working as a Farm Carter. He married Ethel Agnes Lamb at Wincanton, Somerset, in 1925. There was one daughter of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living at Littledown, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a Farm Carter. His death was registered at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1970 and he was buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 5 Jan 1970.

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Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Richard Charles Sheppard

Locations in this story:
The Zeals, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chapel Cottage, Cann

Story:
Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons was born at The Zeals, Wiltshire, on 10th March 1889 and baptised at St. Martin's Church, The Zeals, on 14th May 1889, the son of Charles Parsons and Emily Parsons (née Sheppard). He lived his early life in The Zeals until 1901 when his family moved to 21 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Annie Elizabeth Clark in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1912. He enlisted and served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 307225). It is not known in which area he served but was with both the 1/8th and 16th Battalions at times. On discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, working as a Bricklayer for A. Williams, Builder, Shaftesbury. The 1939 Register indicates he was still in Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Builder's Labourer. He died on 15th January 1953 at Chapel Cottage, Cann.

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Henry Stephen Lampard

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Durham Light Infantry, Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lampard

Other names: Henry Stephen

Locations in this story:
Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Egypt
Fovant, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Stephen Lampard was born on 12th February 1888 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of Cicely Lampard. (The name of the father is not known). He lived his entire life, except for the period of military service, at Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew. He married Ella Elsie Mullins at Donhead St. Andrew on 25th March 1913 and they went on to have three children. Henry enlisted on 5th June 1916 and was mobilized on 16th July 1916 when he joined the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as a Private (Service Nos. 5343 & 301369) with whom he served in France & Flanders from 1 Jul 1917 until 7 May 1919. He later transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 55332) and served with them in Egypt guarding a Prisoner of War Camp. Whilst there he suffered from the Influenza pandemic of the time. He at sometime held the rank of Lance Corporal but this is not reflected on his medal records. He was discharged on 20th January 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census gives his address still as Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, working as a General Labourer for the Military at Fovant, Wiltshire. By the 1939 Register was at the same address now a Roadman for the Wiltshire County Council. He died on 26th February, 1963 at Donhead St. Andrew and was buried in the local cemetery.

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Frederick John Marchant

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Marchant

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Wimborne, Dorset
Cranbourne, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Egypt
The Glebe, Semley

Story:
Frederick John Marchant was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 3rd November 1881 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th January 1882, the son of Henry Thomas Marchant and Elizabeth Marchant (née Burt). His early life was spent with his family at the The Glebe, Semley, Wiltshire. He married Edith King on 9th April 1913 in Holt, Wimborne, Dorset and they went on to have one child.

Frederick enlisted on 27th June 1916 as a Private with the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18657) and attached to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 28 Jun 1916. He reverted back to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 27863) on 22 Aug 1916 and on 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders as a Lance Corporal. His moves continued with one to the 1st (Reserve Battalion) of the Worcestershire Regiment on 27 Jul 1917 (Service No. 48995) then to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 37618) on 17 Oct 1917 at which time he was posted to Egypt. He was assessed with poor eye sight and finally transferred, on 12th March 1918, to the 36th Battery Hospital of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 145481). He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at The Shop, Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Draper and Grocer and by the 1939 Register at The Stores, Cranbourne, Dorset, now described as a Master Grocer as well as being an ARP Warden. He died in the Jan/Mar Quarter of 1961 in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District.

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Edmund Baden Powell Gray

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Edmund Baden Powell

Locations in this story:
Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire
Bridport, Dorset

Story:
Edmund Baden Powell Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 18th September 1900 and baptised there on 25th November 1900, the son of James Thomas Gray and Harriett Elizabeth Gray (née Powell). He lived his early life at 1 Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 30th October 1918 and joined the 53rd Training Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 28512). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 10th February 1919. There are no medal records in this case. He married Evelyn Rees in Bridport, Dorset, in 1927 and they went on to have three children. The 1939 Register shows him living at the Police Station, Bridport, Dorset, described as a Police Constable. He died in Bridport in 1977.

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Frank Francis

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Rifle Brigade, Royal Surrey Regiment, Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Francis

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hailsham, Sussex
France
Sackville Gardens, East Grinstead, Sussex

Story:
Frank Francis was born at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st September 1888, the son of Frederick Francis and Elizabeth Jane Francis (née Moore). He spent all of his early life in and around East Orchard. He married Ada Chorley at East Orchard on 13th April 1914 and they went on to have two children. Frank enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not embodied until 29th May 1916 when he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5805). He was transferred to the 25th (Reserve) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Service No. 2134) on 26th August 1916 and again to the Royal Surrey Regiment on 5th March 1917 and, finally, to the 443rd Agricultural (134th Labour Company) of the Labour Corps (Service No. 79957). He had served in France from 26 Aug 1916 and was demobilized on 22nd February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1939 Register he and his family had moved to 24 Sackville Gardens, East Grinstead, Sussex, where he worked as a Corn Merchant's Labourer. He died in the Hailsham, Sussex, Registry area in 1963 and was eventually buried at East Orchard, Dorset, on 8 Jan 1963 .

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Charles Henry Morris Platt

6th December 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Flying Corps, Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Platt

Other names: Charles Henry Morris

Locations in this story:
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, Nord, France
Middleton Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire

Story:
Charles Henry Morris Platt was born on 4th August 1898 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. He was the son of Arthur William Platt, a schoolmaster, and Annie Sophia Morris. Sadly, Charles’ father died on 13th November 1898 and his mother in 1905. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from January 1909 to December 1914 and appears on the 1911 Census as a boarder. While at the school he was a keen sportsman and played for the cricket team in 1913 and 1914. He was also member of the school football team in 1912, 1913 and 1914. In the Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine he was described as “Centre Half. – After playing forward for two years, changed to centre half, and was a great success. Tackles well, and feeds his forwards with judgment. A good shot. Wants a little more pace.”

On leaving school Charles went to Sandhurst. He passed out in 1916 and received a commission in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Flying Corps Section, with the rank of 2nd. Lieutenant. He trained as a pilot and having “got his wings”, was posted to France. While with the 52nd Squadron he died there on 23rd November 1917, having “collided with another machine on the edge of a cloud,” according to the school magazine. He was buried at Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, Nord, France (grave. Id. II.D.25). His effects and medals (Victory and British War) were sent to his sister Kathleen Platt, who was living at Middleton Hall, Leeds at the time.

As a former pupil his name is recorded on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. Throughout the war a hand-written list was compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Charles’s name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1918

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Shastonian

Alfred Sidney Harding

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Harding

Other names: Alfred Sidney

Locations in this story:
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Poelcapelle British War Cemetery, Langemark-Poelcappelle, Belgium
Hugglers Hole Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire
Gillingham, Dorset
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Alfred Sidney Harding was born in 1882 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 24th September, 1882. He was the son of Thomas Baker Harding, a Farm Labourer, and Mary Ann Harding (née Harding). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Haulier's Carter and living at Hugglers Hole Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December, 1915, as a Private and joined the 3rd/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 306722). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was originally reported 'wounded and missing' but his body was later recovered for burial. He died on 27th August 1917 and was buried at Poelcapelle British War Cemetery, Langemark-Poelcappelle, Belgium (grave id. XLII.C.19). He is remembered on the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, Semley and on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church. Alfred's brother, Arthur John Harding, served with the Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) and survived.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Harold Martin Roberts

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Roberts

Other names: Harold Martin

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Loos Memorial, Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Blatchford Farm, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Fulham, London

Story:
Harold Martin Roberts was born in 1899 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 2nd July, 1899. He was the son of Edgar Eli Roberts, a farmer, and Bertha Mary Roberts (nee Richardson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a scholar and living at Blatchford Farm, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Fulham, London, as a Private and joined the 10th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 40405). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 25th September 1918 and his name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord Pas de Calais, France (Panel 22-25). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, Thomas Edgar Roberts, also served in the conflict but survived.

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

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Thomas Edgar Roberts